SCIOTO COUNTY, Ohio. The Scioto County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 71-year-old Minford man on five counts of rape of a child under the age of 13 following an investigation into a sexual assault reported early Wednesday morning.
Estel Winn of Taylor Hill Road in Minford was taken into custody at his residence without incident, according to a press release from Sheriff David Thoroughman’s office. Winn is being held in the Scioto County Jail on a $125,000 bond and is scheduled to appear later today in Portsmouth Municipal Court.
The case began around 1:19 a.m. on July 1, 2026, when the Sheriff’s 911 Communications Center received a request for emergency medical services from a child reporting physical pain. Deputies responded and determined the child’s injuries resulted from a sexual assault. The victim was transported to an out-of-town medical facility for treatment. Detectives were immediately contacted to open a formal investigation.
After an interview at the Sheriff’s Office, Winn was charged with the five rape counts. The investigation remains active and ongoing. Additional charges may be presented to the Scioto County Grand Jury as detectives continue their work.
Sheriff Thoroughman stressed that anyone with information about the case should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel at (740) 351-1091. Callers can remain anonymous.
This marks the latest in a series of child sexual assault investigations handled by the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office in recent months. Local residents in Minford and surrounding communities in south-central Ohio continue to follow developments in the case closely.
The Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff David Thoroughman, serves communities across Scioto County, including Portsmouth, Minford, and nearby areas in southern Ohio. The office handles law enforcement, jail operations, and investigations throughout the county.
