Charles Kirby is former Portsmouth city solicitor

A former Portsmouth city prosecutor has been named as special prosecutor in the domestic violence case of a Lawrence County Commissioner.

Charles Kirby was named by Common Pleas Judge Charles Cooper to handle the prosecution of the case against Les Boggs, who was arrested on Thursday for domestic violence and disrupting public service.

Boggs was accused by a woman who said she had been living at Boggs’ house after her home was flooded. She said the incident followed an argument between the two when Boggs allegedly held her down, attempted to choke her and backhanded her in the face. He then allegedly took her cell phone and threw it into a pond.

Kirby, who is now a partner in Cole, Kirby & Associates, served as an assistant city solicitor and city prosecutor in Portsmouth where he prosecuted a variety of misdemeanor cases.

Boggs is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday in Ironton Municipal Court. His attorney is Scott Evans.