Thomas E. Carson

A Bellaire man has been charged with the rape of a minor under age 13, according to the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the BCSO, Thomas Edward Carson, 47, was charged in Eastern Division Court in Belmont County. The charges came from an investigation that began in early September, when Belmont County Sheriff’s detectives began looking into the alleged rape of a 12-year-old.

This is an ongoing investigation, according to the sheriff’s office, and other charges may be presented to a grand jury at a later date for consideration. Belmont County Sheriff James Zusack said he appreciated the hard work and dedication of his detectives to bring this matter to justice.

Several agencies around the Ohio Valley contributed to the investigation, including the U.S. Marshals Service of the Northern District of West Virginia, the Bellaire Police Department, the Martins Ferry Police Department, Belmont County Child Protective Services, and the Wheeling Police Department.

Anyone with information regarding Thomas E. Carson may contact the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit at 740-695-7933.