News & Events

A Roseville woman was sentenced for repeatedly shoplifting at a local retail business.

A Zanesville man was sent to prison for stealing tiles from the roof of a home.

A Columbus man who shot a Zanesville business owner in the face was sent to prison.

Staff from the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office, Clerk of Courts, Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department, and local defense attorneys commemorated Common Pleas Judge Mark C. Fleegle’s retirement.

Shawn Ridenbaugh was sentenced to prison for obstructing justice as a result of his lying to police about his girlfriend’s role in a man’s drug overdose death.

A Zanesville woman was sentenced in Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas for lying on food stamp applications.

On September 13, Jonathan R. Conkle appeared in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court in front of Judge Mark Fleegle.

A Zanesville man who ran a drug trafficking operation out of his house was sentenced to prison for his crimes.

Judges on the Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of a Dresden man sentenced to life in prison for rape.

The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office worked towards the goal of raising awareness of substance abuse and celebrating recovery by participating in a community awareness event, educating our community.

A Frazeysburg man will be serving time in prison for trafficking more than two pounds of methamphetamine and other drugs.

A Zanesville man was sentenced to prison for trafficking cocaine and fentanyl.

A Zanesville woman is receiving time in prison for her role in a man’s drug overdose death.

Three men have been held without bond in connection to a sprawling multistate, multimillion-dollar jewelry theft ring.

A Westerville man was sentenced to serve time in prison for defrauding a Zanesville family and pretending to be an attorney.

In addition to prosecuting criminals endangering the Muskingum County community, the Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office works daily to make this community safer.

A Zanesville woman, Samantha Murphy, was sentenced Wednesday, July 24, by Judge Mark Fleegle.

State appellate judges rejected an appeal filed by a man convicted of participating in the murder of a Zanesville woman.

A Zanesville man appeared in Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas, admitting his guilt to acts of domestic violence.

A Zanesville woman pleaded guilty to making hundreds of calls to emergency services, effectively using local first responders for her personal entertainment for ambulance rides to the hospital.

A Zanesville woman charged with domestic violence and theft of a firearm was sentenced to time in prison.

A Zanesville man confessed to charges of trafficking drugs.

A Zanesville man charged with committing assault and burglary admitted his guilt in court.

A Zanesville man admitted to charges of assault and domestic violence fueled by a late-night alcoholic binge.

A Zanesville pastor admitted to stealing thousands of dollars from his own church.

Sabrina L. Gary, age 52, appeared in Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas on June 17 for sentencing.

A Columbus man who led law enforcement on a high-speed chase from the New Concord area all the way to downtown Zanesville received prison time for his crimes.

A Zanesville man was sentenced to prison time for committing welfare fraud over the past few years.

A Zanesville woman with a history of drug use during pregnancy admitted to falsifying records related to her court-ordered supervision.

A Crooksville man received prison time for leading law enforcement on a chase through two counties after hitting another motorist.

A Zanesville man pled guilty to charges of domestic violence in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court.

An Adamsville resident confessed to illegal drug use and possession charges in Muskingum Common Pleas Court.

After years of investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, 14 defendants were served indictments in connection with a drug ring operated out of the Ohio prison system.

A Zanesville man responsible for a fatal hit-skip accident pled guilty to a prosecutor’s bill of information in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court.

A Zanesville man appeared in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court to confess to charges of violent child abuse.

A Zanesville woman pled guilty in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court to sparking fears of a child kidnapper posing as a social worker in the community.

The newest assistant prosecutor in the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office successfully obtained justice for a local victim in a jury trial.

A Zanesville man will be spending time in prison for downloading and sending child sexual assault materials on his phone and computer.

A Columbus man pled guilty and was sentenced to time in prison for trafficking illegal drugs.

A Zanesville resident was sentenced to time in prison for his sex crimes involving a minor.

A man from Wilmington, Delaware pled guilty to drug trafficking in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court.

In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Muskingum County Prosecuting Attorney Ron Welch spoke with a local news reporter about the office’s fight against child abuse in the county, and how everyday people can help protect the vulnerable

A Zanesville man admitted stalking another individual who attended the same party as he did.

In Court on April 1, 2024, Judge Kelly Cottrill sentenced child molester, Alberto Mancuso, to a maximum prison sentence of 12 months with sexual offender registration.

A Zanesville woman who filmed her husband’s drug overdose death as children watched instead of getting him medical help confessed to her crimes in Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas.

A Newark man will serve two years in prison for stealing a swimming pool from a local Zanesville retail business.

A 20-year-old Blacklick man found guilty of vehicular homicide by a Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas jury was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

A Columbus man was sentenced to at least seven years in prison for drug trafficking and possession.

A man from Reynoldsburg was sentenced to two years in prison for using getting high on marijuana while his child drowned in a pool.

A Norwich man accused of sexually assaulting underage victims admitted his crimes in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court.

Another participant in the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office Diversion and Rehabilitation Treatment (DART) pre-arrest diversion program has successfully completed the program.

A Zanesville woman who shot herself with a gun to fake a home invasion and cover up a murder admitted her crimes in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court.

A Zanesville woman who gave birth to a child addicted to drugs received prison time for multiple counts of drug crimes and child endangering.

Diallo Jah-Quan Cummings, age 22, of Zanesville, appeared before Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mark C. Fleegle on March 4 for sentencing. Cummings received a sentence of at least eight years in prison for the felony crime of rape.

A Roseville man was sentenced to up to ten and a half years in prison for illegally providing prescription drugs to another individual, resulting in his overdose death.

Jurors in Muskingum County returned guilty verdicts on all counts against a Zanesville man charged with multiple counts of sex crimes and kidnapping during a February 28 trial in Common Pleas Judge Kelly Cottrill’s court.

A convicted repeat domestic abuser admitted stalking and engaging in retaliation against his victim from behind bars.

Members of the Central Ohio Drug Enforcement (CODE) Task Force and Zanesville-Muskingum County Joint Drug Unit filed criminal charges against two Zanesville residents accused of trafficking up to $1 million in illegal drugs.

The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office recently donated funds seized from criminal activities to help a local police department fight crime more effectively.

Human trafficking is a serious problem in Muskingum County, but everyday people can help fight it by knowing the signs of trafficking and what to do when they suspect someone is being abused in that manner.

As part of its work to make the community safer and help people live healthy lives, the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office operates a pre-arrest diversion program, known as Diversion and Rehabilitation Treatment (DART).

A Newark woman’s history of lying to law enforcement authorities and a court grand jury resulted in time in prison.

In Muskingum County Common Pleas Court, a 58-year-old man from Dresden admitted committing sex crimes against a minor.

A Frazeysburg accountant was sentenced to time in prison and ordered to pay restitution for stealing from a Zanesville business over the last few years.

Thanks to the quick action of the Zanesville Police Department and the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office, Patrick Foraker, age 39, sits in jail for his alleged February 12 attack on Zanesville City Hall.

A Cumberland man and woman received time behind bars in prison for child endangerment and neglect.

Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office attorneys represented the county in oral arguments before the Supreme Court of Ohio on February 6, arguing on behalf of Muskingum County Adult and Child Protective Services (MCACPS).

A Zanesville man found guilty of defrauding multiple people, including senior citizens, in a real-estate scam was sentenced to five years in prison for his crimes.

In Muskingum County Common Pleas Court, a 34-year-old man from Zanesville was sentenced to time in prison for rape.

One year after the launch of the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office pre-arrest diversion program, known as Diversion and Rehabilitation Treatment (DART), three participants have been successfully completed the program.

A 20-year-old Blacklick man was found guilty of vehicular homicide by a Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas jury after just 45 minutes of deliberating.

On December 28, 2022, Zanesville Police officers responded to come to the aid of an eleven-year-old child whose life had been placed in jeopardy by Kayleigh Knox’s drug addiction.

WHIZ-TV reporter Mary Behanna interviews Prosecutor Ron Welch about human trafficking in Muskingum County, and what citizens can do to help stop it.

In Muskingum County Common Pleas Court, a 45-year-old man from Caldwell was sentenced to time in prison for sex crimes against a minor.

Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office competes in charity dodgeball tournament

New Lexington retail thief sentenced for burglary, theft

Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office support of drug education shows rewards in local schools

Zanesville man brought to justice for sexually abusing minors

Man to serve 11 years for Woodlawn Ave. shooting, driver gets two.

Drug dealer caught sending nude to minor, sentenced to prison

Zanesville man turns theft case into decade of prison

Elijah Striblin sentenced to prison for probation violations

Former University Student Pleads Guilty to Two Rapes

Zanesville man to be imprisoned for embezzlement

A plea was taken from Matthew “Trig” McClain of Columbus

A Newark man was sentenced to 11 years in prison today after evading authorities for three years.

A visiting judge from Cuyahoga County imposed a new sentence of life with the possibility of parole after 20 years for a college mother convicted of murdering her newborn baby after the Supreme Court of Ohio vacated Emile Weaver's life without parole sen

A Muskingum County jury found Wayne Gheen, 40, of Zanesville, guilty of perjury Tuesday afternoon after hearing from Det. Randy Wilson in a case presented by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Gerald Anderson.

The Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, the professional association for Ohio’s 88 county prosecutors, urged Ohioans to oppose Issue 2 at the ballot box next Tuesday or face new burdens and costs to county governments already stretched thin. Issue 2

A Muskingum County case involving the prosecution and conviction of a mother who injected herself with fentanyl in the hospital parking lot on her way to deliver her child will not move forward after the Supreme Court of Ohio decided not to hear the case

In July of this year, Jermaine Thorpe, 43, of Zanesville, appeared in the Muskingum County Common Pleas Court to plead guilty to numerous felonies from an Easter evening drive-by shooting

A 59-year-old Dresden man was sentenced to 17-and-a-half to 22-and-a-half years in prison for sexually abusing a child.

The Fifth District Court of Appeals upheld the life sentence of a Zanesville man who was convicted during a trial last year of raping a young child.

A 26-year-old Zanesville woman pleaded guilty for a second time to charges related to her role in a local drug-dealing conspiracy.

Jesse Baker, 45, of Adamsville was sentenced to 60 days in jail and 15 years of sexual offender registration following his conviction for sexual imposition Friday morning.

Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch and his office were recognized for their ongoing advocacy and support for victims of domestic violence during the Transitions Shelter Walk a Mile in my Shoes event.

The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office is a proud supporter of Heroes Landing Children’s Justice Center.

A 41-year-old Dresden man convicted by jurors on 31 counts related to the ongoing sexual abuse of three children was sentenced to prison Monday.

Cody Moody, a Zanesville man charged in the murder of Timothy Norris, was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday morning.

A 43-year-old Zanesville pleaded guilty as charged to two third-degree felony counts of abduction and two first-degree misdemeanor counts of endangering children Monday morning in Common Pleas Court.

Members of the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office wore purple Thursday in support of overdose awareness efforts in the community.

Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch is pleased to once again support Muskingum Behavioral Health (MBH) with their school-aged drug education programming.

Last year the Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch submitted a grant proposal to the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services for purposes of addressing violent crime and some of its causes.

On Wednesday, three local men pleaded guilty to sex crimes involving children.

Brandon Cummings, 34, of Zanesville appeared in front of Judge Kelly Cottrill last week to receive his sentence on one count of aggravated assault, a felony of the fourth degree, related to his attack on a patron in a local bar.

The parents of a 9-month old baby who died of an overdose have been sentenced to prison.

A 50-year-old repeat sexual offender from Zanesville received an additional prison sentence Wednesday after pleading guilty in a rape case involving a minor.

Debra J. Nye, Muskingum County Auditor, has announced the Muskingum County Budget Commission will be meeting on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 10:00am through the end of the 2023 calendar year excluding the months of October and December.

Jurors in Muskingum County convicted a 41-year-old Dresden man on 31 counts related to the ongoing sexual abuse of three children.

Detectives with the Zanesville / Muskingum County Joint Drug Unit and the CODE Task Force arrested a repeat drug offender Monday afternoon for her latest criminal activity, this time involving children

A Zanesville man charged in the shooting death of Timothy Norris pleaded guilty to aggravated murder with a firearm specification on Wednesday morning

A 43-year-old man from Zanesville pleaded guilty in common pleas court Wednesday to four second-degree felony counts of felonious assault after shooting at a car full of people, including one child, on Easter Sunday.

Days after a jury convicted Juliana Washington of 41 counts related to a regional theft conspiracy, co-defendant and lead conspirator Keith Taylor pleaded guilty to his part Monday in common pleas court.

After three days of trial led by Muskingum County Assistant Prosecutor Molly Martin, jurors returned 41 guilty verdicts against Juliana Washington, one of several participants in a regional theft ring.

A 27-year-old Zanesville man who led local law enforcement on a dangerous pursuit during a spree of car thefts received prison time Monday in common pleas court.

A 22-year-old Crooksville man received a prison sentence Tuesday for the life-threatening injuries he caused his passenger when he crashed into a West Muskingum school bus at a dangerous rate of speed in September.

A 29-year-old drug dealer from Columbus who brought his operation to Zanesville received a maximum sentence of 11 years in prison Wednesday.

A Zanesville man received a prison sentence of eight to 12 years in relation to the death of a new mother in Dresden.

Four men from Cambridge who terrorized a New Year’s Eve party at a criminal bar in Zanesville with guns and violence received their prison sentences in Judge Mark Fleegle’s Court.

A Zanesville drug supplier received the maximum prison sentence of 14 years last week after pleading guilty to major drug offender level offenses.

Dozens of area high school senior girls joined the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office at The Fieldhouse for a day of sexual assault awareness and self-defense training, organized by Office Manager and former Victim Advocate, Sacha Daniels.

Muskingum County Assistant Prosecutor Gerald Anderson shared his experiences working with and fighting for survivors of sexual assault during Tuesday’s awareness event at Zane State College.

A Zanesville drug dealer whose sales contributed to the death of another man received a maximum prison sentence of nine to 12 years Monday morning.

Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch, joined by his staff of attorneys, paralegals and professionals volunteered Wednesday to plant seeds for grass and wildflowers on a vacant lot at 753 Putnam Ave.

A 37-year-old Somerset man will serve three life sentences in prison without parole, in addition to a fourth life sentence, after Muskingum County jurors convicted him of repeatedly raping two children for several years.

A Zanesville couple was sentenced to a combined 18 years in prison this week for child abuse.

A 37-year-old Zanesville man with a violent criminal record was sentenced to prison Monday in connection to the abduction and assault of two victims.

A 37-year old Somerset man will serve a life sentence in prison without parole after jurors in Muskingum County convicted him of repeatedly raping two children for several years.

Domestic Violence cases are some of the most difficult and oftentimes frustrating matters handled by the prosecutor’s office.

The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges Friday against Thomas Pritchard of Zanesville in relation to an Amber Alert issued Thursday evening involving the abduction of two young children from Muskingum County.

The Muskingum County Grand Jury indicted 26-year-old Franklin Grayson of Jacksonville, Florida in connection to the March 17 shooting at Muskingum University in which the defendant shot a baseball player from Olivet College multiple times following the g

Franklin Grayson, the 26-year-old man charged in the March 17 shooting at Muskingum University, appeared in court for the first time Tuesday morning.

The Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office has filed initial charges related to a shooting that occurred at Muskingum University following a March 17th baseball game with Olivet College in Michigan.

A 28-year-old Guernsey County woman received a prison sentence of eight to 12 years Wednesday in the overdose death of 44-year-old Andy Marshall.

During the first week of March, the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office proceeded to trial on two separate cases of child sexual abuse in front of two separate juries.

A 52-year-old Zanesville man received two consecutive life sentences without parole Monday on child rape charges.

A Zanesville drug dealer whose sales contributed to the death of another man pleaded guilty to several charges in Common Pleas Court Friday.

The parents of three Zanesville children pleaded guilty this week to charges of child abuse.

Two Columbus area men received 20-year prison sentences Tuesday in connection to a shooting last summer

A 23-year-old Zanesville man who brought a gun into the Lazy River Lounge the night of a shooting in August was convicted of inducing panic and illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor permit premise Thursday afternoon.

A 44-year-old Zanesville man was sentenced to 20 years in prison as a major drug offender for crimes he committed in Muskingum County.

A Zanesville woman who killed a man during a drunken night of partying received her sentence of 10 to 13 years in prison Monday morning.

Members of the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s showed their support for the recovery community during this year’s First Responders vs. Second Chancers dodgeball tournament sponsored by Drug Free Muskingum.

A 52-year-old Zanesville man faces life in prison for raping a toddler and possessing thousands of images involving the sexual abuse of children.

Nathan Keen, a 35-year-old Zanesville man convicted at trial of repeatedly sexually assaulting a child, was sentenced to 13 years in prison Wednesday morning.

On Thursday, a jury of 10 men and two women convened in Judge Mark Fleegle’s courtroom to hear the case of Joseph Roth.

A Nashport man received a prison sentence Wednesday morning for contributing to a Zanesville man’s fatal overdose this past summer.

A Nashport drug dealer charged in the 2021 death of a local high school student received a maximum sentence of eight years in prison Monday.

The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office began the new year with back-to-back guilty verdicts this week under the lead of Assistant Prosecutor Gerald Anderson.

A Zanesville woman who drunkenly killed 30 year-old Alex King with her car changed her plea in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court Thursday.

A Zanesville man who sold cocaine laced with fentanyl that resulted in a multi-victim overdose involving five victims was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Wednesday.

The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office awarded three local essay contest winners with checks to fund drug awareness and prevention programming at their respective high schools.

Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch spent his Monday morning with a classroom full of kindergartners reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

A 35-year-old Zanesville man faces prison after jurors in Muskingum County convicted him last week on all charges related to the repeated sexual abuse of a child.

The Ohio Supreme Court issued a decision Thursday granting a new sentencing hearing for a former Muskingum University student who murdered her newborn daughter in 2015.

A Nashport man charged in the 2021 death of a local high school student pleaded guilty to a prosecutor’s bill of information containing one second-degree felony count of corrupting another with drugs.

A second Zanesville man pleaded guilty in Common Pleas Court Monday to charges related to a mass overdose earlier this year.

Garland Lewis appeared in Judge Fleegle’s court Monday morning to plead guilty to five counts of corrupting with drugs.

A Zanesville man convicted by jurors as a major drug dealer was sentenced by Judge Kelly Cottrill to up to three decades in prison for his crimes.

The Zanesville man responsible a series of car break-ins on the city’s north end that had residents on edge for months will spend the next five years in prison for his crimes.

A former Dresden police officer was sentenced to four years in prison and must surrender his police certification for the crimes he committed while wearing his badge.

Muskingum County welcomed the Vote Yes on State Issue One Tour Bus to promote the importance of voting yes to keep communities safe

Saalih Abdullah Tawwab El Muhammed, 38, of Cleveland, appeared in front of Judge Mark Fleegle in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court Monday to answer for charges related to a July traffic crash on Interstate 70.

On Friday morning, Rodriquez S. Hampton appeared with his attorney, Joseph Landusky, before Judge Kelly Cottrill, where he agreed to a sentence of more than 20 years for his most recent run-in with the law.

One dozen jurors in Muskingum County heard testimony for around five hours Thursday before returning a verdict of guilty as charged against Jay Arnold for recklessly fleeing from the police in 2016 in a car that was reported stolen.

More than a dozen Muskingum County residents accused of defrauding federal and state food, childcare, and Medicaid benefits programs are facing the consequences after being indicted by the Muskingum County Grand Jury.

Marcus McAlister, of Akron, faced Judge Kelly Cottrill Wednesday morning for sentencing on one count of trafficking in methamphetamine, and one count of trafficking in fentanyl.

A 28-year-old Guernsey County woman pleaded guilty to her part in a Zanesville man’s overdose death last month.

The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office is proud to support the Transitions Shelter Walk a Mile in my Shoes walk event for the eighth year in a row through financial donations and participation.

Trey Stevens entered the courtroom of Judge Mark Fleegle Wednesday morning to plead guilty to one count of corrupting another with drugs and one count of child endangering

A former bond agent from Cambridge appeared in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court last week to answer to more than 100 crimes she committed as a trusted partner of the justice system and begin her prison sentence.

The Muskingum County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is implementing its newly developed Diversion and Rehabilitation Treatment program, otherwise known as DART.

Jurors in Muskingum County convicted a Zanesville man on drug trafficking charges during a trial in Judge Kelly Cottrill’s court this week.

A local drug dealer faces a maximum of nearly 20 years in prison after changing his plea in common pleas court Monday.

A Zanesville man who provided a 25-year-old he claimed to be his friend with drugs that killed him will spend the next 10 to 15 years in prison for the crime.

At the conclusion of a one-day trial in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court, jurors convicted 50-year-old Chad Chapman of felonious assault for the brutal attack of another man.

The Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office successfully argued for the maximum sentence for a child molester in court Monday.

At the conclusion of a two-day trial in common pleas court this week, jurors deliberated for less than 20 minutes before finding Brandon Hultgren guilty as charged of two counts of felonious assault.

Four parents in Muskingum County are charged in Common Pleas Court for providing drugs to children.

A Zanesville man at the center of two separate drug-related disturbances involving firearms at local bars was sentenced to prison Tuesday.

A 35-year-old Zanesville man was sentenced to 15 to 18-and-a-half years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse materials and a weapon while under disability.

At the conclusion of a three-day trial handled by Assistant Prosecutor Gerald Anderson, jurors convicted a Zanesville man on all counts related to the sexual assaults of two girls over the course of five years.

A Zanesville man who provided his friend, 25-year-old Timothy Corder, with the drugs that killed him faces up to 17-and-a-half years in prison for Corder’s overdose death last July.

A child rapist will serve life in prison without parole, plus 14 years for raping a young girl. Last month, jurors in Muskingum County convicted Joshua Carbaugh, 31, on charges of rape with a sexually violent predator specification and gross sexual impos

A Chandlersville man was sentenced to seven to 10-and-a-half years in prison Monday for holding an infant down and putting the fluid from a herpes lesion into her mouth.

Members of the community had the chance to tour Heroes Landing, Muskingum County’s first children’s justice center, and learn about the programs and resources the center has to offer during an open house Wednesday.

Two separate parents appeared in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court this week to receive their prison sentence for providing drugs to children.

A Newark woman was sentenced to prison Monday for complicity in her boyfriend’s death in a high-speed crash by encouraging him to flee from police.

A Dresden man who groomed and molested a young child he was trusted with caring for faces prison after jurors convicted him of a sex crime last week.

The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office has started several new initiatives in hopes of providing citizens with more information, more transparency and a better understanding of the criminal justice system.

A Zanesville man will spend the next 14 to 19 years in prison for torturing a woman throughout the course of a day while threatening to end her life.