Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 24, 2026
TWO ZANESVILLE MEN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS EACH IN CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL CASE
(ZANESVILLE, Ohio) — Two Zanesville men arrested after investigators uncovered more than 100 images and videos of child sexual abuse material and communications discussing the sexual abuse of children have each been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Richard Skaggs, 35, and Dairyen Morgan, 29, were arrested September 17 following the execution of search warrants at their Zanesville homes.
Six days later, on September 23, both men appeared before Muskingum County Common Pleas Court Judge Gerald Anderson and admitted their guilt through bills of information.
Using a bill of information allowed the State to proceed without presenting the cases to a grand jury and eliminated the need for a trial.
Judge Anderson sentenced each man to 20 years in prison.
THE INVESTIGATION
The investigation began in August when Zanesville Police Commander Phil Michel received a tip through the Internet Crimes Against Children system.
Investigators ultimately recovered more than 100 images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
A search warrant for Skaggs's Kik account also uncovered messages between Skaggs and Morgan discussing the sexual abuse of children.
The communications revealed something even more concerning: the two men discussed finding and sexually abusing a child together.
Investigators also discovered messages indicating that Skaggs had placed an SD card containing child sexual abuse material in a specific location for Morgan to pick up later.
That SD card was later recovered from Morgan's bedroom during the execution of a search warrant.
Additional evidence recovered from phones, computers, online accounts, and other digital media documented the extent of the men's interest in child sexual abuse material, including material depicting the sexual assault of very young children.
ACCOUNTABILITY WITHOUT A TRIAL
The strength of the investigation allowed prosecutors to secure guilty pleas and 20-year prison sentences for both men just six days after their arrests.
That resolution spared victims from having to testify at trial and resulted in immediate and significant punishment.
Child sexual abuse material documents the actual sexual abuse and exploitation of real children. A trial can require evidence concerning the children depicted in that material and, depending upon what is necessary to prove a particular case, testimony from victims, their parents, investigators, or other witnesses.
Here, prosecutors obtained 20-year prison sentences without requiring a trial or risking the additional trauma that courtroom testimony can impose upon child victims and their families.
Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch said the evidence demonstrates why investigations into child sexual abuse material are so important.
“The monsters who view child sexual abuse material aren't just satisfied with seeing a child abused. They want to make it happen. They want to sexually abuse children themselves,” Welch said.
“That is exactly what makes the evidence in this case so disturbing. These two men weren't simply looking at horrific images. Their own communications showed them discussing how they could sexually abuse a child together.”
“Fortunately, through the investigative efforts of law enforcement, these two monsters were stopped before they were able to make those fantasies a reality.”
20 YEARS EACH
Assistant Prosecutor John Litle handled the cases on behalf of the State of Ohio.
“This case involved some of the most repugnant, disturbing, and totally unacceptable behavior and content imaginable,” Litle said. “These two individuals lived in our community and were proudly plotting the sickest acts imaginable.”
As part of the resolution of the case, Skaggs forfeited nearly 40 firearms found in his possession.
Both men will be required to register as sex offenders if they are ever released from prison.
The Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office recognizes Commander Phil Michel, the Zanesville Police Department, and the Cambridge Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their work investigating the case.
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