Portsmouth man arrested for sexual battery

UPDATE:

Boyd Robert “Robbie” Shugert, 24, was arrested on sex-related charges involving teenage boys.

On Wednesday, the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Shugert was a volunteer with the Scioto County Honors Choir. Deputies say some of the victims who have come forward met Shughert through the choir. They say they’re still determining how long Shugert was a volunteer there.

According to deputies, Shugert solicited for sex acts and took naked photos of teen boys while they were sleeping and in the restroom stall.

Detective Jodi Conkel said most victims didn’t even know.

“They were shocked. I was the one that had to tell them that that took place.”

Conkel said a concerned parent came forward on Easter Sunday.

Shugert was arrested by deputies in a restaurant parking lot in Rosemount. He believing he was meeting a 15-year-old boy for a sex act and was willing to pay $200. But it reality, Conkel said had been messaging back and forth with her on Snapchat.

Shugert was hired in the fall as a math teacher at Clay High School.

Superintendent Todd Warnock declined to be interviewed but said Shugert’s on unpaid leave. He has until noon on Wednesday to resign.

On Wednesday, Scioto County Sheriff’s deputies also were following up with the Clay School District to find out if they had received resignation papers from Shugert.

Deputies believe, at this time, no criminal acts took place on school grounds or because he was a teacher. One parent said he was well liked.

Shugert allegedly met his victims through volunteer positions, one with a local choir and as a youth group volunteer with Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Portsmouth.

“When you have an adult, a person like that, that person preys on children. They’re good at that,” Conkel said. “That’s what they do. These kids, they’re victims. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Cornerstone Pastor Tim Roth said Shugert has been a longtime attender there, on the church’s praise team and youth group volunteer for the last three to four years.

Roth said church policy requires two adults at all times at youth group functions.

He said his heart goes out to all the victims and their families. He offers counseling to anyone. He also wants any potential victim to contact the sheriff’s office.

“As a pastor, I’ve shed a few tears in the past 24 hours. It’s hard to sleep last night. It’s been hard, hard for everyone.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, Shugert remains in the Scioto County Jail on four felony counts including sexual battery. His bond is set at $300,000.

Conkel isn’t sure how many victims are out there, but advises anyone with information to come forward on this case or anytime they think they might be a victim.

She said so far, all of Shugert’s alleged victims have been male.

She advises people to pay attention to their surroundings, even if you think you’re in a private place.

Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini stated that his office received a call on April 1, 2018 reporting a concern that several juvenile males might be victims of a sexual assault. Sheriff Donini stated that his detectives started investigating the complaints talking to numerous victims and their parents. During this investigation detectives were able to determine that the suspect had been soliciting sexual acts and naked photos from the victims and was paying them money for those services. Detectives also learned that the suspect had taken naked pictures of juvenile males while they were sleeping and that he had taken videos of juveniles naked in the restroom without the victims knowing by placing his phone over a bathroom stall. Captain John W. Murphy stated that the suspect contacted a 15 year old male on April 1, 2018 through snapchat wanting to pay him $200 for oral sex and to take naked photos for him, he arranged for the juvenile to meet him at a Rosemount location that resulted in the suspect being detained without incident. Arrested was Boyd Robert Shugert age 24 of Portsmouth, Shugert has been charged with 1 count of sexual battery a felony of the 3nd degree, 1 count of attempted sexual battery a felony of the 3rd degree, 1 count of illegal use of a minor in nude material a felony of the 2nd degree and pandering sexual material involving a juvenile a felony of the 2nd degree. Shugert is currently being held in the Scioto County jail on a $300,000.00 bond. Sheriff Donini stated that this is an ongoing investigation that will result in more charges being presented to the Scioto County Grand Jury on a later date. Captain John W. Murphy states that if anyone has any information regarding this case should contact Detective Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091 All calls will be kept confidential.