West Columbus man accused of raping minor in multiple central Ohio counties
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man has been arrested on rape charges after deputies received a referral of an alleged sexual abuse that occurred in multiple central Ohio counties.
On Dec. 17, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office received a referral of sexual abuse that reportedly occurred in both Franklin and Madison Counties, where a 12-year-old girl is believed to have been the victim of multiple sexual assaults.
One week later a forensic interview was conducted at the Child Assessment Center, where the victim told deputies 43-year-old Scottie O’Brien engaged in oral and vaginal sex with her multiple times. The victim further stated that O’Brien provided her with narcotics, including Percocet and cocaine prior to and during the sexual assaults.
The sheriff’s office said the alleged assaults began in September 2024 in the Pleasant Township area of western Franklin County.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is also investigating additional sexual assault accusations against O'Brien within its jurisdiction, though it is unknown at this time where or when the other incidents took place.
O’Brien was arrested on Thursday and on Monday a Franklin County Municipal Court judge issued O’Brien a $1 million bond on charges of rape, with the victim being under the age of 13. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 17 for a preliminary hearing.