Municipal Court

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a case against Michael Spencer, 37, Haessly Road, Hanoverton, was bound over to the county grand jury for two counts of fifth-degree felony possession of drugs for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl on Oct. 4 in East Palestine.

Christopher Snay, 46, Pinetree Circle, East Palestine, was fined $525 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with credit for 19 days served, for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs first offense and misdemeanor attempt, which was amended from felony possession of drugs. His driver’s license was suspended for one year. Charges of aggravated menacing and domestic violence were dismissed. He had been accused of threatening a juvenile on March 21, 2021 in East Palestine. The drug charge stemmed from him having oxycodone when a search warrant was executed at his residence on Jan. 14, 2021. A mirror was found with crushed white powder, a credit car and razor blade used for scraping and gathering narcotics for snorting.

Sentencing was set Oct. 23 for Allen Watson, 27, Carolina Avenue, East Liverpool, who pleaded no contest to domestic violence for physically assaulting a woman and threatening to sexually assault her during a domestic Oct. 10 in East Liverpool. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim and his bond was set at $50,000 cash or surety.

Daniel Scott, 42, Warren, was fined $250 and sentenced to 180 days in the county jail, with 150 days suspended and credit for 10 days served, leaving 20 days yet to serve in jail, for domestic violence. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service. Scott was accused of physically harming a woman on Oct. 2 in Lisbon.

A pretrial was set Oct. 23 for Richard Demeo, 50, Cedar Street, Salem, charged with domestic violence for allegedly grabbing a woman by the neck and shoulders during a domestic Oct. 13 in Salem.

A pretrial was set Jan. 25 for James Edward Long, 35, Newark, 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 conduct with two females in exchange for $140, arriving in East Palestine on Oct. 12.

Shaun Uscianowski, 45, listed as homeless in Salem, was fined $150 and sentenced to 45 days in the county jail, with credit for 10 days served, for obstructing official business for failing to respond to commands to come out of a closet where he was hiding in Salem residence on Oct. 2.

Craig Thomas Ward, 39, Jamestown, Pa., was fined $750 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. He was ordered to forfeit $140 seized by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and complete 40 hours community service. He also must complete an online 12-hour preventing prostitution course.

A pretrial was set Oct. 23 for Nathan Knight, 39, North Market Street, Lisbon, charged with obstructing official business, illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal trespass for allegedly trespassing in the woods behind Donnell Ford on Continental Drive on Oct. 12, giving police a false name and possessing a glass pipe with burnt residue.

A pretrial was set Oct. 23 for Nathaniel Cummings, 22, Enon Valley, Pa., charged with obstructing official business for allegedly refusing to provide his name, being uncooperative and refusing to provide the name of who was operating a vehicle recklessly by revving the engine and peeling the tires inside an apartment parking garage in East Palestine on Oct. 9.

A pretrial was set Jan. 25 for Nicole Haynes, 35, Rose Drive, Lisbon, charged with criminal trespass for allegedly being at a Salem property she had been trespassed from on Oct. 12.

A pretrial was set Jan. 11 for Emily Slepski, 24, state Route 46, New Waterford, charged with drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing two blue straws with white powder residue on Sept. 24 in Columbiana.

A pretrial was set Jan. 11 for Santie Lofaro, 38, Poland, charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs second offense.

A probable cause hearing for an alleged probation violation was set Jan. 9 for Alexander Morris, 34, West Martin Street, East Palestine, for charges of OVI first offense and reasonable control.

A pretrial was set Jan. 23 for Stephanie Patrick, 47, Aberdeen Court, Columbiana, charged with OVI first offense, OVI breath first offense, reasonable control, endangering children while operating a vehicle and open container.

A pretrial was set Jan. 11 for Tracy Lynn Whigham, 44, South Main Street, Beloit, charged with OVI first offense and speeding.

A pretrial was set Dec. 19 for Jenny Marie Carson, 47, High Street, Leetonia, charged with driving under suspension and a turn signal violation.

Roslyn Galloway, 38, Newell, W.Va., was fined $30 for expired plate. She was dishonorably terminated from probation for charges of possessing drug instruments, drug paraphernalia offenses and intoxication from 2020.

Jean Hanlon, 91, Springview, East Liverpool, was fined $75 for reasonable control.

A pretrial was set Jan. 4 for Austin Barone, 25, Boardman, charged with reasonable control.

A pretrial was set Dec. 28 for Marshall Cowin Jr., 18, Canfield, charged with speeding.

A pretrial was set Jan. 4 for Ross Chaplow, 41, Metz Road, Columbiana, charged with driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set Jan. 23 for Chelsea McGuire, 29, North Lima, charged with restricted tinted glass and three counts driving under suspension.

Common Pleas

New Cases

PennyMac Loan Services, LLC, Westlake Village, Calif., vs. Amanda Wallen, West Lincoln Way, Lisbon, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for West Lincoln Way, Lisbon property.

Inolex, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., vs. Zircon Industrial Services LLC, Atten: Trevor Reese, state Route 45, Leetonia; collection sought of $42,131 debt.

Docket Entries

American Express National Bank vs. Christian Cavalier and Cavalier Trucking; $19,740 judgment granted to plaintiff.

County Treasurer vs. Stanley Essick, et al.; delinquent taxes paid, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. Joshua Lamp, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Dakota Avenue, East Liverpool property.

County Treasurer vs. PLC Properties LLC; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for West Fifth Street, Salem property.

Court News

LISBON — An East Liverpool woman who violated her probation has been sent to the Columbiana County jail for three days and recommended for drug court.

During an appearance Friday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, Charlene Sias, 46, Lang Street, had her probation for fifth-degree felony charges of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of fentanyl-related compound continued until Dec. 2, 2025.

As part of her probation, besides the jail time, she will be required to participate and complete the drug court program. Her charges date back to Aug. 10, 2021 when she possessed methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Grand Jury

LISBON — A Lisbon man originally charged with domestic violence for allegedly hitting a boy with a belt is now facing three felony counts of endangering children for allegedly abusing the boy repeatedly since 2020.

Joseph Steven Frank, 50, Eric Drive, was indicted by the Columbiana County Grand Jury this week for the charge, with two second-degree felonies and one third-degree felony for the three counts.

According to the indictment, the abuse started when the child was 7 years old, with Frank allegedly abusing, repeatedly administering unwarranted disciplinary measures and causing serious physical harm to the child from Oct. 18, 2020 to April 6, 2023.

An affidavit filed in county municipal court when Frank was first arrested for domestic violence alleged he used a belt that left welts and bruises on the boy’s body, arms, head and neck.

Frank was one of 20 defendants issued open indictments by the grand jury, which met for two days, examining 66 witnesses, covering 63 cases and presenting 62 true bills. Besides the open indictments, the grand jury issued three superseding indictments and 39 secret indictments. The secret indictments aren’t made public until the defendants are served with the documents. One case was continued.

A superseding indictment was issued against Davante Jackson, 31, Cleveland, with new charges issued for second-degree felonies of trafficking in fentanyl-related compound and possession of fentanyl-related compound and fourth-degree felonies of trafficking in cocaine and possession of cocaine, all with specifications for forfeiture of money in a drug case. The new charges are added to the original charges which included third-degree felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanors of resisting arrest and obstructing official business. Jackson allegedly dropped a bag of alleged narcotics after taking off on foot from officers who responded to an alleged drug deal in East Liverpool on April 3. A patrolman was injured while chasing him down and had to deploy his taser to stop Jackson. According to the indictment, he was attempting to sell and possessed fentanyl in an amount equal to or exceeding 10 grams but less than 20 grams and also cocaine equal to or exceeding five grams but less than 10 grams. He also possessed $863.

A superseding indictment was also issued against James Merino, 66, Benton Road, Salem, charged with fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and third-degree felony having weapons while under disability. The weapons charge was new. Merino was accused of possessing methamphetamine and a firearm on Oct. 13, 2021. He was prohibited from having a firearm due to prior convictions.

Other open indictments issued included:

— Matthew Hormel, 40, East Martin Street, East Palestine, aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs, both third-degree felonies, alleging he possessed and prepared for sale methamphetamine on July 29.

— Kharyzma Thompson, 22, Martins Ferry, misdemeanors of obstructing official business, resisting arrest and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. During a traffic stop Sept. 7 in St. Clair Township, she allegedly possessed a suspected glass crack pipe which she grabbed and threw from the packaging. She also refused to place her hands behind her back and had to be taken to the ground during her arrest.

— Christian Henry, 20, Youngstown, fourth-degree felony improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle for allegedly having a loaded firearm in a vehicle during a traffic stop July 27.

— Kennith R. Jordan, 50, East Pidgeon Road, Salem, third-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and misdemeanors of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, OVI refusal, driving under suspension, and drug paraphernalia. Jordan allegedly led troopers on a high-speed chase on a motorcycle on Sept. 11 in Elkrun Township, eventually crashing and running on foot before being tased and taken into custody. He also possessed a hypodermic needle and suspected marijuana.

— Lauren Paterson, 44, Beacon Light Road, Lisbon, two counts misdemeanor OVI, and misdemeanors of improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. Paterson allegedly possessed marijuana paraphernalia, a prescription bottle with a pill and a snort straw, along with a firearm on Aug. 10 during a traffic stop.

— Curtis Gearhart, 39, Pine Hollow Road, Lisbon, third-degree felony intimidation and misdemeanor charges of aggravated menacing and obstructing official business for allegedly threatening Perry Township police officers during a traffic stop on Sept. 5, calling them pigs and making them believe he wanted to harm their families. He also kept acting belligerent and ripped his minor misdemeanor citation in half.

— Kristal Keyes, 39, Claibourne Street, East Liverpool, felonious assault, a second-degree felony, for allegedly being one of three people who assaulted a man on July 15 in East Liverpool.

— Timothy Keyes, 44, Empire, felonious assault, a second-degree felony for allegedly striking a man in the head with a pipe on July 15 in East Liverpool.

— Robert James Davis III, 38, Maple Street, Lisbon, second-degree felonies of burglary and robbery and misdemeanor theft for allegedly causing harm to a man while committing theft and stealing his wallet, ID card and $190 on Sept. 3.

— Alexander Aratari, 36, Stocking Street, Washingtonville, second-degree felony felonious assault and misdemeanors of aggravated menacing and violation of a protection order. On Stocking Street in Washingtonville on July 26, Aratari allegedly attempted to run over the victim while the victim was mowing a neighbor’s yard by driving up an embankment at a high rate of speed and barely missing him. He had also been giving the victim the middle finger whenever around and violated a protection order.

— Richard Wright, 28, state Route 39, Wellsville, third-degree felony failure to verify change of address for allegedly failing to notify the sheriff’s office on Sept. 14 of his change of address as required since he’s a registered sex offender.

— Thomas Wright, 47, state Route 39, Wellsville, fourth-degree felony failure to verify change of address for allegedly failing to notify the sheriff’s office on Sept. 14 of his change of address as required since he’s a registered sex offender.

— Joseph Altenburg, 36, West Main Street, East Palestine, third-degree felony domestic violence for allegedly causing physical harm to a woman by striking her in the face twice and dragging her by the hair on July 9 in East Palestine, with a previous domestic violence conviction on his record.

— Emilio Quinones, 52, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, charged with fourth-degree felonies of strangulation and domestic violence and misdemeanor obstructing official business for allegedly assaulting 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.

— Jason G. Ward, 45, Penn Avenue, Salem, third-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and misdemeanors of assault, OVI and failure to stop after an accident for allegedly pushing a female victim against a shed and then fleeing the scene, failing to stop for officers responding to the incident on June 1.

— David Muntean, 42, Raley Road, New Waterford, fifth-degree felony violating a protection order for allegedly violating a protection order in place against him on Sept. 1.

— Wilbert Faulk Jr., 38, Church Street Extension, Salineville, third-degree felony domestic violence and fourth-degree strangulation for allegedly assaulting a woman on Sept. 9 in Salineville.

— Joseph W. Ward, 32, Poland, fourth-degree felony grand theft for stealing $15,235 from Aug. 25, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2023 from a woman.

— John Caputa, 43, Medina, third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools for allegedly arranging to have sexual conduct with a female he believed to be a 15-year-old in exchange for money and traveling to East Palestine on July 10 for the meeting.