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LISBON -- A Pennsylvania man was sentenced last week in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court to four years in prison for charges related to a sex-for-hire sting that happened in 2021 in East Palestine.
A jury found Adam Saunders, 35, Mercer, Pa., guilty of all charges against him, including third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, fifth-degree felony possession of criminal tools and misdemeanor engaging in prostitution.
The jury trial started June 20 and ended June 21 after closing arguments, with jurors taking just an hour to issue a verdict. Sentencing was immediate.
Saunders received a 48-month prison term, with 30 months for compelling prostitution, 12 months for attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and six months for possessing criminal tools, all to be served consecutively. A 180-day sentence for the engaging in prostitution charge was ordered served at the same time as the other terms.
Saunders received credit for three days already served in prison and was deemed a Tier II sex offender, requiring him to register his address in the county where he resides after his release from prison.
He had been accused of answering an undercover ad placed by a Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force agent on a known escort website and arranging for sexual conduct with an adult female and a 14-year-old female in exchange for $400. He traveled to East Palestine for the meeting on Sept. 24, 2021 with his cell phone that was used to make the arrangements.
Also in Common Pleas Court:
-- Robert Herberger, 33, Canfield, who had been employed as a pharmacist at the Salem Rite Aid pharmacy, was placed on a treatment plan for three years after pleading guilty to four counts of theft of drugs, a fourth-degree felony, for stealing oxycodone and acetaminophen from the Rite Aid pharmacy on June 23, 2022, July 1, 2022, July 15, 2022, and July 16, 2022.
-- Robert A. Deiss, 70, Bessemer, Pa., was sentenced to nine months in prison for 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 was dismissed. He was deemed a Tier II sex offender, requiring him to register his address with the county where he resides once he's released from prison. 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.
-- Collinna Bonner, 39, North Shore Drive, Beloit, was placed on probation for four years for 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. All the charges stemmed from Jan. 19, 2021 when she brought drugs into a facility and possessed methamphetamine and fentanyl-related compound.
-- David Evans, 33, Hillcrest Road, Wellsville, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony. Sentencing was set for Sept. 7. Evans possessed methamphetamine and possessed a firearm at the time of the offense on July 15, 2021. He was prohibited from having a firearm due to being under indictment at the time for another case.
-- Kevan Tice, 56, Aten Avenue, Wellsville, pleaded guilty to prosecutor's information for a misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business. He was placed on probation for 12 months. A 90-day jail sentence was suspended and a charge of aggravated possession of drugs was dismissed. The charges stemmed from an incident March 2, 2021.
-- Izaac Devon-Joseph Chalmers, 24, Pittsburg Street, Columbiana, was ordered to serve up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center after violating his probation in a case from 2018. He had been originally sentenced to a year in prison and placed on four years community control after pleading guilty to receiving stolen property, failure to comply with the order of a police officer, endangering children and criminal damaging. Chalmers drove at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour with two small children in the stolen vehicle he was driving at the time of the incident.
Krista Faulkner, now known as Krista Rogers, 46, Minerva Street, East Liverpool, was placed on probation for three years, but also ordered to serve up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center for third-degree felony illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specialized government facility, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and misdemeanor possession of drugs. Faulkner was accused of trying to take drugs into a facility and possessing methamphetamine and butalbital on Aug. 23, 2021.
-- Daniel Piatt, 46, Maple City, Mich., pleaded guilty to attempted compelling prostitution and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, both fourth-degree felonies, with sentencing set for Sept. 22. Charges of possessing criminal tools and engaging in prostitution will be dismissed. Piatt was accused of arranging for sexual activity in exchange for $120 with an undercover agent posing as a female and 15-year-old girl and arriving in East Palestine on Sept. 14, 2022 for the meeting.
-- Chad Ratliff, 51, Chester, W.Va., was placed on probation for two years for two counts nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, for failing to pay child support for two children from May 3, 2020 to May 8, 2022. He received credit for one day served in jail and was ordered to pay his monthly obligation of $332.
-- Duallen J.D. Stanford, 30, state Route 170, Negley, was ordered to serve 120 days in the county jail after his probation was dishonorably terminated for violations of his community control for obstructing justice, a fifth-degree felony, and misdemeanors of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia and possessing drug abuse instruments. The charges stemmed from an incident July 10, 2020.
-- Jessica Morris, 45, Market Street, East Liverpool, was ordered to prison for nine months for violating her probation for possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. Her probation was dishonorably terminated. She was credited for 19 days already served in jail. The charges stemmed from her possession of cocaine and evidence tampering from April 2018.
-- John Bowles, 47, Youngstown, was sentenced to eight months in prison for possession of heroin and possession of fentanyl-related compound, both fifth-degree felonies, and ordered to forfeit $1,825 from a forfeiture specification for money from a drug case. Bowles possessed heroin and fentanyl-related compound, along with $1,895 on April 2, 2021.
-- Timothy Kampher, 39, West Sixth Street, East Liverpool, was placed on probation for three years after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs and possession of drugs, both fifth-degree felonies. Kampher possessed methamphetamine and ketamine on Oct. 16, 2021.
-- Timothy Thrasher, 27, Lincoln Avenue, Wellsville, was placed on an intervention plan for three years after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing hydrocodone on May 4, 2022.
-- Marcus Glasure, 48, Dillonvale, was placed on an intervention plan for three years after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing Flualprazolam on May 22, 2021.
-- Tiyler Tataseo, 23, Irondale, was ordered to serve up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center after being placed on probation for three years for fourth-degree felony domestic violence and using weapons while intoxicated, a misdemeanor. Tataseo attempted or caused harm to a woman and possessed a 9mm handgun on Dec. 9, 2022 in East Liverpool.