Court News

LISBON — A Lisbon man originally charged with domestic violence for allegedly hitting a boy with a belt entered a guilty plea recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court to two counts of endangering children.

Joseph Steven Frank, 51, Eric Drive, will face sentencing July 19 for the two third-degree felony counts. He had been indicted for two second-degree felonies and one third-degree felony for endangering children. One count was moved to a third-degree felony and one will be dismissed.

According to the indictment, the abuse started when the child was seven years old, with Frank 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.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Jamie Short Rambo, 36, Lower Elkton Road, Columbiana, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, with credit for one day served in jail, for possession of cocaine, possession of heroin, possession of fentanyl-related compound and two counts possession of drugs, all fifth-degree felonies. On April 25, 2023, Rambo possessed cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, xylazine and tramadol.

— Jeremy Beachler, 38, Westview Drive, Salem, pleaded guilty to theft, a misdemeanor and lesser included offense of felony theft, with sentencing set for June 10. Beachler was charged in 2016 for depriving Manor Insurance Agency Inc., in a continuing course of conduct from April 11, 2015 until the indictment, of a 2006 Honda Ridgeline pickup.

— Timothy Lodge, 35, Summit Street, Salem, was sentenced to 60 days in the county jail and a term at the Eastern Ohio Correction Sentence until the program is complete as part of three years probation for fourth-degree felony attempted failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a lesser offense from a third-degree felony failure to comply count, and misdemeanor driving under suspension. He received credit for 15 days served. His driver’s license was suspended for five years. Lodge was accused of fleeing at a high rate of speed from an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper who initiated a traffic stop in Salem on July 9, 2023.

— Jacqueline Weingart, 39, Newgarden Avenue, Salem, was placed under community control for five years for illegal use of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits or WIC program benefits and ordered to pay restitution of $9,013. She received credit for one day served in jail. She was accused of receiving benefits illegally from May 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022.

— Tim Rinestine, 53, Overlook Drive, Salem, was placed under community control for two years for a lesser-included offense of fourth-degree felony attempted tampering with evidence (originally third-degree felony tampering with evidence) and misdemeanor illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. He had entered guilty pleas in March. He received credit for two days served in jail. Rinestine was accused of tossing a glass pipe off of the back deck of his residence when police responded for a female with a warrant on April 29, 2023 in Perry Township.

— Mark Cross, 42, Butcher Road, Leetonia, was placed under community control for two years for three counts of nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, for failing to pay child support for three children from May 31, 2020 to May 29, 2022.

— Angela Nalley, 45, Mulberry Street, East Liverpool, was placed under community control for two years after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing cocaine on Nov. 17, 2022.

— Robert Miller V, 31, Carter Street, East Liverpool, was placed on a treatment plan for one year after pleading guilty to fifth-degree felony illegal cultivation of marijuana. He received credit for one day served in jail. Miller was accused of cultivating marijuana in an amount equal or greater than 200 grams, but less than 1,000 grams on Aug. 27, 2021.

— Hallie Whitman, 54, Whinnery Road, Salem, was placed under community control for two years after pleading guilty to a lesser offense of attempted aggravated possession of drugs, a misdemeanor instead of the original felony, for attempting to commit an offense of possessing methamphetamine on Nov. 5, 2022. She received credit for one day served in jail.

— Matthew Koziorynsky, 29, Cricket Lane, Columbiana, was placed under control of the drug court for up to five years after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing cocaine on Sept. 16, 2023.

— Nathan Knight, 40, North Market Street, Lisbon, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for July 19, for possessing methamphetamine on Jan. 30, 2023.