Court rules murder inmate to get records from Columbiana County sheriff

LISBON, Ohio (WKBN) – The Ohio Supreme ruled that the Columbiana County Sheriff must provide documents to an inmate concerning operations of the privately-run county jail.

The Court ruled Thursday in favor of Terry Brown, formerly of Wellsville, who is currently serving a life sentence at the Belmont Correctional Facility for the 2017 murder and dismembering of Scottie Johnson.

Brown requested information from Columbiana County Sheriff Brian McLaughlin in August 2023 concerning the employees and operations at the county jail, however, McLaughlin only provided two of the requested documents saying that the other records requested were in the hands of the private companies involved in the operation of the jail and that the sheriff's office did not have access to the information.

Brown filed a complaint with the Ohio Supreme Court and the panel decided 6-1 that the sheriff's office must have access to all records and documents created by the private operators related to the facility and inmates. Regardless of whether the documents are in the possession of the public office or the private operator, the records are public, and the sheriff's office has the duty to provide them to the public, the Court concluded.

Brown has filed several complaints, 15 in all, since his conviction including several complaints about the detective in his case, ineffective counsel, prosecutorial misconduct, illegal search, perjury, falsification and dereliction of duty. All cases have been dismissed.