Common Pleas

New Cases

JP Morgan Chase Bank, Westerville, vs. Tami Kolodziej, New Castle, Pa., et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought.

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, West Palm Beach, Fla., vs. Tracy Peterson, state Route 14, Columbiana, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought.

North Mill Equipment Finance LLC, Norwalk, Conn., vs. M-D Meeks Trucking LLC, Franklin Avenue, Salem, et al.; collection sought of $25,098 alleged debt, plus interest and $5,019 attorney fees.

Docket Entries

County Treasurer vs. Lawrence Clemens, et al.; payment plan entered, case stayed.

Thompson Farms Inc. vs. Estate of James E. Thompson, deceased; judgment satisfied with defendant’s payment of $252,684.

County Treasurer vs. unknown heirs Sue Goodlin, et al.; Total E & P dismissed as defendant.

Deanna Benedict vs. Donald Benedict Jr.; divorce granted.

Diana Blystone vs. Jason Blystone; divorce granted.

Amy Emmerling and Steven Emmerling; dissolution granted.

Grand Jury

LISBON — Chelsie May, 35, whose addresses were listed as Oakwood Drive, Beloit, and Mingo Junction, was served Wednesday with two separate secret indictments issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury.

She was charged with aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on June 11, 2021 and nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly failing to pay child support for one child from July 11, 2021 through July 9, 2023.

Court News

LISBON — An East Liverpool man is appealing his latest punishment after being sentenced to 18 months in prison for possessing and selling methamphetamine, to be served consecutive to the 18-month term he’s already serving.

Joseph Koffel, 55, Smithfield Street, filed the notice of appeal with the Seventh District Court of Appeals to challenge the Oct. 3 sentencing in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.

During the hearing earlier this month, Koffel pleaded no contest and was found guilty of aggravated possession of drugs and aggravated trafficking in drugs, both third-degree felonies, for possessing and preparing for sale methamphetamine on March 4, 2022. He was also fined $5,000 for each charge.

The sentence was ordered served at the same time as a six-month sentence for an aggravated possession of drugs charge issued in April. The charge stemmed from Koffel possessing methamphetamine on Oct. 9. 2021.

In January, Koffel was sentenced to 18 months in prison for violating his probation on a third-degree felony domestic violence charge which dated back to May 22, 2021. He received credit for 88 days served in jail. Once he’s done serving that term, the latest sentence can begin.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Gordon Davis, 47, Echo Dell Road, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to second-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs, with a specification for forfeiture of money in a drug case, and fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property in one case and aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, in another case. Sentencing was set for Jan. 8. On July 28, 2021, Davis possessed an amount of methamphetamine equal to or greater than five times the bulk amount but less than 50 times the bulk amount and possessed a stolen 12-guage shotgun. The money subject to forfeiture totaled $1,060. On Nov 24, 2020, he possessed methamphetamine.

— Devin Earich, 28, High Street, Leetonia, was placed on probation for two years after pleading guilty to fourth-degree felony domestic violence for causing physical harm to a woman by slamming her against a door and grabbing her from behind as she walked into another room and choking and slamming her to the ground on June 14 in Leetonia. He was to be evaluated for placement at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center in Wintersville and was ordered to have no contact with the victim.

— Malcolm Gilford, 37, Cleveland, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, three counts of possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony and aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. The charges included a specification for forfeiting $180 from a drug case. Charges stemmed from July 16, 2021 when Gilford allegedly possession methamphetamine and cocaine and had $180 in his possession. The prison term was ordered served consecutive to an 18-month prison term he’s already been serving since April for possession of cocaine, a fourth-degree felony. Gilford was accused of possessing cocaine on May 19, 2021.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Oct. 19 for Justin Burr, 30, 12th Street, Wellsville, charged with third-degree felony strangulation and misdemeanors of domestic violence and resisting arrest for allegedly choking a woman during a domestic incident on Oct. 10 in Wellsville and resisting when officers arrested him.

Other charges for the pretrial include three counts of failure to register dogs and failure to confine dogs for alleged 2021 and 2022 incidents, obstructing official business for allegedly running from Wellsville police trying to serve him with a warrant on June 4, 2021, fleeing and eluding and criminal damaging for allegedly running from Wellsville police on June 8, 2021 and damaging a fence gate, endangering children and obstructing official business for allegedly fleeing on foot from a traffic stop in Wellsville and leaving a child in the vehicle on Oct. 24, 2021 and domestic violence for allegedly pushing a woman to the ground while she was holding a child on May 26, 2021 in Wellsville.

A case against Bradley Eltringham, 37, Church Street, Salineville, was bound over to the county grand jury for fifth-degree domestic violence for allegedly striking a pregnant woman several times, including strikes to her abdomen, allegedly knowing she was pregnant on June 17 in Salineville.

A case against Mark Knight, 23, Pinewood Drive, New Waterford, was bound over to the county grand jury for three fourth-degree felonies of assault on a peace officer and misdemeanors of obstructing official business, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. The charges stemmed from an incident Sept. 30 in Salem, starting when the fire department was called to treat an intoxicated male in the road at South Lundy Avenue and Columbia Street later identified as Knight, who fled from the scene and had been allegedly involved with police in an earlier incident. When placed in handcuffs, he attempted multiple times to kick Salem police officers while pulling away in the cruiser, then kicked officers from the back of an ambulance. When he was taken into custody, he actively resisted arrest and fought with officers, kicking one officer and wrapping his leg around the officer’s leg in an attempt to strike his knee and his ankle.

A case against Dustin Dotson, 19, Warren, was bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony fleeing and eluding police officer for allegedly fleeing from Perry Township police attempting a traffic stop on Aug. 13 on U.S. Route 62 near Goshen Road.

A preliminary hearing was set Nov. 16 for Giovanni Irizarry, 31, Wheathill Road, East Palestine, charged with fourth-degree felony falsification and fifth-degree felony theft by deception for allegedly going to the Norfolk Southern assistance center on Feb. 10 and presenting an alleged fraudulent lease agreement for $5,000 for which he was reimbursed. Then on March 6, he presented Norfolk Southern with an invoice for rental of an RV for $13,807 and received a check for payment, but cancelled the RV rental and kept the money. The total theft was for $18,807.

A preliminary hearing was set Oct. 19 for Sara Noling, 37, Wood Street, East Palestine, charged with third-degree felonies of trafficking in drugs and drug abuse and fourth-degree felony possession of drugs-fentanyl related compound for allegedly possessing fentanyl-related compound and methamphetamine during an incident in East Palestine on Aug. 9 when she appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic.

Ty Tomlinson, 55, Butler Grange Road, Salem, was fined $250 and sentenced to one day in jail, with credit for one day served, for assault. Tomlinson was accused of striking another man in the head with his fist on June 19 on Butler Grange Road, Salem.

Jeffrey Smith, 48, Hermitage, Pa., was fined $1,000 and given a suspended 180-day jail term for engaging in prostitution, possessing criminal tools, drug paraphernalia and attempt, amended from possession of drugs. Smith was ordered to forfeit $196 seized by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and permitted to buy out 40 hours community service for $400. He responded to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranged for sexual activity with a female in exchange for money and cocaine, arriving in East Palestine on July 10 for the meeting.

A pretrial was set Jan 23 for Brandon Cimino, 26, Sagamore Hills, charged with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with females in exchange for $220, arriving in East Palestine on July 14 for the meeting.

Douglas Bores, 49, Canfield, was fined $500 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for two counts of disorderly conduct, amended from engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. He was ordered to forfeit $150 to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and permitted to buy out 40 hours community service for $400. Bores was accused of responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a female in exchange for $140, traveling to East Palestine on July 27 for the meeting.

Damien Ferrainola, 40, Court Street, New Waterford, was fined $150 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 60 days suspended and credit for 11 days served, leaving 19 days to serve in jail, for obstructing official business, amended from tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. He was ordered to perform 40 hours community service. During a traffic stop in Columbiana on Sept. 29, Ferrainola pulled a pill bottle from his pocket when asked about it, dumped the contents on the ground and began to smash the pills and a folded dollar bill with his foot. The dollar bill was said to contain a brown powder substance.

A domestic violence charge was dismissed against Corey Coleman, 29, High Street, Washingtonville, who had been accused of hitting another person when a verbal dispute became physical on April 3.

A pretrial was set Oct. 23 for Dustin Andric, 40, Foundry Hill Road, Hanoverton, charged with domestic violence and drug paraphernalia for allegedly pushing a woman against the wall several times and threatening her on May 26 on St. Jacob-Logtown Road, Lisbon. During his arrest on Oct. 11 for warrants, he possessed a glass pipe with residue.

A pretrial was set Jan. 18 for Jamila Cameron, 25, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with theft for allegedly switching original prices with another ticket bar code for 67 cents, failing to pay for 15 items totaling $254 at the Calcutta Walmart on Aug. 26.

Sentencing was set Nov. 2 for Chelsie May, 34, Oakwood Drive, Beloit, who pleaded no contest for possession of drug abuse instrument for possessing a bag containing syringes during a traffic stop when she was a passenger on June 11, 2021 in St. Clair Township.

Sentencing was set Oct. 30 for Steven Voltmann, 33, Pickering Street, East Liverpool, who pleaded no contest to drug paraphernalia. He was accused of possessing a tray under the passenger seat during a traffic stop Oct. 9 in St. Clair Township that had white powder on it, a hollowed out pen with white powder and a debit card with a white powder substance.

Edward Kasunich, 63, Thompson Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $250 for failure to file tax return for tax year 2022 in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set Jan. 4 for Douglas Seifert, 44, Park Court, Columbiana, charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs first offense, OVI breath first offense, failure to stop after an accident and traffic control device.

Donnie Mergenthaler, 24, Maryland Avenue, Salem, was fined $250 for prohibited vehicle on roadway and failure to yield.

Daniel Stiffler, 64, Butler Grange Road, Salem, was fined $295 for speeding and reckless operation, amended from OVI, and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 27 days suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and his driver’s license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted.

A pretrial was set Jan. 8 for Jordan Stack, 25, Beaver Falls, Pa., charged with OVI first offense, reasonable control and no seat belt.

Paramount Imaging LLC, statutory agent Seth Birch, Field Stone Drive, East Liverpool, was fined $75 for height of weeds at a property on St. Clair Avenue, East Liverpool on May 16.

A pretrial was set Jan. 30 for Patricia Myers, 53, state Route 45, Wellsville, charged with infestation and screening for a cockroach infestation at a Florence Street, East Liverpool property in July 2023.

A pretrial was set Jan. 25 for William Cunning, 46, Canton, charged with driving under suspension and marked lanes.

A pretrial was set Dec. 12 for Savanna McKee, 28, Pine Hollow Road, Lisbon, charged with driving under suspension and headlights required. She also was fined $100 for possessing marijuana.

Sentencing was set Nov. 21 for Russell Hetrick, 53, Brookfield Avenue, Lisbon, who pleaded guilty to driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set Dec. 21 for Anthony Talerico, 35, Somer Street, Leetonia, charged with OVI first offense and marked lanes.

Devin Lodge, 22, old state Route 558, Salem, was fined $350 for driving under suspension, possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

A pretrial was set Jan 25 for Caitlyn Boyd, 22, Grant Street, East Liverpool, charged with no valid license and left of center.

Melvin Land, 29, Youngstown, was fined $195 for left of center and no license, amended from driving under suspension.

Rame Nasr Omer, 29, Cincinnati, was fined $150 for an equipment violation, amended from speeding.