LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, cases against Merabi Khurtsilava, 32, Brooklyn, N.Y., were bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fourth-degree felony attempted illegal assembly, fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools and misdemeanor engaging in prostitution for allegedly responding to an undercover ad of an adult female and 15-year-old juvenile and arranging for sexual conduct with both in exchange for $240, traveling to East Palestine on Jan. 21 for the meeting.

Sentencing was set March 11 for Steven Conkle, 72, Dakota Street, East Liverpool, who pleaded no contest and was found guilty of negligent assault, a misdemeanor, for an incident May 15, 2022 when his loaded 9mm gun fell out of a known faulty holster and discharged a 9mm round, striking and injuring a woman at Pleasant Heights Baptist Church in East Liverpool. A restitution hearing was also set for March 11 related to the case.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Feb. 8 for Devontay Bickley, 22, Chester, W.Va., charged with fifth-degree felony harassment by an inmate, and misdemeanors of escape, menacing, resisting arrest, operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs first offenses, OVI breath and failure to display valid sticker. Bickley was accused of resisting arrest and spitting in the face of an East Liverpool police officer attempting to place handcuffs on him after police saw a dispute between a pedestrian and driver on Jan. 29 in East Liverpool. The driver was found to be impaired. During his arrest, he allegedly made threats of bodily harm to officers and attempted escape by climbing through the window into the front seat of the police cruiser.

A preliminary hearing was set Feb. 5 for Anthony Davila, 46, Cleveland, charged with third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and fifth-degree felonies of importuning and possessing criminal tools. Davila requested sexual conduct from a person he believed to be a 15-year-old female, but who was actually an undercover agent posing as a teen online, then drove to Salem on Jan. 27 for the meeting with the phone he used to make the arrangements.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Feb. 5 for Seth Mora, 30, Anderson Boulevard, East Liverpool, charged with fourth-degree felony strangulation and misdemeanor domestic violence for allegedly choking a person during a domestic incident on Jan. 27 in East Liverpool, where the victim was found lying in a hallway with visible injuries to the head.

A preliminary hearing was set Feb. 12 for Tai Kotas, 43, Sycamore Drive, New Waterford, charged with fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property for allegedly being in possession of a stolen vehicle during a traffic stop in Perry Township on Jan. 28.

Christopher Bowersock, 41, Camelot Drive, Columbiana, was fined $1,025 and sentenced to consecutive jail terms of 90 days, with credit for 16 days served, plus 20 days and another 20 days, for a total of 114 days in jail for obstructing official business, theft, OVI first offense and no license. His driver’s license was suspended for two years. The traffic charges stemmed from a traffic stop June 12 in St. Clair Township. The obstructing charge stemmed from him instructing another person to conceal a container of fentanyl in her pants during a traffic stop on Dec. 29 in Columbiana while there were warrants for his arrest. The theft charge stemmed from him stealing a 2-liter bottle of pop from the Save-A-Lot in Columbiana on Nov. 29.

A pretrial was set April 4 for Donald Lobb, 75, Juanita Road, East Liverpool, charged with soliciting for allegedly picking up a possible prostitute and parking behind a building in East Liverpool, then getting caught in the act with the woman inside his vehicle on April 14, 2017. He allegedly admitted to police that he paid money for the act.

Colby Carmichael, 24, Riverview Street, East Liverpool, was fined $250 and sentenced to 17 days in jail, with credit for 17 days served, for disorderly conduct, amended from domestic violence. Carmichael was accused of trying to hit a woman with a broomstick and threatening to hurt her on Jan. 12 in East Liverpool.

Rodney Smith, 36, Niles, was fined $300 and sentenced to 10 days in jail, with credit for 10 days served, for violating a protection order and obstructing official business. Smith was a passenger in a vehicle during a traffic stop on Aug. 26 in Lisbon, in violation of a protection order, and used force against officers trying to arrest him by pulling away.

A pretrial was set Feb. 5 for Sherri Joy, 40, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, charged with domestic violence for allegedly slapping a man in the face during an argument while intoxicated on Jan. 27 in Salem.

A pretrial was set April 23 for Luke Beatty, 30, Ohio Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with assault for allegedly physically assaulting a man on Nov. 16 in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set Feb. 5 for Juanita Birch, 43, St. John Street, East Liverpool, charged with domestic violence for allegedly assaulting a man during a domestic dispute in East Liverpool on Jan. 27.

A fugitive from justice charge was dismissed against Lisa Rost, 52, Erie Street, East Liverpool, who was wanted for charges in Florida, but the state of Florida didn’t want her arrested out of state and declined to extradite her.

Cameron Yarwood, 45, Randal Road, Hanoverton, was fined $200 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 159 days suspended and credit for 21 days served, for theft and domestic violence. She was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to have no contact with the victim or Smith Oil in Salem. Yarwood stole a hat from Smith Oil in Salem on Oct 26 and was accused of assaulting a man during a physical altercation on March 31, 2023 in Salem.

Caithlynne Godocsik, 34, South Lincoln Avenue, Salem, was fined $150 for disorderly conduct, amended from domestic violence, for attacking a man during an altercation on Oct. 13 in Salem, with scratch marks visible on his neck.

Theodore Mikula, 25, Washington, Pa., was fined $500 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for possessing criminal tools and disorderly conduct, amended from engaging in prostitution. Mikula was permitted to buy out 40 hours worth of community service for $400, ordered to forfeit $120 to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and ordered to complete a 12-hour online prostitution prevention course. Mikula responded to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranged to have sexual activity with a female in exchange for $120, arriving in East Palestine on Aug. 7 for the meeting, with his phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Nancy Lanza, 42, South Elm Street, Columbiana, was fined $200 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 29 days suspended and credit for one day served, for disorderly conduct, amended from obstructing official business. She was ordered to complete 20 hours community service. Lanza was accused of failing to comply with officer commands during an incident at Salem Regional Medical Center on June 20 when she was allegedly impaired and was yelling profanities at officers and failed to provide her name or information when asked.

A pretrial was set Feb. 15 for Anthony Chilton, 24, Youngstown, charged with improper/expired registration, obstructing official business, possession of drug abuse instrument and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing three syringes and a small digital scale during a traffic stop on March 25, 2023 in Salem and also lying about having pain in his arm and needing medical care to avoid going to jail at that time.

A pretrial was set April 22 for Damien Jones, 21, Stagecoach Road, East Liverpool, charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs first offense, OVI breath and marked lanes.

A pretrial was set April 2 for Robert Cruz, 31, McCracken Road, Salem, charged with OVI second offense, OVI breath second offense and driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set April 9 for Mackenzie Myers, 46, Stow, charged with failure to display valid sticker, headlights violation, use of unauthorized plate, improper/expired registration, reasonable control and three counts driving under suspension.

Toby Lantz, 40, Summit Street, Salem, was fined $250 for driving while texting and failure to yield .

Heather Ponziani, 40, Milton Street, East Liverpool, was fined $150 for driving under suspension.

Anthony Nuzzi, 38, Warren, was fined $150 for unsafe vehicle, amended from speeding.

Eddie Edwards, 26, Youngstown, was fined $100 for speeding and a charge of driving under suspension was dismissed.

A pretrial was set April 23 for David Arthur, 61, Enon Valley, Pa., charged with driving under suspension, no seat belt and a tail lights violation.

Gina Landers, 23, Canfield, was fined $50 for speeding.

Keaunte Moore, 25, Austintown, was fined $145 for no license, amended from driving under suspension, and speeding.