Common Pleas

New Cases

Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Coppell, Texas, vs. Richard Sloan, Danbury Avenue, Wellsville, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for Danbury Avenue, Wellsville property.

JP Morgan Mortgage Acquisition Corp., Greenville, S.C., vs. Linda Lonkert, 18th Street, Wellsville, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for 18th Street, Wellsville property.

DNF Associates LLC, Getzville, N.Y., vs. Alexandria Light, King Road, Salem; collection sought of $1,223 debt.

Onemain Financial Group, LLC, Columbus, vs. Glenn T. Dennis, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Liverpool; collection sought of $3,144 debt.

Docket Entries

Citibank vs. April Ramos, et al.; mortgage foreclosure ordered for Center Street, Wellsville property.

Larry Adkins, et al. vs. William Bowersock, et al.; case stayed due to defendant bankruptcy filing.

Jeri Blackburn vs. Ronnie Blackburn Jr.; divorce granted.

Court News

LISBON — In Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, two men recently sentenced to prison filed challenges with the Seventh District Court of Appeals.

James Wiebe, 53, North Walnut Street, East Palestine, appealed his Feb. 23 sentence of four and a half years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Wiebe had entered a guilty plea to third-degree felony charges of aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs and two counts of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. He received credit for four days and was ordered to forfeit $102 for offering to sell methamphetamine in the vicinity of East Palestine Elementary School on Oct. 10, 2021 and possessed methamphetamine on Oct. 11, 2021 and also March 24, 2021 when he possessed hydrocodone.

Jeffrey L. Harper, 52, Lake Park Boulevard, Sebring, appealed the guilty finding against him and the sentence of 24 months in prison issued earlier this month. After a trial to the court, Harper was found guilty of driving under suspension and two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs a third-degree felony.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Frank Marra III, 38, Newton Falls, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree felonies of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of fentanyl-related compound, with sentencing set for July 10. Charges of aggravated trafficking in drugs and trafficking in fentanyl-related compound will be dismissed. All the charges stemmed from an incident on Nov. 27, 2021 involving methamphetamine and fentanyl-related compound.

— Timothy Wirtz, 47, Lowellville, pleaded guilty to a lesser offense fourth-degree felony attempted compelling prostitution and fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, with sentencing set for July 24. Charges of possessing criminal tools and engaging in prostitution will be dismissed. Wirtz solicited sexual conduct from an undercover agent posing as an adult female in exchange for $80 and from a 15-year-old female friend of the adult, expecting to meet both of them in Salem on May 30, 2022.

— Collinna Bonner, 39, North Shore Drive, Beloit, pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony illegal conveyance of a drug of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility and fifth-degree felonies of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of fentanyl-related compound. Sentencing was set for June 22. All the charges stemmed from Jan. 19, 2021 when she brought drugs into a facility and possessed methamphetamine and fentanyl-related compound.

— Robert Jay Gainer, 36, Cuyahoga Falls, pleaded guilty to a lesser offense fourth-degree felony attempted compelling prostitution and fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, with charges of possession of criminal tools and engaging in prostitution to be dismissed. Sentencing was set for June 26. Gainer solicited sexual conduct from an undercover agent posing as an adult mother of a 15-year-old girl in exchange for $200, arriving in Salem on March 9, 2022 for the meeting with both females.

— Jake McMahon, 29, New Castle, Pa., pleaded guilty to a lesser offense of fourth-degree felony attempted compelling prostitution and fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, with sentencing set for June 30. Charges of possession of criminal tools and engaging in prostitution will be dismissed. McMahon traveled to East Palestine Aug. 20, 2022 after arranging to meet an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old female for sexual activity in exchange for money.

— Jeffrey Pressler, 46, Columbus, pleaded guilty to a lesser offense fourth-degree felony of attempted compelling prostitution, fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and fifth-degree felony importuning, with sentencing set for June 26. A charge of possessing criminal tools will be dismissed. Pressler requested sexual conduct from an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old female in exchange for $160 and traveled to Salem on June 12, 2022 for the arranged meeting.

— Legacy Dubose, 19, Alliance, pleaded guilty to burglary, a third-degree felony, amended from a second-degree felony, for her part in illegally entering a residence on South Lincoln Avenue in Salem on April 11, 2022. Her sentencing was set for June 1.

— John Bowles, 48, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and possession of fentanyl-related compound, both fifth-degree felonies, with a forfeiture specification for money from a drug case, with sentencing June 13. Bowles possessed heroin and fentanyl-related compound, along with $1,895 on April 2, 2021.

— Robert A. Deiss, 68, Bessemer, Pa., pleaded guilty to attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and a lesser offense of attempted compelling prostitution, both fourth-degree felonies, and importuning, a fifth-degree felony. A charge of possessing criminal tools will be dismissed. Sentencing was set for June 23. Deiss was accused of arranging sexual conduct with someone he believed to be a 15-year-old in exchange for money and beer on Oct. 5, 2021.

— John C. Moffatt Jr., 66, Ellwood City, Pa., pleaded guilty to a lesser offense of attempted compelling prostitution, a fourth-degree felony, , with sentencing set for June 22. Charges of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools will be dismissed. Moffatt was accused of arranging for sexual conduct with an undercover agent he believed to be a minor in exchange for money on June 25, 2021.

— Michael W. Hall, 43, Belmar Street, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, with sentencing set for April 25. Hall possessed methamphetamine in an amount in excess of bulk but less than five times the bulk amount on Nov. 29, 2019.

— Kristi McGarry, 29, Canfield, pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony of illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specific governmental facility and fifth-degree felonies of aggravated possession of drugs, possession of controlled substance analog, possession of fentanyl-related compound, possession of heroin and possession of cocaine. The drug charges also carried a specification for forfeiture of money in a drug case for $1,393 she had in her possession. The indictment said the charges all stemmed from an incident Feb. 12, 2022. Drugs in her alleged possession included methamphetamine, fentanyl-related compound, heroin and cocaine.

— Aaron Wolford, 27, Pritchard Avenue, Lisbon, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree felony domestic violence and a misdemeanor of endangering children, with sentencing set June 26. Wolford struck a woman multiple times in the head, causing injury, on Dec. 25, 2022, and put a 2-year-old child at risk. The domestic charge was elevated to a felony due to a previous domestic violence conviction in 2020.

— David Shortt, 59, McDonald, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree felony importuning and fourth-degree felonies of attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and a lesser offense of attempted compelling prostitution for soliciting sexual activity in exchange for money from a law enforcement officer posing as a juvenile on July 21 in Salem. A charge of possessing criminal tools will be dismissed.

— Alexis Harrison, 29, St. Clair Avenue, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to a lesser offense third-degree felony burglary and misdemeanor possessing drug abuse instruments for taking a Louis Vuitton bag from a residence she did not have permission to enter on Sept. 17, 2022 and possessing drug abuse instruments.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, cases against Charles Shelva Lee Bell II, 19, Blakely Street, East Liverpool, were bound over to the county grand jury on charges of third-degree felony burglary and two misdemeanor counts of domestic violence.

Bell allegedly threw a woman around while holding a child and threw her belongings toward the door during an argument April 15 in East Liverpool. On April 7, he was accused of breaking the front window of an East Liverpool residence and entering the occupied home to get his video game system and soliciting his new girlfriend to assault the woman while inside the residence.

Cases against Michael Raymond Dennison, 28, Morris Avenue, Salem, were bound over to the county grand jury on charges of third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual contact with a minor, fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools and misdemeanor engaging in prostitution. Dennison allegedly responded to an undercover ad of an adult mother trafficking her 15-year-old daughter on a known prostitution website, arranging for sexual activity with both females in exchange for $140 and arriving in East Palestine on April 16 for the meeting.

A preliminary hearing was set May 1 for Layne Alexander Lee Edge, 26, Cleveland, charged with third-degree felony having weapons while under disability for having a loaded gun in his vehicle during a traffic stop April 23 in East Liverpool. He was prohibited from having a weapon due to a previous conviction.

A pretrial was set July 13 for Albert Green, 35, LaCroft Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with resisting arrest and domestic violence for allegedly threatening a woman, chest bumping her and yelling at her, making her fear for her and her child on April 21 in Liverpool Township and failing to comply with officers placing him under arrest.

A pretrial was set July 3 for Damien Phillips, 20, Ohio Avenue, Salem, charged with criminal damaging in two separate cases for allegedly slashing the tires on a van at a Salem business on Dec. 1, 2022 and for damaging a sidewalk in Salem on Dec. 8, 2022.

Scotty Haney, 35, Lee Street, East Liverpool, was fined $250 for disorderly conduct, amended from resisting arrest. A charge of obstructing official business was dismissed. Haney was accused of causing a disturbance at an East Liverpool property on Jan. 24, 2022 and pulling away from officers trying to arrest him.

A pretrial was set May 1 for Gary Mills, 53, Youngstown, charged with engaging in prostitution and possession of criminal tools for allegedly contacting a undercover agent posing as a woman, arranging for sex acts in exchange for narcotics and arriving in New Waterford for the meeting April 22.

Thomas J. Kelly, 32, Alliance, was fined $1,000 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for responding to an undercover ad of an adult mother and daughter on a known prostitution website, soliciting sexual conduct with both for $320 and arriving April 21 in East Palestine for the meeting. He was ordered to forfeit $320 to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and ordered to perform 40 hours community service.

Skyler Stinard, 23, Cherry Valley Road, Leetonia, was ordered to serve 30 days in the county jail for violating her probation on multiple charges of domestic violence, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, criminal damaging and menacing.

Justin Martin, 40, Sophia Street, East Liverpool, was fined $250 and sentenced to two days in jail, with credit for two days served, for criminal trespass. Martin had been found not guilty of a theft charge after a trial to the court. Martin was accused of trespassing on July 6, 2022 at a Riffle Road, New Waterford property.

Austin Lowe, 26, Apple Blossom Trail, Beloit, was fined $200 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 160 days suspended, and credit for two days served, for violating a protection order. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service. Lowe violated a protection order on Jan. 17 in Perry Township by contacting a man through social media.

Joseph Ryan Quinn, 22, Orchard Street, East Liverpool, was fined $100 and sentenced to six days in jail, with credit for six days served, for two counts of disorderly conduct for standing in the middle of the road yelling at cars and swaying back and forth on Rubicon Street in East Liverpool on April 18. He was taken to the hospital and left, being found on West Sixth Street displaying the same behavior. The other charge was for being intoxicated on April 8 in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set July 3 for Jeffrey Riachy, 51, Rigby Street, East Liverpool, charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly being intoxicated and having a knife in the area of the V.F.W. in East Liverpool in April. He was ordered to stay away from the V.F.W. and have no weapons.

A pretrial was set July 11 for Leroy McEldowney, College Street, East Liverpool, charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly pulling down his pants in front of a person in East Liverpool on June 7, 2022.

A pretrial was set July 13 for Debra Farkas, 64, South Lane Drive, Hanoverton, charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs first offense and failure to dim headlights.

A pretrial was set July 13 for Emily Brotherton, 30, Van Buren Avenue, Salem, charged with OVI second offense, OVI breath second offense, driving in violation of driving restriction, speeding and failure to stop after an accident.

A pretrial was set July 17 for Scott Cooper II, 39, Seventh Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia for having a rolled dollar bill with white powder residue and plastic bags with white powder residue in a pill bottle during a traffic stop April 22 in Columbiana.

A pretrial was set Charles Stout, 48, West Sixth Street, Salem, charged with possessing marijuana.

Daniel Thomas Smith, 36, Canton, was fined $215 for driving under suspension, speeding and no seat belt.

A pretrial was set July 18 for Glen Windram, 71, Leetonia Road, Leetonia, charged with failure to yield.

A pretrial was set July 20 for Eric Barrios, 32, Woodland Avenue, Salem, charged with driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set July 17 for Scott Cooper II, 39, Seventh Avenue, Columbiana, charged with driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set July 17 for Samantha Galchick, 40, West Pershing Street, Salem, charged with wrongful entrustment.

Harold Bell Jr., 60, West Pershing Street, Salem, was fined $400 for driving under suspension and expired tag.

Alexia Boardwine, 19, North Ridgeville, was fined $250 for speeding.

Michael Miller, 28, Freeman Road, Lisbon, was fined $150 for driving under suspension.

Michelle Crittenden, 53, Alliance, was fined $185 for driving under suspension and speeding.

A pretrial was set June 27 for Brandon Moore, 19, Annsley Road, East Liverpool, charged with driving under suspension and failure to display valid sticker.

A pretrial was set July 18 for William Grafton, 38, West Pershing Street, Salem, charged with speeding and two counts driving under suspension.

Grand Jury

LISBON — A Negley man accused of multiple counts of voyeurism and possessing child porn was served recently with a secret indictment issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury.

Matthew Severs, 40, Taylor Road, was charged with seven counts of illegal use of minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, a second-degree felony, and five counts of voyeurism, a fifth-degree felony.

All the charges stem from a time frame of Jan. 1, 2019 to Nov. 14, 2021.

The illegal use of a minor charges alleged that Severs photographed a minor in a state of nudity. The voyeurism charges alleged that he invaded the privacy of a child to take pictures or video or other actions. The child was a teen.

Sheriff Brian McLaughlin said the case started as a complaint to the sheriff’s office, with a search warrant of the house initiated on Nov. 16, 2021.

Also served with secret indictments were:

— Damien Phillips, 20, Ohio Avenue, Salem, 30 counts of vandalism, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly causing damage to at least 15 or more vehicles at Stadium Chevrolet and a dozen postal delivery trucks at the Salem Post Office between Dec. 1, 2022 and Dec. 3, 2022 in Salem. According to Salem Police reports, multiple tires were slashed on multiple vehicles at both locations.

— David Boggs, 31, County Home Road, Lisbon, illegal conveyance of a drug of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility, a third-degree felony, and aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly taking drugs into a facility and possessing methamphetamine on July 30, 2022.

— Indya Spann, 22, Commerce Street, Wellsville, possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing cocaine on Oct. 19, 2021.

— Carol Jackson, 57, Park Avenue, Columbiana, aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Sept. 23, 2022.