PORTSMOUTH MAN ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE FELONY CHILD EXPLOITATION CHARGES

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Portsmouth, Ohio — The Portsmouth Police Department has announced the arrest of a local man following an investigation into alleged child exploitation offenses.

According to a media release issued April 23, 2026, Gary W. Preston, 55, of Portsmouth, has been charged with multiple felony offenses, including pandering obscenity involving a minor (F2), pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor (F4), and illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material (F5).

The investigation began after the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force contacted Portsmouth Police regarding information that alleged child sexual abuse material had been saved and stored on devices associated with Preston.

On April 23, detectives with the Portsmouth Police Department executed a search warrant at Preston’s residence on 27th Street. As a result of that search, Preston was taken into custody and formally charged.

He was subsequently lodged in the Scioto County Jail and is awaiting arraignment in Portsmouth Municipal Court.

Authorities are asking anyone with additional information related to this case to contact Detective Tori Pistole at 740-354-1600.

All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law

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