Ross County, Ohio

Ross County Criminal Defense Attorney

Charged with a crime in Ross County? McCown, Fisher & Cremeans defends felony and misdemeanor cases in the Ross County Common Pleas Court (General Division) and the local municipal court — with the same procedural rigor we bring to every courtroom in our nine-county Southern Ohio footprint.

Reviewed by Brian M. Cremeans, Esq. · Updated October 2026

Criminal Defense in Ross County

Chillicothe, Ohio's first capital, is a regional hub where three U.S. routes converge; the Ross County courts hear one of the larger criminal dockets in the region.

Ross County sits in the Scioto River valley around Ohio's first capital, where US-23, US-35, and US-50 converge. We defend clients in Chillicothe and throughout the county, including Chillicothe, Frankfort, Kingston, Bainbridge, Adelphi, Clarksburg, and South Salem. Charges in this part of Southern Ohio commonly arise from traffic stops along the county’s main routes, searches of homes and vehicles, and incidents involving the Ross County Sheriff's Office, local police departments, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Charges We Defend in Ross County

We handle the full range of felony and misdemeanor charges in Ross County, in both the Common Pleas and municipal courts:

How a Ross County Criminal Case Works

Charging. Misdemeanors are filed in the Chillicothe Municipal Court; felonies are presented to a Ross County grand jury and indicted into the Ross County Common Pleas Court (General Division) in Chillicothe.
Arraignment & bond. We address bond and release conditions early so you can keep working and living your life while the case is pending.
Discovery & investigation. We obtain the reports, body-camera and dash-camera video, lab results, and witness statements, and conduct our own independent investigation.
Suppression. Where the facts support it, we move to suppress evidence obtained through an unlawful stop, search, or interrogation — which can gut the State’s case.
Resolution. We negotiate for dismissal, diversion, or reduction from a position of trial readiness — and try the case to a Ross County jury when that is the right call.

Local Courts & Law Enforcement

Ross County criminal matters move through the Ross County Common Pleas Court (General Division) (felonies) and the Chillicothe Municipal Court (misdemeanors), with the Ross County Prosecuting Attorney representing the State. Arrests are made by the Ross County Sheriff's Office, municipal police departments, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. We know these courthouses, the local docket practices, and how cases actually move in Ross County.

Free Ross County Consultation

Call (740) 532-8744 for a free, confidential review of your Ross County charge. Both attorneys take Ross County cases personally, and we respond the same business day in most cases.

Local Court Information

Ross County Courts, Prosecutor & Sheriff

Common Pleas Court

Felony cases & indicted matters.

Ross County Common Pleas Court (General Division)
2 North Paint Street, Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 702-3032

Municipal Court

Misdemeanor & traffic cases.

Chillicothe Municipal Court
95 East Main Street, Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 773-3515

Prosecutor & Sheriff

The State’s case & arresting agency.

Ross County Prosecuting Attorney
33 West Main Street, Suite 200, Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 702-3115

Ross County Sheriff's Office

Drive from Ironton (HQ): 68–71 miles. Ross County seat: Chillicothe. County population (2020): 77,093.

Ross County — Common Questions

Ross County Criminal Defense FAQ

Where will my criminal case be heard in Ross County?

It depends on the level of the charge. Felony cases are prosecuted in the Ross County Common Pleas Court (General Division) in Chillicothe, while misdemeanors and most traffic offenses are heard in the Chillicothe Municipal Court. We appear regularly in both courts and handle the case wherever it is filed.

Do you represent clients throughout Ross County, Ohio?

Yes. McCown, Fisher & Cremeans defends clients across all of Ross County — including Chillicothe, Frankfort, Kingston, Bainbridge, Adelphi, Clarksburg, and the surrounding communities. No matter where in the county your charge originates, we can represent you.

How quickly can I reach a Ross County criminal defense lawyer?

Right away. Call (740) 532-8744 for a free, confidential consultation. We respond the same business day in most Ross County matters, and the first 48 hours after an arrest are when an attorney can do the most to protect your rights and your record.

How far is your office from Chillicothe?

Our Ironton headquarters is 68–71 miles from Chillicothe, and we also have an office in Chesapeake. We routinely travel to the Ross County courts, and we offer virtual appointments and texting (text us at (220) 215-0832) — so distance is never a barrier to representation.

The Short Version.

What this page covers: Ross County, Ohio criminal defense — felony and misdemeanor charges in Chillicothe and surrounding communities (Chillicothe, Frankfort, Kingston, Bainbridge, Adelphi, Clarksburg).

Bottom line: If you have been charged with a crime in Ross County, call (740) 532-8744 before speaking with anyone. The first 48 hours matter most.

Where this comes from: the Ross County Common Pleas Court (General Division), the Chillicothe Municipal Court, the Ohio Revised Code, and 50+ years of combined criminal-defense experience at McCown, Fisher & Cremeans LPA, with offices in Ironton and Chesapeake.

For specific advice on your case: call (740) 532-8744 for a free, same-day Ross County consultation.

Free, Confidential Consultation. Same-Day Response. Two Offices.

An arrest is not a conviction. The sooner an attorney is reviewing the stop, the search, and the State’s evidence, the more options you have. Call now or request a free case review — there is no cost and no obligation.

Call (740) 532-8744 Free Case Review