IRONTON, Ohio — The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office says an agency handgun was never out of its holster and was never a danger when a major collected agency-issued equipment from a special deputy in the parking lot of Ironton Middle/Elementary School on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026.
Sheriff Jeff Lawless said a post shared on social media on Thursday raised concerns about the safety of the school after the equipment was collected, and that an investigation began immediately. Lawless said he met with Ironton School Superintendent Sommer McCorkle on Friday morning and reviewed the facts of the situation.
According to the sheriff’s office, Deputy Jason Newman resigned his full-time position with the office on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, at 6 p.m. and remained with the agency as a special deputy. Because of that status, the office said, Newman was permitted to return home with his agency-issued equipment and was expected to turn it in the following day, but did not.
Major John Chapman arranged with Newman on Wednesday night at about 8:25 p.m. to meet at the school on Thursday to retrieve the agency handgun and other items the office must account for, according to the sheriff’s office. Special deputies are not issued county-owned handguns and must carry their personally owned handgun, the office said.
At the time of the exchange, Newman was sitting in his cruiser in the school parking lot and Chapman pulled beside him, window to window, according to the sheriff’s office. The office said Newman handed the equipment directly to Chapman, the items were boxed up as they were collected, and the agency handgun was never out of the holster.
The sheriff’s office said Newman also had his personally owned handgun with him because he knew Chapman would be collecting the agency handgun that day. Deputies carry 9mm handguns and Newman’s personal handgun is a .45 caliber, the office said, so any ammunition collected at the time would not have worked in Newman’s sidearm.
Lawless said allegations that the school was unprotected are not supported by the investigation, because Newman was armed with his handgun as required.
This article is based on a press release issued Nov. 6, 2026, by the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office.
