Common Pleas

New Cases

Angela Weaver, West Wilson Street, Salem, vs. Johnathon Weaver Sr., County Home Road, Lisbon; divorce sought.

Cavalry SPV I, LLC, Columbus, vs. Tim Hephner, Cherry Fork Road, Leetonia; collection sought of $33,625 debt.

Wells Fargo Bank, West Palm Beach, Fla. vs. Jason Riggs, Summit Drive, Salineville, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for Summit Drive, Salineville property.

Progressive Preferred Ins. Co. and Progressive Specialty Ins. Co., both Mayfield Heights, vs. Brittney Vincent, state Route 45, Wellsville; collection sought of $14,734 to recoup payout for accident claims by plaintiff’s insured.

Docket Entries

State of Ohio Department of Taxation vs. Jason Hartsough; $2,519 judgment granted to plaintiff.

Freedom Mortgage Corporation vs. Mathew McIntosh, et al.; mortgage foreclosure ordered for state Route 170, East Palestine property.

Betti Jane Colian vs. Constance Campanelli, deceased, et al.; judgment amended regarding Ohio Avenue, Salem property.

National Collegiate Student Loan Trust vs. Stephen Varkony; judgment granted to plaintiff for $27,753.

PennyMac Loa Services, LLC vs. Cynthia Hickman, heir to estate of Diane S. Fulton, et al.; case dismissed.

Grand Jury

LISBON — Alex Fluharty, 32, Center Street, Leetonia, was served Monday with a secret indictment issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury in December for aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, for allegedly possessing the drug Psilocyn on Jan. 12, 2022 in an amount equal to or greater than the bulk amount, but less than five times the bulk amount.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a preliminary/pretrial hearing was set April 27 for Joseph Frank, 50, Eric Drive, Lisbon, charged with a second-degree felony endangering children charge and misdemeanor domestic violence. Bond was set at $75,000 cash or surety and he was ordered to have no contact with the juvenile victim. Frank was accused of allegedly physically abusing a child, who had wounds and bruising from being beaten and who was lacking proper nutrition from having to stand at the dinner table while others sat to eat due to a points system by the defendant, according to an April 10 affidavit.

The domestic violence charge stemmed from Frank allegedly hitting the boy with a belt, leaving serious welts and bruises on the boy’s body, arms, head and neck on April 6 in Lisbon.

Three cases against Kolton Smith, 25, Winona Road, Salem, were bound over to the county grand jury on charges of two fourth-degree felony domestic violence counts, and misdemeanors of assault and obstructing official business. Another domestic violence charge was dismissed. The charges stemmed from a domestic violence incident on March 29 in Perry Township for allegedly causing physical harm to two victims and causing harm to a third person who responded to help the victims. Smith then fled from the scene.

A case against Matthew L. Withers, 34, Steubenville, was bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fourth-degree felony attempted illegal sexual conduct with a minor, and fifth-degree felonies of importuning and possession of criminal tools. Matthew L. Withers allegedly requested sexual conduct from an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old female in exchange for $120, coming to Salem with his phone on April 8 for the meeting.

Two cases against Andrea Gibson, 45, Rochester Road, East Rochester, were bound over to the county grand jury for fifth-degree felonies of possession of drugs and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. Gibson allegedly possessed suspected methamphetamine during an incident April 5 on U.S. Route 30, Minerva, where a deputy was called for a suspicious female. During the incident, she turned around to adjust her bra and a small bag of suspected methamphetamine fell out. She was also ordered to spend 14 days in jail, with credit for 14 days served, for violating her probation on a domestic violence charge stemming from an incident in February involving a knife.

A case against Kerri Steffel, 35, Barclay Avenue, Salem, was bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony domestic violence and misdemeanors of obstructing official business and criminal mischief for allegedly biting and striking a man during an incident April 8 in Salem, then refusing to cooperate with police, intentionally spitting on the divider in the cruiser and refusing to get out of the cruiser or enter the jail.

Robert K. Barrett, 38, Wells Avenue, Wellsville, was fined $300 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with credit for 26 days served, for misdemeanor domestic violence. A charge of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, was dismissed at the request of the prosecutor without prejudice. Barrett was accused of assaulting a woman on March 6 by punching her in the head, neck, shoulders and spine.

A pretrial was set July 17 for Richard Chludzinski, 49, Walnut Street, Rogers, charged with two counts prohibitions concerning companion animals and a single count of obstructing official business for allegedly shooting two dogs to death on March 31 in Rogers, allegedly after one attacked a cat and the other got out of the kennel. When asked about the two dogs, he allegedly wouldn’t provide anymore information about them to deputies investigating who shot the dogs or where they were, an affidavit said.

Nikki Koffel, 34, West Fourth Street, Salem was fined $200 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 60 days suspended and credit for 20 days served, for assault for pulling the hair of another female inmate at the Columbiana County jail on March 28, taking her to the ground and hitting her.

A sentencing hearing was set April 27 for Alex Rabold, 30, Mercer, Pa., who pleaded no contest to engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website, arranging for sexual activity with a female in exchange for $100 and arriving in East Palestine on April 17 for the meeting.

Sarah Graham, 20, Pinewood Drive, New Waterford, was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 80 days suspended and credit for one day served, for obstructing official business and disorderly conduct for continuing to yell obscenities towards another woman on Nov. 7 in East Palestine after deputies arrived on the scene, also yelling obscenities at deputies. She was ordered to complete 30 hours community service and to have no contact with the victim.

Mary Kay Jones, 24, North Shady Lane, East Liverpool, was fined $100 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for theft for failing to scan and pay for 15 items valued at $53 on Jan. 31 at the Calcutta Walmart.

Diana Andre, 43, Elberon Avenue, Salem, was fined $100 and sentenced to 10 days in jail, with 10 days suspended, for criminal trespass after being found sleeping not he patio of a property in Perry Township on July 11, 2021.

Brian Spayde, 42, Youngstown, was fined $750 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and a 12-hour education course. Spayde was accused of requesting sexual conduct with an undercover agent in exchange for $120 and drove to Salem for the meeting Feb. 3.

Jordan Smeltzer, 36, Ohio Avenue, Salem, was fined $450 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for resisting arrest and two counts of disorderly conduct, one which was amended from assault. Smeltzer was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and make restitution of $490 to the male victim. Smeltzer was accused of assaulting a male and female at Fernangal’s Tavern in Salem on April 7, 2022 and pulling away from police trying to arrest him.

Matthew E. Withers, 34, Youngstown, was fined $300 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 23 days suspended and credit for seven days served, for illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts criminal trespass. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service. He trespassed in a Waddell Street, Leetonia on Jan. 16 and was found hiding in a closet with meth pipes in his possession. The other trespass charge stems from trespassing at the Waddell Street, Leetonia property on April 16.

Nicholas Anderson, 29, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $300 and sentenced to 60 days in jail, with credit for 17 days served, for domestic violence for striking a woman in the face several times with his closed fist on March 31 in East Liverpool.

Brian Detchon, 36, Alliance, was fined $150 for possession of drugs, amended from a felony to a misdemeanor, for possessing methamphetamine during a traffic stop Oct. 31, 2021 in Knox Township.

Keith Dennis, 42, Lisbon Road, Salem, was fined $250 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 150 days suspended, with credit for 11 days served, for aggravated menacing. A charge of domestic violence was dismissed. He was ordered to perform 50 hours community service and to stay away from the victim. Dennis threatened to assault a male victim on April 6 in Salem Township.

Christopher Wood, 29, Toronto, was fined $250 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 150 days suspended and credit for 25 days served for domestic violence. He was ordered to perform 50 hours community service and stay away from the victim. Wood was accused of physically assaulting a woman in East Liverpool in March.

A domestic violence charge against William Gist, 55, West Sixth Street, East Liverpool, was dismissed at the request of the prosecution due to the alleged victim not cooperating. The charge stemmed from an alleged physical assault in East Liverpool on Nov. 30, 2022.

A domestic violence charge against Payton Wilson, 24, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, was dismissed without prejudice due to the inability to contact the alleged victim who was uncooperative. The charge stemmed from an alleged assault in East Liverpool on Aug. 23, 2022

A pretrial was set May 22 for Justin Spack, 29, Arch Street, Salem, charged with disorderly conduct and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing a white powder residue and a fold during an incident Jan. 28 in Salem when he was voluntarily intoxicated from a dangerous drug.

Rodney Allen Carter, 41, Youngstown, was fined $200 and sentenced to 13 days in jail, with credit for 13 days served, for obstructing official business by giving a different name when police came to serve a felony warrant at an East Liverpool residence on March 25.

Matthew Rash, 31, West Third Street, Salem, was fined $250 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 177 days suspended and credit for three days served, for domestic violence. A resisting arrest charge was dismissed. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and take a parenting class. Rash struck a woman in the face during an argument on Jan. 28 in Salem while intoxicated and then ripped his arms from officers and refused to walk after being placed under arrest.

Cody Hancock, 38, Canton, was fined $150 and sentenced to 10 days in jail, with credit for 10 days served, for illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia for possessing an alleged meth pipe during a traffic stop in Columbiana on Oct. 7, 2021.

Jaylynn Lanave, 22, South Main Street, Beloit, was fined $925 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 87 days suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program for operating a vehicle under the influence and marked lanes. Her driver’s license was suspended for a year, with driving privileges granted, and she was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

William Long Jr., 71, Commerce Street, Wellsville, was fined $915 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 87 days suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program. His driver’s license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted, and he was ordered to complete 40 hours community service.

A pretrial was set July 18 for John McCoy, 65, St. Clair Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with five counts failure to pay city income tax for allegedly failing to pay East Liverpool city income tax from 2016 through 2020.

A pretrial was set July 18 for Deborah McCoy, no age listed, St. Clair Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with five counts failure today city income tax for allegedly failing to pay East Liverpool city income tax from 2017 through 2021.

A pretrial was set July 11 for Cody Jones, 33, Mill Street, Salineville, charged with failure to reinstate.

George Williams II, 52, Mars, Pa., was fined $150 for an equipment violation, amended from speeding.

Dustin Farnsworth, 40, Cannons Mill Road, East Liverpool, was fined $75 for driving under suspension.

Grand Jury

LISBON — The case against an East Liverpool man accused of raping a child under the age of 10 from 2014 to 2015 was among the open indictments issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury this week.

Brian David McCune, 41, Dale Street, was indicted for rape, a first-degree felony, and gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony. He remains jailed under a $500,000 cash or surety bond.

An affidavit filed by a St. Clair Township Police detective in county municipal court said he was made aware of a sexual assault by Columbiana County Children Services and that McCune was the alleged perpetrator of the sexual conduct.

The affidavit said that McCune came to the station to speak with the detective on March 3 and allegedly admitted to performing the sexual acts on the child victim in the time period 2014 to 2015 in the child’s bedroom in St. Clair Township. The child would have been 8 or 9 years old at the time.

The charge carries a possible penalty of life in prison due to the age of the victim at the time of the offense.

Also issued open indictments were John K. Douglas, 28, Mulberry Street, East Liverpool, and Lynsey Carroll, 21, also Mulberry Street, East Liverpool, each charged with first-degree felony aggravated burglary and misdemeanor assault. Douglas and Carroll allegedly kicked in the back door of a Mulberry Street, East Liverpool residence on March 3 after an argument about a pizza delivered, then Douglas chased a woman up the stairs, threw her phone and shoved a mattress into her. Carroll allegedly struck the woman in the face with her fist.

The county grand jury met for two days and examined 61 cases, issuing one superseding indictment, 22 open indictments and 38 secret indictments.

A superseding indictment was issued against Mark E. Durbin, 55, Warren, who had already been indicted for tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and misdemeanors of possessing drug abuse instruments and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. New charges added include possession of heroin and possession of fentanyl-related compound, both third-degree felonies and aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. The charges stem from an Oct. 10, 2022 traffic stop in Columbiana when he allegedly possessed multiple empty syringes and some full syringes and threw multiple folds containing an unknown substance on the ground from his pocket which he admitted contained fentanyl. The indictment alleged he also possessed methamphetamine, and more than 50 but less than 100 doses of heroin and fentanyl-related compound.

Other defendants openly indicted included:

— William J. Martin, 50, Carrollton, fifth-degree felony breaking and entering for allegedly entering an unoccupied structure on Sept. 27, 2022.

— Brian J. Pugh, 47, Chester, W.Va., fifth-degree felony theft, for allegedly failing to scan and pay for 75 items totaling $1,175 at the Calcutta Walmart on Dec. 20.

— Jordan Swain, 35, Mattix Road, Lisbon, third-degree felony having weapons under disability and misdemeanors of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, obstructing official business and driving under financial responsibility law suspension or cancellation for allegedly having a firearm in his possession and drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop on Jan. 30 in Lisbon while under felony indictment for a drug charge.

— Christopher Nixon, 44, New Cumberland, W.Va., fifth-degree felony unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance and misdemeanors of possessing drug abuse instruments, illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts obstructing official business for allegedly having two explosive devices and a digital scale with residue during a traffic stop in Lisbon Feb. 6.

— Nikki Koffel, 34, West Fourth Street, East Liverpool, third-degree felony tamping with evidence, fifth-degree felonies of assault and obstructing official business and misdemeanor assault for an incident Feb. 25 when she allegedly assaulted a nurse at East Liverpool City Hospital by biting her and kicking her while being treated for a possible overdose that occurred while she was being transported to jail. Koffel had been at the hospital earlier and taken into custody on a warrant. Once she was returned to the county jail, Koffel allegedly shoved a baggie in her mouth and refused to spit it out. When a correctional officer tried to remove the bag, she allegedly kicked the officer in the chest and bit the officer when the officer attempted to pry her mouth open. The tampering charge stemmed from Koffel attempting to swallow the alleged drugs she had placed in her mouth.

— Anton Schafer, 38, Huston Road, East Liverpool, theft and three counts breaking and entering, all fifth-degree felonies, and misdemeanor criminal damaging or endangering for allegedly breaking into Vernon Dell Tractor Sales, where he was employed on Dec. 1, Dec. 5 and Dec. 8 and stealing $1,709 over those eight days.

— Donald Fiore, 56, North Ellsworth Avenue, Salem, third-degree felony domestic violence for allegedly throwing a woman to the ground and hitting her in the face on March 7 after being charged previously with domestic violence in Mahoning County.

— Bryan K. Dillingers, 51, state Route 7, Lisbon, fourth-degree felony failure to provide notice of change of address for allegedly failing on Feb. 15 to provide the sheriff’s office with his new address as required for sex offender registration.

— Stephanie Igo, 34, Jimtown Road, East Palestine, fourth-degree felony domestic violence for allegedly assaulting a man on Feb. 14 in East Palestine, Unity Township. She had a previous conviction for domestic violence, elevating the charge to a felony.

— Larry D. Ellis Jr., 37, state Route 45, Lisbon, third-degree felony domestic violence for allegedly grabbing a woman by the hair, shoving her against the wall and onto the bed and threatening her on Feb. 27 in Lisbon.

— Glenn E. Collins III, 41, Longs Church Road, East Liverpool, second-degree felony burglary and three counts of misdemeanor violation of protection order for an incident July 22, 2022.

— John J. Slates, 75, Richmond, third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fifth-degree felonies of importuning and possessing criminal tools, fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and misdemeanor engaging in prostitution for allegedly driving to Salem on Jan. 6 to meet an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old girl for sexual conduct in exchange for $150.

— Gregory Swan, 63, Weirton, W.Va., third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fifth-degree felonies of importuning and possessing criminal tools and fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor for allegedly arranging to meet a law enforcement officer posing as a teen for sexual conduct from Nov. 10, 2022 to Nov. 26, 2022.

— Lucas Keck, 28, Continental Drive, Salem, two separate indictments for fourth-degree felony trespass in a habitation when person present or likely to be present for allegedly entering homes on New Garden Road and Woodsdale Road outside Salem after crashing his vehicle on New Garden Road near Conser Drive on March 14.

— Nathaniel Hodgson, 39, Arch Street, Salem, third-degree felony having weapons while under disability and fourth-degree felony improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle for allegedly possessing a straw with residue and a loaded firearm during a traffic stop March 11 in Salem. He’s prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous conviction for aggravated trafficking in drugs.

— Robert Harroff, 34, North Lima, two counts second-degree burglary and fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools for allegedly illegally entering properties on Aug. 25, 2022 and Aug. 29, 2022 and having a head lamp, gloves and bolt cutters in his possession.

— Bristen Lavant, 27, Smithfield Street, East Liverpool, third-degree felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanor resisting arrest for allegedly trying to hide a clear bag of white powder down his pants and then throwing it to the ground, then pulling away from officers and trying to flee on foot on March 5 in East Liverpool.