Scioto County Criminal Defense Attorney

Charged with a crime in Scioto County? McCown, Fisher & Cremeans defends felony and misdemeanor cases in the Scioto County Court of Common Pleas 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 Scioto County

Portsmouth is the largest city in our service area and the Scioto County docket is one of the busiest in the region, with a heavy volume of felony drug prosecutions along the US-23 / US-52 corridor.

Scioto County sits in the point where the Scioto River meets the Ohio River, anchored by Portsmouth at the US-23 / US-52 crossroads. We defend clients in Portsmouth and throughout the county, including Portsmouth, New Boston, Wheelersburg, Lucasville, Minford, South Webster, Sciotoville, Otway, and Rarden. 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 Scioto County Sheriff's Office, local police departments, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Charges We Defend in Scioto County

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

How a Scioto County Criminal Case Works

Charging. Misdemeanors are filed in the Portsmouth Municipal Court; felonies are presented to a Scioto County grand jury and indicted into the Scioto County Court of Common Pleas in Portsmouth.
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 Scioto County jury when that is the right call.

Local Courts & Law Enforcement

Scioto County criminal matters move through the Scioto County Court of Common Pleas (felonies) and the Portsmouth Municipal Court (misdemeanors), with the Scioto County Prosecuting Attorney representing the State. Arrests are made by the Scioto 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 Scioto County.

Free Scioto County Consultation

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

Local Court Information

Scioto County Courts, Prosecutor & Sheriff

Common Pleas Court

Felony cases & indicted matters.

Scioto County Court of Common Pleas
602 7th Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662
(740) 355-8207

Municipal Court

Misdemeanor & traffic cases.

Portsmouth Municipal Court
728 Second Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662
(740) 354-3283

Prosecutor & Sheriff

The State’s case & arresting agency.

Scioto County Prosecuting Attorney
612 Sixth Street, Suite E, Portsmouth, OH 45662
(740) 981-3112

Scioto County Sheriff's Office

Drive from Ironton (HQ): 28 miles · ~33 min. Scioto County seat: Portsmouth. County population (2020): 74,008.

Scioto County — Common Questions

Scioto County Criminal Defense FAQ

Where will my criminal case be heard in Scioto County?

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

Do you represent clients throughout Scioto County, Ohio?

Yes. McCown, Fisher & Cremeans defends clients across all of Scioto County — including Portsmouth, New Boston, Wheelersburg, Lucasville, Minford, South Webster, and the surrounding communities. No matter where in the county your charge originates, we can represent you.

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

Right away. Call (740) 532-8744 for a free, confidential consultation. We respond the same business day in most Scioto 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 Portsmouth?

Our Ironton headquarters is 28 miles · ~33 min from Portsmouth, and we also have an office in Chesapeake. We routinely travel to the Scioto 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: Scioto County, Ohio criminal defense — felony and misdemeanor charges in Portsmouth and surrounding communities (Portsmouth, New Boston, Wheelersburg, Lucasville, Minford, South Webster).

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

Where this comes from: the Scioto County Court of Common Pleas, the Portsmouth 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 Scioto 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