LISBON — An East Liverpool man whose request for a protection order against East Liverpool Mayor Bobby Smith was denied this week is facing multiple first-degree felony drug counts and a possible designation as a major drug offender.

Joseph Desarro II, 30, Duke Vodrey Road, was openly indicted by the Columbiana County Grand Jury on Wednesday for two separate indictments, one stemming from a traffic stop on Jan. 21 and one from a drug raid Feb. 12, with both incidents taking place in East Liverpool.

Charges resulting from the execution of the search warrant at his Cadmus Street property included third-degree felony tampering with evidence and first-degree felonies of two counts trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, two counts possession of a fentanyl-related compound, trafficking in cocaine and possession of cocaine. The indictment also includes specifications for forfeiture of money in a drug case and major drug offender-fentanyl.

Desarro was accused of allegedly placing bags of suspected cocaine and suspected pressed fentanyl pills into the upstairs bathroom toilet and attempting to flush them while the Columbiana County Drug Task Force was executing the search warrant. He was also accused of preparing for shipment and possessing fentanyl-related compound in amounts equal or exceeding 1,000 unit doses and exceeding 20 grams but less than 50 grams.

He allegedly prepared for shipment and possessed cocaine in an amount equal or greater than 27 grams but less than 100 grams. The money specification stemmed from $6,920 seized.

The major drug offender-fentanyl specification noted the offense involved an amount of at least 1,000 unit doses (approximately 8,958 unit doses) of fentanyl-related compound.

The search yielded over 1,000 grams or 1 kilo of suspected counterfeit pressed fentanyl pills disguised as prescription Percocet. Agents also found roughly 56 grams of suspected cocaine and the cash.

The indictment from the traffic stop included charges of third-degree felonies of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and tampering with evidence, fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine and a specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case. The amount for forfeiture was listed as $8,458.

The grand jury met for two days this week, examining 55 witnesses and issuing one superseding indictment, 27 open indictments and 24 secret indictments. Secret indictments are not made public until the defendant is served with the paperwork.

A superseding indictment was issued against Todd Hawthorne, 41, Garner Avenue, East Liverpool, who had already been indicted for fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property for allegedly possessing a stolen motorcycle on Aug. 24, 2023 in East Liverpool. The new charges added to the indictment include aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs, both second-degree felonies, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than five times bulk but less than 50 times bulk.

Some of the open indictments issued were:

— David Kirby, 32, West Main Street, Washingtonville, charged with felonious assault, a first-degree felony, fourth-degree felony assault and misdemeanor resisting arrest for allegedly striking a deputy in the face multiple times and attempting to cause physical harm by a means of a metal ink pen after being caught trespassing near a pond March 12 on a Salem Township property. While being taken to the ground, he allegedly continued to throw punches at the deputy and resisted by pulling out the taser barbs after being tased.

— Wesley D. Theberge, 30, Allison Park, Pa., 52 counts of fourth-degree felony pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person and misdemeanors of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. Theberge was accused of allegedly possessing a large quantity of images depicting minors in a state of nudity on a USB flash drive on March 29 in East Palestine, when he arrived for a sex for hire meeting after making the arrangements with an undercover agent.

— Anthony Wagoner, 43, Cadmus Street, East Liverpool, third-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and misdemeanor resisting arrest for allegedly fleeing from East Liverpool police attempting a traffic stop on March 12, then fleeing on foot after the vehicle became disabled.

— Tyler Woolmaker, 19, Idaho Avenue, East Liverpool, felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and misdemeanor assault for allegedly showing up at a Halloween party on Oct. 28, 2023 in East Liverpool and striking a woman in the head with a whiskey bottle.

— Davante Jackson, 31, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, third-degree felony having weapons while under disability for having a weapon on March 5 while prohibited from having a weapon due to a previous drug conviction.

— Richard Rice, 52, South 12th Street, Sebring, fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property for allegedly being in possession of a stolen 2019 Toyota 4Runner on Jan. 9.

— Crystal Rae Hoskinson, 32, North Lundy Avenue, Salem, fifth-degree felonies of receiving stolen property, theft and passing bad checks for allegedly stealing, possessing and attempting to cash two stolen checks on March 9 totaling $1,114.

— Brent Miller, 39, Salem Alliance Road, Salem, two third-degree felony operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or combination of both and a misdemeanor driving under suspension for allegedly driving impaired on April 8 and being previously convicted of felony OVI in 2019.

— Jesse Sands, 34, 18th Street Heights, Wellsville, fourth-degree felony grand theft of a motor vehicle for allegedly stealing a 2009 Chevy car from Six Recycling on June 28, 2023.

— Mark Kireta, 55, Chester Avenue, Wellsville, second-degree felony burglary and misdemeanor theft for allegedly breaking into a home on Chester Avenue, Wellsville and stealing $40 and a Power Ranger action figure on March 17.