LISBON — An East Liverpool man who possessed methamphetamine and tampered with evidence was ordered to prison for at least three years, possibly a maximum four years dependent on his behavior in prison.

Todd Hawthorne, 41, Graner Avenue, appeared for sentencing Friday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court for second-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs with a forfeiture specification for money from a drug case and third-degree felony tampering with evidence. A charge of second-degree felony aggravated trafficking in drugs was dismissed. The charges stemmed from an alleged incident on Sept. 17, 2022 involving $250 and an amount of methamphetamine equal to or exceeding 5 times the bulk amount, but less than 50 times the bulk amount.

As part of the sentence, Hawthorne received a mandatory fine of $7,500 and was ordered to forfeit $250. The sentence included an indefinite term of two to three years for the drug charge and an additional 12 months for the tampering charge. An indefinite sentence means the defendant must serve a minimum of two years, with an additional year possible if prison officials believe the defendant needs to remain in prison. That’s on top of the 12 months for the tampering charge.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Mark Knight, 24, Pinewood Drive, New Waterford, pleaded guilty to three fourth-degree felonies of assault and misdemeanors of obstructing official business and resisting arrest, with sentencing set for Feb. 12. A charge of disorderly conduct will be dismissed. Knight attempted multiple times to kick Salem police officers while pulling away after his arrest for being disorderly, then kicked officers from the back of an ambulance on Sept. 30 in Salem.

— Nicholas Weyand, 34, Dewey Avenue, East Liverpool, was placed on probation for two years after pleading guilty to three counts nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, for failing to pay child support for three children from Nov. 29, 2020 through Nov. 27, 2022. He was ordered to pay $571 for his monthly child support obligation.

— John Kearns, 44, Farr Street, Rogers, was sentenced to seven months in prison for possession of fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, and misdemeanor possession of drugs for possessing fentanyl-related compound and tramadol on July 7, 2022. He received credit for two days served in jail.

— Devin Waugh, 34, West Fifth Street, Salem, was sentenced to six months in prison for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a fourth-degree felony, with the sentence for a second OVI merged with the other count. Waugh also received a mandatory fine of $1,350 and a license suspension of three years. The charges against Waugh stemmed from a traffic incident Nov. 13, 2022, within 10 years of being convicted of three similar violations in 2013 and 2017.

— Charles J. Ripley, 42, St. Clair Avenue, East Liverpool, was ordered to a term at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center until the program is successfully completed for fourth-degree felony domestic violence and misdemeanor aggravated menacing. He received credit for 250 days already served. The charges stemmed from an incident at an apartment in East Liverpool on April 29 when Ripley caused harm to a woman and broke items, with two or more previous convictions of domestic violence on his record. During booking, he allegedly threatened to assault a police officer.