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Common Pleas
Docket Entries
Christopher Chuey, et al. vs. Nancy Gilson, et al.; default judgment granted against defendants Roderick P. Gerus, Stephanie Gerus, Barry Bartug Jr. and Scott Gerus, motion for default judgment against defendant Delores Patkash (Gerus) denied.
Bank of America, N.A. vs. David Fusco, et al.; case stayed.
Huntington National Bank vs. Joseph Lippiatt, et al.; mortgage foreclosure ordered for South Union Avenue, Salem property.
U.S. Bank National Association vs. Ashley Murphy; $7,389 judgment granted to plaintiff.
Grange Indeminity Insurance Company vs. Robert Crosser; case settled and dismissed.
Becky Perkins vs. Eric Perkins; divorce granted.
County Treasurer vs. David Firestone, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Kelly Park Road, Leetonia property.
County Treasurer vs. Dean Smith Jr., et al.; payment plan entered, case stayed.
Court News
LISBON -- In Columbiana County Common Pleas Court recently, Raymond Sphaler, 44, New Castle, Pa., pleaded guilty to attempted compelling prostitution, a fourth-degree felony, with sentencing set for April 26. Sphaler was originally indicted for compelling prostitution and possessing criminal tools, both felonies, for coming to East Palestine on April 10 with a cell phone and money after arranging to meet an undercover agent posing as a 16-year-old female online for sexual conduct in exchange for $180.
-- Jacob Gray, 34, Jones Drive, Salem, was placed on a treatment plan for four years after pleading guilty to possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing a fentanyl-related compound on May 22, 2021.
-- Todd McClain, 45, Youngstown, was placed on a treatment plan for four years after pleading guilty to possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing a fentanyl-related compound on Sept. 19, 2021.
-- Carl Moore, 43, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, with credit for one day served. Moore possessed a loaded firearm and methamphetamine during a traffic stop June 10, 2021.
-- Andre Owens, 24, Elm Street, East Liverpool, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, along with prosecutor's information on a charge of possession of fentanyl-related compound, a third-degree felony, with credit for 17 days already served. Owens hid two bags of white substances inside his pants and refused to cooperate with Wellsville police attempting to take him into custody on March 11, 2021. Owens also pleaded guilty to having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony from a separate indictment. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, to be served at the same time at the other sentence. On Aug. 8, 2022, he had a gun in his possession and was prohibited from having a weapon due to a previous conviction for drugs.
-- Brian Digman, 31, Columbia Street, Salem, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree felonies of breaking and entering, two counts receiving stolen property and two counts forgery, with sentencing set for April 28. Digman was picked up on a bench warrant in September 2022 after the warrant was issued in 2016 when he failed to appear for a hearing. Digman trespassed at F.W. Flory Inc. on Jennings Avenue, Salem and forged two checks from the company on Feb. 24 and 25 in 2015.
-- Cornelius Booth, 46, Youngstown, pleaded guilty to a lesser-included offense of trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony, along with a money forfeiture, with sentencing set for April 28. He was originally charged with aggravated trafficking in drugs for offering to sell methamphetamine and having $410 in his possession on March 5, 2021.
-- Stephanie Herstine, 27, England Drive, East Palestine, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, with sentencing set for May 12. Herstine possessed methamphetamine more than the bulk amount but less than five times the bulk amount on Oct. 22, 2021.
-- Quint Witherow, 41, state Route 164, Leetonia, pleaded guilty to possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for March 24. Witherow possessed a fentanyl-related compound on Jan. 2, 2021.
-- An indictment for two counts of drug possession from 2021 was dismissed against Tyler McCaslin, 34, Salem, due to his recent death.
-- A motion for judicial release was denied for John Sullivan Jr., 51, Valley Avenue, East Liverpool, who was sentenced to 26 months in prison, with 243 days credit for time already served, for trespass in a habitation and attempted grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, both fourth-degree felonies, and criminal damaging, a misdemeanor. Sullivan trespassed in an occupied home to steal a 9mm gun and damaged a truck on Feb. 10, 2021.
-- A case against Eric Taggart, 43, Koppel, Pa., was dismissed without prejudice at the request of the prosecution, noting Taggart was charged in Pennsylvania with multiple sex offenses. He had been charged in Columbiana County with distributing matter harmful to juveniles, with his case previously bound over to the grand jury. Without prejudice means the case can be refiled.
-- Zachary Vescio, 22, North Beaver Street, Lisbon, was sentenced to six months in prison after his probation for aggravated trafficking in drugs was dishonorably terminated for violations. The sentence was ordered served consecutive to a recent sentence of two and a half years for burglary, a second-degree felony, grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, breaking and entering and attempted grand theft of a motor vehicle, both fifth-degree felonies and misdemeanor operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs for a May 7, 2022 incident in Negley. The drug charge dated back to 2020. He recently filed an appeal of his sentence in the burglary case.
-- Kaci O'Neil, 39, Thompson Avenue, East Liverpool, was placed on an intervention plan for five years after pleading guilty to theft, a fifth-degree felony, for stealing $6,600 from SuperCuts from April 1, 2022 to May 31, 2022. She was ordered to have no contact with SuperCuts and to pay restitution of $6,600.
-- Eric Smith, 36, Laneve Lane, Wellsville, was placed on an intervention plan for three years after pleading guilty to possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing buprenorphine on March 31, 2021.
-- Angel Lewis, 36, Prospect Street, Salem, was placed under community control for three years after pleading guilty to improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and a misdemeanor for illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia for allegedly having a loaded firearm in her vehicle during a traffic stop in Rogers on April 15, 2022 and then admitting to have a crack pipe while on the way to the jail.
-- Katrina Stanley, 29, Newell, W.Va., was ordered to serve 60 days in the county jail after her probation was dishonorably terminated for violating the terms of her community control for charges of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of cocaine. Stanley had originally been placed on a treatment plan. She possessed cocaine and drug paraphernalia on Feb. 26, 2019.