Common Pleas

New Cases

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Jeffrey Richman, trustee of the 289 Crenshaw Family Trust, Charlotte, N.C., et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for South Market Street, East Palestine property.

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Paul Saling, Rochester Road, East Rochester, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for Rochester Road, East Rochester property.

Vanessa Pope, Salem Alliance Road, Salem, vs. Nicolas Pope, Ravenna; divorce sought.

Blossom Nursing and Rehab Center Inc., Blossom Lane, Salem, vs. Nancy Dougherty, c/o Susan Copsey-Pearce, legal guardian, and Susan Copsey-Pearce, legal guardian of Nancy Dougherty, both Delaware, Ohio; collection sought of $54,120 allegedly owed for services.

Docket Entries

Martha Valladares vs. Jose Flores; divorce granted.

Sarah Beja vs. Ralph Pepe; divorce granted.

Raymond Horst vs. Tammy Knox, et al.; $50,000 judgment granted to plaintiff.

Ford Motor Credit Company LLC vs. Michael Neeld; $6,582 judgment granted to plaintiff revived.

Grand Jury

LISBON — Two defendants accused of possessing drugs were served recently with secret indictments issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury for felony drug counts.

Angel Potts, 30, Avondale Street, East Liverpool, fifth-degree felonies of possession of heroin and possession of fentanyl-related compound for allegedly possessing the drugs on Oct. 25, 2022.

Colleen Murray, 44, Youngstown, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on April 4.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a case against Emilio Quinones, 52, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, was bound over to the county grand jury charged with fourth-degree felony domestic violence and misdemeanor obstructing official business. He was fined $150 for no valid license and improper/expired registration. Quinones allegedly assaulted a woman on Sept. 19 in Salem, with a previous domestic violence conviction on his record. While police were there, he continued to walk away and not follow their commands.

A case against Timothy Keyes, 44, Empire, was bound over to the county grand jury for second-degree felony felonious assault for allegedly striking a man in the head with a pipe on July 15 in East Liverpool.

Cases against Melissa Tamalonis, 30, Grant Street, East Liverpool, were bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanors of driving under suspension, obstructing official business and drug paraphernalia for allegedly concealing her wallet in her pants and refusing to give police her phone during a traffic stop on June 6 in St. Clair Township. She also allegedly hid narcotics on her person and threw suspected narcotics and paraphernalia in the back of the police cruiser. She was also fined $200 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for endangering children for another incident in May. She was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

A case against Thomas Wright, 47, state Route 39, Wellsville, was bound over to the county grand jury for fourth-degree felony failure to verify change of address for allegedly failing to notify the sheriff’s office of his change of address in September as required since he’s a registered sex offender.

A case against Richard Wright, 28, state Route 39, Salineville, was bound over to the county grand jury for a third-degree felony failure to verify change of address for allegedly failing to notify the sheriff’s office of his change of address on Sept. 14 as required since he’s a registered sex offender.

A preliminary hearing was set Oct. 2 for Antonio Deleon, 29, Crestview Road, Columbiana, charged with domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony, for allegedly causing physical harm to a man on Sept. 23 in Fairfield Township.

Allen Vancooney, 28, South Union Avenue, Salem, was fined $450 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with credit for 10 days served, for criminal damaging and two counts of theft. The criminal damaging stemmed from damage done to a woman’s motorcycle in Salem on April 9. For one theft, he was caught with a large safe on a makeshift wagon, dragging it through an alley in Salem on May 22. The safe was reported stolen from a back porch where it had been covered with a tarp on East Fifth Street. On Sept. 7, he attempted to leave the Salem Walmart without paying for $404 worth of merchandise.

Charges of theft and criminal trespass were dismissed with prejudice against Brian Gerren, 60, East Main Street, Salineville, at the request of the prosecutor due to deficient complaints and lack of supporting affidavit. Cost were taxed to the state. The summons’ had been filed by Salineville Police for an incident Dec. 15, 2022.

A pretrial was set Jan. 8 for John D. Wilson, 39, Warren, charged with obstructing official business for allegedly giving a fake name during a traffic stop on Aug. 28, 2020 in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set Jan. 8 for Nichole Chestnut, 29, Park Avenue, East Palestine, charged with theft for allegedly failing to scan and pay for two items valued at $10.50 at Dollar General in East Palestine.

Michael Dietz, 34, Solon, was fined $550 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for three counts of disorderly conduct, amended from engaging in prostitution, possessing criminal tool sand obstructing official business. He was permitted to buy out 40 hours community service for $400 and ordered to forfeit $80 to Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. He responded to a posted undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranged for sexual conduct with a female in exchange for $80, then arrived in East Palestine on June 30 for the meeting. Upon the approach of marked police units, he allegedly fled on foot, set his cell phone on steps and concealed his money in his shoe, but was later caught. As part of the sentence, he was ordered to complete an online 12-hour prostitution prevention course.

James Meier, 35, Sharon, Pa., 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. Meier requested sexual acts from an undercover agent in exchange for $100 via cell phone, arriving in Salem on June 23 for the meeting.

Lawrence Kunzelman, 53, South Park, Pa., was fined $750 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for unauthorized use of a computer, amended from engaging in prostitution, and possessing criminal tools for responding to an undercover ad of a female on a known prostitution website, arranging for sexual activity in exchange for $100 and traveling to East Palestine on April 16 for the meeting. He was ordered to forfeit $100 to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and permitted to buy out 40 hours community service for $400. He was also ordered to complete a 12-hour online preventing prostitution course.

Jason Brinsey, 37, Austintown, was fined $500 and given a suspended 60-day jail term for engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for responding to an undercover ad posted on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a female in exchange of $80, then driving to East Palestine on Aug. 23 for the meeting. He was ordered to forfeit $80 to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, to perform 40 hours community service and complete a 12-hour online preventing prostitution course.

Joseph Edwin Frye, 34, Jennings Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $250 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 175 days suspended and credit for one day served, leaving four days to still serve in jail, for misdemeanor disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to have no contact with the victims. According to an affidavit, a woman talked to East Palestine Police on Nov. 4, 2022 and alleged that Frye transmitted pornographic images of her on Oct. 27 without her permission and transmitted them to a 16-year-old juvenile. The previous felony case had been bound over to the county grand jury, then transferred back to Municipal Court as a misdemeanor.

Kerry Vance, 45, West 16th Street, Salem, was fined $350 and sentenced to 14 days in jail, with credit for 14 days served, for drug paraphernalia and domestic violence for striking a man in the back of the head and biting him on the face during a domestic dispute June 30 in Salem.

Kristy Weber, 44, East Washington Street, Lisbon, was fined $450 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 170 days suspended and credit for 10 days served, for aggravated trespass, amended from felony burglary, and criminal damaging. A theft charge was dismissed. She was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and to stay away from the victim. She was accused of taking an elderly man’s lawnmower on Sept. 15 in Lisbon and damaging it after breaking into his property.

Brendon Howard, 19, Brown Street, Lisbon, was fined $150 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 27 days suspended and credit for three days served, for disorderly conduct, amended from domestic violence. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service. Howard was accused of choking a woman, squeezing her neck, face, arms and legs on July 1 in Lisbon.

A domestic violence charge was dismissed without prejudice against Lennart Backman, 50, Ohio Avenue, East Liverpool, by the prosecutor after the victim failed to appear. Backman had been accused of punching a woman in the eye on April 5, 2017 in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set Oct. 5 for Tai Kotas, 42, Vine Street, Leetonia, charged with illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing a glass meth pipe and digital scale with residue in her purse during a traffic stop when she was a passenger on Jan. 7 in Columbiana.

Brent Poling, 19, West Ninth Street, Salem, was fined $150 for possession of drugs.

Robert Eugene Herron, 29, Ohio Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $250 for drug paraphernalia for possessing a metal crack pipe on Sept. 19 in East Liverpool.

Angel Potts, 40, Avondale Street, East Liverpool, was fined $150 and sentenced to one day in jail, with credit for one day served, for drug paraphernalia for possessing a bag of white powder she said was a cutting agent during an incident Oct. 25, 2022 in St. Clair Township.

Charges of vacant structure failure to register and failure to pay vacant structure monitoring fee were dismissed against Samuel Hepfner, no age listed, Cunningham Road, for a building on East State Street known as the former Endres Gross building.

A sentencing hearing was set Oct. 31 for Nevin Householder, 27, Toronto, who pleaded no contest for menacing for threatening people during an incident Sept. 25 in East Liverpool.

Michael Swiger, 44, Weirton, W.Va., was fined $475 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with credit for 27 days served, and the term to be served at the same time as a felony sentence, for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs and a lighting violation. His driver’s license was suspended for one year.

Steven Cunningham, 33, Erie Street, East Liverpool, was fined $300 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 77 days suspended and credit for 13 days served, for drug abuse instruments and driving under suspension. He was also sentenced to nine days in jail, with credit for nine days served, for carrying a concealed weapon and possession of drug abuse instrument. On May 28, 2022, Cunningham had a gun tucked in his underwear while he was a passenger during a traffic stopping St. Clair Township. He also possessed a hypodermic needle on Sept. 2 during a traffic stop in St. Clair Township.

A pretrial was set Jan. 9 for Brian Scott Davis, 52, Miller Road, Leetonia, charged with endangering children while operating a vehicle, open container, OVI first offense and marked lanes.

A pretrial was set Jan. 8 for Candy Brewton, 39, state Route 14, East Palestine, charged with OVI.

A pretrial was set Jan. 8 for Shelly Downey, 51, South Avenue, Columbiana, charged with physical control.

A pretrial was set Jan. 9 for Curtis Hunt, 29, North Shady Lane, East Liverpool, charged with use of unauthorized plate and traffic control devices.

A pretrial was set Nov. 28 for Georgeann Railing, 47, East Liverpool Road, East Liverpool, charged with unsafe vehicle and marked lanes.

Santee Baumgarner, 25, Densmore Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $225 for driving under suspension and improper/expired registration.

A pretrial was set Jan. 11 for Christopher Schmitt, 21, Elk Avenue, Lisbon, charged with OVI first offense and reasonable control.

Daniel Raffle, 50, West Street, Salineville, was fined $445 for driving under suspension, no license and speeding.

Coltan Vollnogle, 21, Caldwell Avenue, Lisbon, was fined $150 for an equipment violation, amended from speeding.

A pretrial was set Jan. 9 for Andrew Mallis, 25, Alliance, charged with driving under suspension.

Christian Bradford, 26, West Newton, Pa., was fined $150 for driving under suspension.

Juan Jose, 23, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, was fined $75 for wrongful entrustment.

Cody L. Jones, 33, Mill Street, Salineville, was sentenced to eight days in jail (credited), and fined $195 for disorderly conduct, no driver’s license and an all-purpose vehicle on a roadway.

Solita A. Patton, 29, Echo Dell Road, East Liverpool, was sentenced to 180 days in jail (179 suspended, one credited), fined $1,220, placed on two years probation, had her license suspended for one year and ordered to complete 50 hours community service and alcohol and substance abuse evaluation for OVI, driving under suspension, no headlights and possession of drug abuse instrument amended from drug abuse, a fifth-degree felony.

Steven L. Kramer, 54, Altoona, Pa., was sentenced to 90 days in jail (suspended), fined $750, placed on two years probation and ordered to complete 20 hours community service and an online class for engaging in prostitution and possession of criminal tools.

Samantha Jo Girordano, 27, Youngstown, was fined $250 for driving under suspension and possession of marijuana.

Brianna Leigh Doyle, 26, Pauls Lane, East Liverpool, was fined $250 for a stop sign-school bus.

Valerie Rockenberger, 53, N. Market St., East Palestine, was sentenced to 30 days of jail (27 suspended, three credited), placed on two years probation and ordered to complete 20 hours community service and anger management/general mental health evaluation as well as make $482.08 restitution to the victim and have no contact with the victim for criminal damaging.

David Jackson, 71, Parkway, East Liverpool, had a charge of driving under suspension dismissed due to the offense being cleared prior to the offense date.

Joshua A. Curry, 30, Crawford Avenue, East Liverpool, was sentenced to 20 days in jail and $200 for disorderly conduct intoxicated. A charge of disorderly conduct-presence of an emergency personnel was dismissed.

Raymond Lester Book, 42, New Castle, Pa., was sentenced to 90 days in jail (suspended), fined $750, placed on two years probation and ordered to complete 20 hours community service and an online anti-prostitution class for engaging in prostitution and possession of criminal tools.

Christine A. Christian, 46, Waterford Road, East Palestine, was sentenced to 180 days in jail (179 suspended, one credited), fined $300, placed on two years probation, and ordered to pay restitution of $10.71 to Rogers Food and Fuel, complete 40 hours community service and have no contact with the victim business.

Eric L. Jordan, was sentenced to $445 and three days in jail for driving under suspension, sticker violation and possession of drug abuse instrument.

Wayne David Winters, 53, Baxter Street, East Liverpool, a driving under suspension charge was dismissed.

Ryan A. McCauley, 43, Lincoln Avenue, Wellsville, was sentenced to five days in jail (one credited) and fined $200.

Megan Lindsay Tomich, 35, Poland, was sentenced to 90 days in jail (87 suspended), fined $420, had her license suspended for one year, and ordered to have her complete two years probation, 40 hours community service and alcohol/substance abuse evaluation at DIP for three days.