The bill was named after a central Ohio teen who took his own life after being extorted for money to prevent pictures he sent to who he thought was a teenage girl. Following his death, it took his family 10 months to get information off his phone to see what led up to his suicide. The new law gives law enforcement more teeth to go after the people who try to extort the money and requires parents to get access to their deceased child's phone and social accounts within 30 days.

December 6, 2024, Press Release from Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio) — A yearlong investigation by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force has led to the indictment of three women who allegedly operated illicit massage parlors, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene announced today. The indictment, issued Thursday (Dec. 5) by a Mahoning County grand jury, names Aixin Cheng of Virginia; Jinzhi Gong of Illinois; and Man Ryung Yeo of Flushing, New York. The three are charged with multiple felonies,

October 28, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (DELAWARE, Ohio) — The former marketing director of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, who pleaded guilty to 16 felonies, was sentenced to five years in prison today for his role in a scheme that defrauded the zoo of at least $2.3 million, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced. On July 2, Pete Fingerhut pleaded guilty to aggravated theft, conspiracy, tampering with records, and telecommunications fraud. He also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of falsification.

July 23, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (DELAWARE, Ohio) — The former chief executive officer of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium entered a plea of guilty today ahead of his trial date, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today. As part of the plea agreement, Stalf agreed to pay $315,572.65 in criminal restitution to the Columbus Zoo, State of Ohio and Internal Revenue Service. This amount is in addition to the $400,000.00 of restitution already made on his behalf in 2021.

July 19, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (DELAWARE, Ohio) — A former purchasing assistant for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium was charged today with theft, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced. Grant Bell of Gallaway was charged with one count of theft, a fifth-degree felony. Bell is the son of former zoo chief financial officer Greg Bell and worked closely with Tracey Murnane, a former zoo purchasing agent. Both Greg Bell and Murnane have pleaded guilty for their roles in the fraud scheme.

July 8, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (DELAWARE, Ohio) — A former purchasing agent for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium must pay $90,000 in restitution to the zoo after pleading guilty this morning to six felonies and two misdemeanors, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced.

July 2, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (DELAWARE, Ohio) — With a trial date looming, the former marketing director for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium pleaded guilty today to 16 felony counts and one misdemeanor, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today. As part of the plea agreement, Pete Fingerhut will pay $675,572.65 in restitution. The amount includes money to be paid to the zoo, along with back taxes to the state of Ohio and Internal Revenue Service.

42-year-old Dewayne Carter Jr. was indicted by an Allen Co. Grand Jury on 4 charges connected to a January 12, 2024 shooting in Lima.

On January 11th, a trooper pulled over a rental car with Kentucky plates for a traffic violation. When the trooper was talking to them, they noticed the smell of raw marijuana. After searching the car, they found a magnetic box underneath the vehicle with $27,000 worth of fentanyl in it.

Press Release from the Mercer County Sheriff's Office: Celina, OH - Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reports the arrest of 3 individuals on dru…