Two Portsmouth men have been arrested on pandering charges after becoming suspects in an FBI operation.

Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman says his office was contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations Tuesday, Sept. 3, reporting that during an investigation they were conducting they found electronic messages that appeared to be adults discussing having sexual relations with children.

The FBI also discovered videos and pictures of children.

Arrested were Richard Joshua Dane Patrick Buck, 28, and Keith Ray Starrett, 32, both of 4594 Old Scioto Trail Portsmouth. Both have been charged with six counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, which is a second-degree felony. Starrett in being held on a $120.000 bond and Buck is being held without bond due to having a probation holder placed on him. Both appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court on Thursday, Sept. 5.

Thoroughman said detectives, working jointly with the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and Scioto County Children Services, were able to identify the subjects involved and located an address of the alleged suspects. The investigation revealed that adult males were getting online in chatrooms. They were chatting with other adults about sexual acts with children and were exchanging and downloading child pornography.

Detectives responded to 4594 Old Scioto Trail, Portsmouth, and interviewed two adult males. This resulted in the seizure of two cell phones. While at the residence, detectives observed a canine running around inside. It was determined, from anther investigation, that the dog had been taken from a residence a few blocks away without permission.

Sheriff Thoroughman stated that this is still an ongoing investigation that will result in more charges being presented to the Scioto County Grand Jury on a later date to include the theft of the dog.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Sgt. Jodi Conkel at (740) 351-1091.

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