Common Pleas

New Cases

Wesley Bean, Calcutta, vs. Katherine Bean, Kent; divorce sought.

Kevin Thomas doing business as Hunt’s Construction Inc., Diamond, vs. Homestead Pools, East Pidgeon Road, Salem; collection sought of $7,000 allegedly owed for unpaid invoice for materials and labor for hot tub project from June 25, 2020 to Nov. 24, 2020.

Capital One, N.A., Dublin, vs. Zach Wright, North Ellsworth Avenue, Salem; collection sought of $17,060 debt.

Docket Entries

Christine Ossmann vs. Joseph Ossmann; divorce granted.

Deborah Simpson and Matthew Simpson; dissolution granted.

Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC vs. Thomas W. Martin, et al.; case reinstated to active docket.

Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC vs. Tonya Lewis, et al.; claims dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. Donald Giordano, et al.; property forfeited to state, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. William Weber Jr., et al.; property forfeited to state, case dismissed.

Linda Cunningham vs. Dollar Tree Stores Inc. and Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation; case settled and dismissed.

Marriage Licenses

Jonathon Hostetter, 23, Columbiana, tower tech, and Jessica Andrews, 24, Columbiana, unemployed.

Kevin Morris, 54, East Liverpool, stocker, and Cynthia Roberts, 64, Wellsville, personal shopper.

Michael Boyd, 38, East Liverpool, police officer, and Robin Johnston, 26, East Liverpool, 911 dispatcher.

Matthew Hostetter, 36, East Palestine, steel worker, and Kileina Walker, 34, Kensington, mail carrier.

Brandon Patterson, 23, Lisbon, washrack operator, and Abigail Cline, 21, Lisbon, paraprofessional.

Thane Richey, 28, Columbiana, welder, and Julia Dubaj, 27, Columbiana, student.

Matthew Johnson, 60, Wellsville, lumberyard supervisor, and Suprapti Johnson, 53, Wellsville, housekeeping.

Hunter Mackall, 21, Leetonia, manufacturing, and Briana Maurer, 20, Leetonia, hairdresser.

Jason Miller, 30, Salem, systems administrator, and Taryn Grodhaus, 26, Salem, registered nurse.

Court News

LISBON — A Pennsylvania man sentenced last month to four years in prison for charges related to a sex-for-hire sting that happened in 2021 in East Palestine filed an appeal Monday to challenge his punishment.

Adam Saunders, 35, Mercer, Pa., whose current address was listed as Orient, filed the appeal with the Seventh District Court of Appeals.

A jury found him guilty of all charges against him after a two-day trial, with Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton issuing an immediate sentence of 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 for a total of 48 months or four years. A 180-day sentence for the engaging in prostitution charge was ordered served at the same time as the other terms.

At the time of sentencing, 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 the cell phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Timothy Sigler, 25, Cleveland, pleaded guilty to complicity to breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony, and receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony, with sentencing set for July 31. Sigler was accused of aiding or abetting another man in the commission of a break-in on Dec. 28, 2017 and also had in his possession a stolen 2017 Ford Taurus belonging to Kimberly Pollock.

— Jason Nalley, 41, St. Clair Avenue, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for Oct. 6 for possessing methamphetamine on April 27, 2021.

— Cristina Ray, 47, Mansfield, pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, with sentenced set for Sept. 25 for possessing fentanyl-related compound on March 1, 2022.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a preliminary hearing was set July 31 for William Tyson, 44, East Taggart Street, East Palestine, charged with second-degree felony burglary for allegedly entering a woman’s residence on East Taggart Street, East Palestine on July 23 and stealing a safe containing personal documents and quarters.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set July 31 for Justin Ramsey, 27, North Lima, charged with fourth-degree felony assault on a police officer and misdemeanors of obstructing official business, operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving under suspension and reasonable control. Ramsey was accused of causing physical harm to a Perry Township police patrolman by striking him in the face with the back of his head while the officer was attempting to secure him in the back of a cruiser on July 22 after Ramsey allegedly crashed his vehicle in Perry Township. While in the back of the cruiser, Ramsey allegedly unbuckled his seat belt, slipped his handcuffs to the front and then kicked and hit the inside of the patrol car.

A case against Amber Nguyen, 39, Monroe Avenue, Salem, was bound over to the county grand jury for a fourth-degree felony burglary charge for allegedly forcing entry into a property on Steubenville Pike Road, Lisbon, on July 16. She was also fined $250 for unauthorized plate and driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set Oct. 2 for Latroy Taiwan McMillian, 29, Warren charged with possessing criminal tools and soliciting for allegedly advertising a sex for hire opportunity on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual conduct in exchange for $150 with an undercover agent, driving to East Palestine on July 7 for the meeting.

A pretrial was set Aug. 10 for Joel Lodge, 32, state Route 9, Hanoverton, charged with domestic violence for allegedly causing physical harm to a woman on July 17 in Elkrun Township.

A pretrial was set Aug. 3 for Michael Arnold, 34, Northside Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with domestic violence for allegedly biting a woman in the face and then choking her during a domestic disturbance on July 21 in East Liverpool.

Richard Lee Allison, 31, Walnut Street, East Liverpool, was fined $250 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 170 days suspended, leaving 10 days to serve for theft. He was ordered to perform 20 hours community service and told to stay out of Calcutta Walmart. Allison was charged for taking one item totaling $49 from the self checkout and placing it back in the cart without paying for it on July 16. He was fined $200 for driving under suspension.

Ryan Kost, 25, state Route 14, New Waterford, was fined $200 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 177 days suspended and credit for three days served for failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer after fleeing from a New Waterford property at a high rate of speed, refusing to stop for police on Feb. 5.

A pretrial was set Oct. 24 for Mary Beth Riggs, 32, Sophia Street, East Liverpool, charged with theft for allegedly failing to scan and pay for 36 items totaling $121 at the Calcutta Walmart on July 16.

A pretrial was set Oct. 5 for Kimberly Squires, 58, Georgetown, Pa., charged with theft for allegedly failing to scan and pay for eight items totaling $64 at the Calcutta Walmart on July 18.

Three counts of failure to file income tax were dismissed against Alicia Brown, Lemon Street, East Liverpool, who had been accused of failing to file income tax returns in East Liverpool for tax years 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Amanda Baker, 32, Middle Beaver Road, Lisbon, was fined $150 for disorderly conduct, amended from interference with custody, for taking her child out of school on Dec. 13, 2022 in East Liverpool in violation of a court custody order.

A pretrial was set Oct. 5 for Timothy Davydov, 29, Allen Avenue, Columbiana, charged with attempted possession of a controlled substance for allegedly possessing a plastic bag with a trace amount of methamphetamine on Jan. 27 in Columbiana.

A pretrial was set Oct. 5 for Adam Wolfe, 47, Newton Falls, charged with drug paraphernalia for possessing a plastic tube used to snort narcotics on July 7 in East Palestine.

A pretrial was set Oct. 5 for Rodney Frye, 42, Commerce Street, Wellsville, charged with drug paraphernalia for possessing multiple cut straws and two pill grinders with residue during a traffic stop on July 17 in St. Clair Township. He was also fined $75 for driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set Oct. 5 for Angela Ransom, 41, Commerce Street, Wellsville, charged with drug paraphernalia for possessing a cut straw in her bra during a traffic stop on July 17 in St. Clair Township. Multiple cut straws and two pill grinders with residue were found in the vehicle in which she was a passenger.

A pretrial was set Sept. 21 for Rachel Troup, 46, Cornell Street, East Liverpool, charged with drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing a cut straw and small circle container and baggy that had a crystal/rock like substance during a traffic stop on July 17 in St. Clair Township. She was the passenger.

Alan Devan, 33, state Route 344, Salem, was fined $950 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. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service.

Jorden Fairchild, 24, Minerva, was fined $925 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 80 days suspended, leaving 10 days to serve for OVI second offense and park on highway. His license was suspended for two years and he was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

A pretrial was set Oct. 16 for Keith Poulton, 53, South Lundy Avenue, Salem, charged with illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension for allegedly possessing a glass pipe during a traffic stop on July 19 in Salem.

A pretrial was set Mark Culley Jr., 31, Y & O Road, Wellsville, charged with OVI second offense, OVI breath second offense, use of unauthorized plate, no motorcycle endorsement and tail lights.

A pretrial was set Oct. 17 for Michael Risbeck, 31, Ypsilanti, Mich., charged with OVI first offense and marked lanes.

A pretrial was set Oct. 26 for Benjamin Summers, 31, Youngstown, charged with driving under suspension, speeding and no seat belt.

Amanda O’Brien, 31, Calcutta Smith Ferry Road, East Liverpool, was fined $420 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 86 days suspended and credit for four days served for OVI and turn signal violation. Her driver’s license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted, and she was ordered to complete 40 hours community service. A charge of assault was dismissed. O’Brien had been accused of hitting another woman in the head and scratching her arm on June 9 in East Liverpool.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Aug. 14 for Walker Trayes, 27, Stewart Road, Salem, charged with OVI third offense, OVI breath third offense, reasonable control and a fifth-degree felony improper handling of firearms charge. Trayes allegedly possessed a loaded firearm after crashing his vehicle in the area of Franklin Square in Salem Township on July 23.

A pretrial was set Oct. 5 for David Prior, 40, Cunningham Road, Salem, charged with OVI.

A pretrial was set Oct. 2 for Robert M. Greenisen, 57, King Road, Salem, charged with driving under suspension and a turn signal violation.

Ronald E. Boyer, 50, Wilson Street, Salineville, was fined $150 for driving under suspension. A marijuana possession charge was dismissed.

Natalie Buzzard, 51, East Sixth Street, Salem, was fined $200 for failure to reinstate and assured clear distance.

Thomas Davis, 35, Midland, Pa., was fined $250 and sentenced to three days in jail for driving under suspension, with no fine for expired sticker.

Savannah Jackson, 22, Boardman, was fined $125 for speeding and possessing marijuana drug paraphernalia.

Aaron Dale, 18, Warren, was fined $50 for a lights violation.

A pretrial was set Oct. 24 for Tyler Coil, 27, Church Street, Salineville, charged with physical control.