Common Pleas

New Cases

Lauren Seidner, East High Street, Lisbon and Zachary Seidner, Girard; dissolution sought.

Docket Entries

Stephanie Cox, Dunn Road, East Liverpool and William Cox Pineview Drive, East Liverpool, dissolution granted.

Huntington National Bank vs. David Thompson et al; plaintiff’s complaint dismissed and plaintiff’s costs.

American Express Bank vs. Adam Newbold, Lincoln Way, Lison, and Advanced Training Group Worldwide Inc., Akron; judgment of $17,586 granted to plaintiff.

Court News

LISBON — An East Liverpool man accused of making threats against a St. Clair Township police officer and his K-9 partner was sentenced to 18 months in a state correctional facility. James Lewis, 52, Dairy Lane, recently entered a guilty plea in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court. The charge was the result of an investigation by St. Clair Township Detective Keith Hilderbrand, who was contacted on Aug. 2, 2022 by a bail bondsman regarding a threat made toward an officer who works for the township, an affidavit said. The bail bondsman reported receiving a call from James Lewis who was allegedly trying to get a bond for a crime he had not committed yet.

In an affidavit, Hilderbrand said he listened to the recorded phone conversation of Lewis allegedly making threats of getting even by inflicting physical harm to the officer who arrested him for a 2017 traffic case in St. Clair Township. Additionally, Lewis allegedly stated that since the officer had a K-9 partner, he would have to break the K-9’s neck, too.

Also in common pleas court:

— Alexis Harrison, 29, St. Clair Avenue, East Liverpool, was sentenced to three years community control sanctions and credit for 111 days for 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.

— Imbe L’Bert, 35, Akron, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs and received one year community control sanctions.

— Stephen Smith, Delta, recently entered a guilty plea to attempted compelling prostitution, a fourth-degree felony, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony, and engaging in prostitution, a misdemeanor. Smith was ordered to have no contact with any minors. Smith allegedly solicited sexual activity with a female and a 15-year-old girl in exchange for $240 after answering an undercover ad. He arrived in East Palestine on Nov. 8 with his cell phone and money. A sentencing hearing was set for Sept. 18.

— Romello Shamoe Edison, 24, West Sixth Street, East Liverpool, recently entered a guilty plea to improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation, a second-degree felony. He fired one shot from a handgun into the door of an occupied East Liverpool bar Oct. 15. A sentencing hearing was set for Sept. 18.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a situation regarding a 3-year-old child who was found standing in the intersection of Main and Washington streets in East Palestine July 24 resulted in fines for Philip Burchett-Price, 20, East Taggart Street, East Palestine, and Billie Burchett, 49, East Taggart Street, East Palestine. Both were fined $250 and ordered to serve 20 hours of community service for disorderly conduct, amended from endangering children.

A preliminary hearing was set June 29 for Georhe Faulkner Jr., state Route 14, East Palestine, charged with failure to verify residence as an arsonist, a fifth-degree felony. Faulkner was convicted of arson in 2017.

Cindel Hawkins, 33, Haywood Street, East Liverpool, was fined $250 for theft and sentenced to 180 days in jail with 177 suspended, three imposed and credit for one credit served. She was also ordered to serve 100 hours of community service and to pay restitution to Giant Eagle in East Liverpool $25. Hawkins shoplifted from the store on Dec. 29.

Jason Wooden, 51, Orrville, was fined $750 for two counts of possessing criminal tools, amended from engaging prostitution. Wooden was also ordered to serve 40 hours of community service. Wooden agreed to exchange $150 with an undercover agent via a cell phone for sexual activity and traveled to Salem to do so on March 29.

A pretrial hearing was set Sept. 11 for Jason Brick, 40, Struthers, charged with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. Brick allegedly agreed to exchange $100 with an undercover agent via a cell phone for sexual activity and traveled to Salem to do so on March 23.

A pretrial hearing was set Sept. 11 for George Fair, 53, Youngstown, charged with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. Fair allegedly agreed to exchange $100 with an undercover agent via an internet ad for sexual activity and traveled to East Palestine to do so on May 29.

A pretrial hearing was set Sept. 7 for Paul Colbert, 46, Farrell, Pa., charged with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. Colbert allegedly agreed to exchange $180 with an undercover agent via a cell phone for sexual activity and traveled to Salem to do so on June 16.

A pretrial hearing was set Sept. 12 for Jerry Womack, 39, Youngstown, charged with engaging in prostitution, drug paraphernalia and possessing criminal tools. Womack allegedly agreed to exchange methamphetamine with an undercover agent via an internet ad for sexual activity and traveled to East Palestine to do so on June 17. Womack reportedly arrived at the meeting location with 13.84 grams of methamphetamine and a meth pipe.

Roger Thomas, 59, Alliance, was fined $1,250 for two counts of engaging in prostitution and two counts of possessing criminal tools. He was also sentenced to 180 days in jail with 170 suspended and credit for three days served. Thomas allegedly agreed to exchange $200 with an undercover agent via a cell phone for sexual activity and traveled to Salem to do so on June 18.

Justin Troyer, Great Falls, Montana, was fined $750 for two counts of possessing criminal tools. He was also sentenced to 18 days in jail with 170 suspended and credit for three days served. Troyer agreed to exchange $200 with an undercover agent via a cell phone for sexual activity and traveled to Salem to do so on May 12.

A pretrial hearing was set Sept. 14 for Timothy Peterson, Unity Line Road, New Waterford, charged with assault. Peterson allegedly grabbed another man by the throat at a residence on Metz Road in New Waterford on June 17. Officers reported that the man had visible red marks on his neck.

Basil McMurray, 24, Empire Street, Leetonia, was fined $1,320 and sentenced to three days served in jail for criminal mischief, criminal damaging, OVI and speeding. He was also ordered to serve 40 hours of community service and attended a driving intervention program. A possession of marijuana charge was dismissed against McMurray. McMurray became aggressive when an ex-girlfriend refused to get in his car at her residence in Lisbon. The female told McMurray she had called police and he left but returned later and damaged her house door. McMurray was located later and was intoxicated while operating his car.

A pretrial hearing was set June 26 for Alyssa Evans, Bradshaw, East Liverpool, charged with domestic violence. Evans allegedly attempted to remove children from the residence. A man reported that Evans had punched him and had also struck the man’s son during the altercation on June 16.

Nicholas Lyden, 37, Cuyahoga, was fined $1,000 for operating a vehicle under the influence and sentenced to 60 hours of community service and 80 days in jail with 70 suspended and credit for 10 served.

A pretrial hearing was set Sept. 11 for Matthew Paul, North Market Street, East Palestine, charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly engaging in fighting and making threats in East Palestine on June 18 and 19.

A pretrial hearing was set Sept. 7 for Chloe Sorgman, Black Road, Lisbon, charged with two counts of OVI, two counts of driving under suspension and traffic control devices.

Timothy Medeiros II, 31, Maple Avenue, Wellsville, was fined $290 and sentenced to 30 days in jail with 27 suspended and credit for three days served for failure to control and reckless operation. He was also ordered to perform 40 hours of community service.

Richard Vecchio, 61, state Route 164, Lisbon, was sentenced to 60 days for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

A pretrial hearing was set Sept. 11 for Jaize Ziegler, Poland, charged with failure to comply, operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and tail lights. Ziegler, a motorcyclist, allegedly failed to stop for an attempted traffic stop on state Route 14 in Salem on June 17. The pursuit ended when Ziegler reportedly drove through a parking lot and struck a curb.

A pretrial hearing was set Sept. 19 for David Murray, 58, West Sixth Street, East Liverpool, charged with parental responsibility for allegedly allowing a juvenile to stay out after curfew.

Joann Martin, 47, state Route 164, Salineville, was fined $85 for no operator’s license and speed.

Clayton Talbert, 28, West Drury Lane, was fined $150 for driving under suspension.

Alonza Richards Jr., St. George Street, East Liverpool, was fined $975 for OVI and failure to control.

A pretrial hearing was set Sept. 11 for Robert Sentz, 51, Osbourne Road, Wellsville, charged with speed.

Gavin Brown, 20, state Route 164, Leetonia, was fined $135 for driving under suspension and speed.

Timothy Fegert, 63, East Taggart Street, East Palestine, was fined $200 for open container and possession of marijuana.

A pretrial hearing was set Sept. 14 for Tiffany Herron, 38, Saline Street, Irondale, charged with failure to reinstate.

A pretrial hearing was set Sept. 12 for Bode Francis, 18 Mock Road, Berlin Center, for peeling tires.

Mel Land, 28, Youngstown, was fined $150 for driving under suspension.