Washington County official accused in Ohio prostitution bust
The Washington County director of public relations was arrested in Ohio last week, accused of attempting to trade money for sex, according to a press release from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.
On Friday, the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force arrested Patrick J. Geho, 55, of Washington, who is accused of responding to an undercover ad and arranging to purchase sex from “some females,” the press release stated. Upon his arrest, Geho identified himself as the director of public relations for Washington County, according to the release.
Law enforcement then confirmed his identity, said Maj. Jeff Allen of the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, which is the lead agency for the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is organized under Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission.
Geho was arraigned Monday in Columbiana County Municipal Court, pleading not guilty to two misdemeanor charges of engaging in prostitution and possession of criminal tools. He was released on a personal recognizance bond and is due back in court June 2, court records show.
Reached for comment Monday night, Washington County Commission Chairman Nick Sherman said, “This is an active police investigation, and I will reserve comment until we can find out more information on the ongoing investigation.”
The task force consists of representatives from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Salem Police Department, East Palestine Police Department, Austintown Police Department, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Youngstown Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority and Ohio Investigative Unit.