Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Serial Burglar & Thief Apprehended in Zanesville After Franklin County Release
ZANESVILLE, OH -
Liban Mohamoud, 26, of Columbus, Ohio was arrested and charged this week for Aggravated Burglary, Robbery, fourteen (14) counts of Felony Theft and other charges after once-again going on a central-Ohio crime spree.
Mohamoud was previously prosecuted in Franklin County for the same type of offense. His prosecution in Franklin County resulted in a Burglary charge that was pled down to a less serious offense of Theft. For this charge Mohamoud was not incarcerated and received mandatory probation. A few months later, he was caught committing a new felony in a different county.
In that case, Mohamoud was granted “intervention in lieu of conviction.” This is a process that legislators advertised as applying to first time drug offenders to keep their record clean if they attend drug treatment. The process has been broadly expanded and now permits felons – even those on felony probation – to have new felony cases dismissed.
Since being placed on probation, and being placed in “intervention in lieu of conviction”, Mohamoud has picked up two additional warrants for identity fraud and receiving stolen property in Franklin County.
Mohamoud spent the morning hours of March 9, 2026, burglarizing and stealing from a fitness center in Newark, Ohio before making his getaway. Newark Police were on the case but were unable to locate the perpetrator.
Mohamoud’s luck ran out when the quick actions of Zanesville Ptlm. Adam Chinchic and Muskingum County Deputy Evan Whyde, caught Mohamoud as he fled in a rented car after burglarizing a Zanesville fitness center and assaulting one of the patrons prior to running away.
Mohamoud faces a recommended bond of $500,000 cash, property or surety due to his regional fugitive status.
As is true for all suspects, Mohamoud is presumed innocent until he is found guilty by a panel of Muskingum County jurors.
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