Common Pleas

New Cases

Ashley Black, Summit Street, Salem, and Daniel Black, Justison Road, East Palestine; dissolution sought.

Eva Davis, South Lincoln Avenue, Salem, vs. Chris Davis, Lehi, Utah; divorce sought.

U.S. Bank National Association, Owensboro, Ky. vs. Glenn Dixon, East Clark Street, East Palestine, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought.

Damon Shannon, Jennings Avenue, East Liverpool, vs. Michelle Woodyard, Idaho Avenue, East Liverpool, and Tri State Cab Co. LLC, Macrum Street, East Liverpool; damages sought for personal injury claim from 2023 traffic accident.

Docket Entries

Amalia Ehler vs. Robert Ehler; divorce granted.

Sarra Kroesen vs Tori Lee Ann Teagarden; divorce granted.

Rachel Riddick and Perry Riddick II; dissolution granted.

County Treasurer vs. 3A2K Property Management LLC; payment plan entered, case stayed.

Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC vs. Brian Hamilton, et al.; judgment vacated, case dismissed.

Marriage Licenses

Tyler James Lippert, 18, Finleyville, Pa., mechanic, and Bethany Ogozaly, 20, Columbiana, barista.

Andrew Duko, 33, Salem, certified peer recovery specialist, and Makenzi Wilkes, 26, Salem, E1 Digital Direct.

Fabio Farouk Bassil, 28, East Liverpool, supply chain manager, and Jaylen Rae Young, 27, Beaver Falls, Pa., human resource generalist.

Andrew Williams, 31, Lisbon, iron worker, and Samantha Baird, 30, Lisbon, homemaker.

Jeremy McConnell, 46, Wellsville, customer service representative, and Breanne Mizway, 22, Wellsville, certified nursing assistant.

Brandon Rockenhauser, 26, Wellsville, line cook, and Angela Draper, 21, Wardyhill, Ely, United Kingdom, unemployed.

Jaryn Martin, 21, Salem, sales representative, and Alissa Hochstetler, 20, Millersburg, unemployed.

Noah Levans, 19, Salem, sanitation worker, and McKaylah Wells, 18, Salem, crew member.

Eric Wilson, 33, East Palestine, claims benefit specialist, and Natalie Foster, 31, East Palestine, preschool teacher.

Richard Castelucci II, 29, Salem, unemployed, and Kristin Steed, also known as Kristin Hubbard, 32, Salem, unemployed.

Andrew Richardson, 34, Salem, mover, and Michelle Reeder, 50, Salem, fast food worker.

Kerushan Woodley, 36, Salem, chef, and Michaela Buehman, 30, Salem, care manager.

Grand Jury

LISBON — Four defendants indicted for various charges by the Columbiana County Grand Jury were served recently with their secret indictments.

Courtney Orr, 33, Lincoln Street Extension, Salineville, was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, fifth-degree felony, for allegedly using a 2021 Jeep Gladiator without the permission of the owner from March 12 to March 13.

Robert Tanley Jr., 43, Amsterdam, was charged with two counts of fifth-degree felony nonsupport of dependents for allegedly failing to pay child support for two children from June 5, 2022 to June 2, 2024.

Thomas Larkins, 41, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, was charged with aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on May 29, 2022.

Traci Wells, 46, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, was charged with aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on May 22, 2023.

Court News

LISBON — An East Palestine man accused of using deception to illegally receive money from Norfolk Southern over the 2023 train derailment was placed on probation for two years, but must pay restitution to the railroad.

Scott A. Meyer, 48, East North Avenue, East Palestine, appeared for sentencing in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court recently for fourth-degree felonies of grand theft and forgery.

Judge Scott Washam noted that Meyer demonstrated remorse and the circumstances were unlikely to occur again, granting him community control or probation for 24 months. He was ordered to pay restitution of $15,546 to Norfolk Southern.

Meyer was accused of using deceptive means to steal $24,946 from Norfolk Southern and forging a lease agreement from April 13, 2023 to Sept. 25, 2023.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a preliminary/pretrial hearing was set July 22 for Clayton Robert Murray, 24, East Martin Street, East Palestine, charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and misdemeanors of weapons while intoxicated and four counts of aggravated menacing. A police affidavit alleged that Murray pulled a gun out of his waistband, pointed inside a vehicle with four occupants and told them to leave after an incident in East Palestine on July 13.

The affidavit said the victim and three of his friends were at another friend’s residence next door to the defendant when the defendant and one of his friends yelled at them to move their vehicle, which was parked on East Martin Street in front of the defendant’s residence. When the vehicle owner entered the vehicle with his friends, he found the driver side door handle missing and laying on the passenger side floor board. When he asked Murray about the damage to the vehicle, Murray allegedly said “don’t talk to me like that” twice, then approached the vehicle. All four victims indicated that the defendant smelled of alcoholic beverages and was slurring his speech.

Cases against Thomas Adair Watkins, 52, East North Avenue, East Palestine, were bound over to the county grand jury for fifth-degree felony strangulation and misdemeanors of domestic violence and prohibitions concerning companion animals for an alleged incident on July 3 in East Palestine.

Watkins allegedly had an argument with a woman and kicked everyone out of the house when she wasn’t there, with her dog left behind. When she arrived, he allegedly made obscene comments to her, then dragged the dog out of the kennel by its neck, picked it up by its neck and threw it at her. The dog hit her and fell to the ground, causing the dog to whine and run away from them. While the victim was attempting to get her dog, Watkins allegedly threw a muffin pan at her, hitting her in the back. Then she threw the pan back toward him and he allegedly retaliated by grabbing her by the arm, punching her in the jaw and putting his hands around her throat, causing her to not be able to breathe. She struck him in the eye and he let go of her and as she was leaving with her dog, he allegedly pushed her out the back door.

Cases against Dakota McCluskey, 32, state Route 644, Kensington, were bound over to the grand jury for two counts of fourth-degree felony burglary and three counts of misdemeanor criminal trespass for alleged incidents on July 6 in Perry Township. McCluskey allegedly entered a West Pidgeon Road home when the resident was there and then when police were looking for him, he allegedly entered an attached garage at a Hearthside Drive home while that resident was there. The trespass charges stem from him trespassing on properties on West Pidgeon Road and Hearthside Drive. Police while searching for him heard shouting on West Pidgeon Road and then saw the suspect being escorted off of the property by two males where he had entered a blocked off back yard.

A case against Peter John Oyler, 64, Mechanicsburg, Pa., was bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony compelling prostitution and fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website of an adult female and a juvenile and arranging for sexual activity with both in exchange for $280, arriving in East Palestine on June 17 for the meeting.

A preliminary hearing was set Aug. 19 for Michael Henderson, 60, West Main Street, East Palestine, charged with fifth-degree felony telecommunications harassment for allegedly sending threatening text messages to a man on Jan. 27 in Perry Township.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set July 29 for Troy J. Jones, 43, Ohio Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with third-degree felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanor obstructing official business for allegedly attempting to dispose of cell phones that would be evidence while officers were executing a search warrant on First Avenue, East Liverpool on April 23, an affidavit said. He also failed to comply with lawful commands of police.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set July 22 for Ira Lewis Pierce, 37, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with third-degree felony strangulation and misdemeanor domestic violence. An affidavit said that Pierce allegedly grabbed a juvenile by the throat and began to strangle her on July 14 in East Liverpool, with the female saying she almost passed out.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set July 22 for Miguel Rivera, 45, Leipsic, charged with third-degree felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanors of obstructing justice, drug paraphernalia and operating a vehicle impaired first offense. Rivera allegedly swallowed a bag he claimed contained drugs during a traffic stop in East Liverpool on July 14. Police also found three cut straws with residue, two burnt glass pipes, an unknown white rock-like substance and a small tear off bag with unknown residue in the vehicle.

A pretrial was set Sept. 16 for Michael Herron, 33, Ohio Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with domestic violence for allegedly grabbing another man around his neck, pinning him against the wall, then pushing him to the ground on July 4 in East Liverpool. A fifth-degree felony charge of strangulation was dismissed at the request of the prosecutor.

A pretrial was set Sept. 16 for Cassidy Crowl, 26, East Chestnut Street, Lisbon, charged with domestic violence for allegedly grabbing another woman and throwing her, causing physical harm on July 14 in Lisbon, an affidavit said.

A pretrial was set July 22 for Matthew Backus, 37, Belmar Street, East Liverpool, charged with domestic violence and resisting arrest for allegedly striking a woman in the head during an alleged psychotic episode and then resisted by allegedly pulling away from police and refusing to listen to verbal commands on July 14 in East Liverpool, an affidavit said.

A pretrial was set Sept. 30 for Craig Milton Lower, 43, Louisville, charged with domestic violence for allegedly hitting a woman in the face twice near her eye during an incident July 14 in West Township.

A pretrial was set Oct. 10 for Kailee Diehl, 18, Stewart Avenue, Salem, charged with domestic violence for allegedly striking a juvenile in the chest during an incident in Salem on July 13.

A pretrial was set Oct. 8 for Dennis S. Womer, 47, Rochester, Pa., 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 activity with a female in exchange for $200, arriving in East Palestine on July 12 for the meeting with the cell phone used to make the arrangements.

Desirea Collins, 23, Sycamore Street, Beloit, was fined $150 and sentenced to two days in jail, with credit for two days served, for disorderly conduct, amended from domestic violence. The charge stemmed from an alleged domestic altercation in Beloit on April 23 involving two other people.

Suzanne Keller, 41, Sycamore Street, Beloit, was fined $150 and sentenced to two days in jail, with credit for two days served, for disorderly conduct, amended from domestic violence. The charge stemmed from an alleged domestic altercation in Beloit on April 23 involving two other people.

Richard Demeo, 51, Cedar Street, Salem, was fined $150 for disorderly conduct, amended from domestic violence. Demeo was accused of grabbing a woman by her neck and shoulders, an affidavit said.

A pretrial was set Sept. 12 for Anthony James Vaughn, 25, state Route 164, Salineville, charged with theft for allegedly failing to pay for six items totaling $531 at the Calcutta Walmart on June 16.

Brian Humphrey, 44, Maryland Street, East Liverpool, was fined $300 and sentenced to four days in jail, with credit for four days served, for obstructing official business. Humphrey was accused of not complying with lawful commands of police during a drug search warrant on First Avenue in East Liverpool on April 23.

A pretrial was set Sept. 24 for Kimberly Gibson, 38, New Castle, Pa., charged with passing bad checks for allegedly writing a bad check for $900 on Nov. 23, 2021 to a person for a Golden Retriever in Minerva.

A pretrial was set Oct. 17 for Donna McCune, 49, Riverview Street, East Liverpool, charged with criminal trespass for allegedly failing to vacate her condemned home on July 8 in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set Oct. 10 for Traci Wells, 46, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, charged with illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia for allegedly having a brass colored metal straw/tube with white residue in her pocket while placed in custody for a warrant. A bag of crystal like substance was also found, along with a paper fold containing a white powder-like substance.

A pretrial was set Oct. 17 for Rebecca Steed, 52, West Main Street, Washingtonville, charged with theft for allegedly attempting to steal $256 worth of merchandise from a store in Salem on June 27.

A probation violation hearing was set Sept. 9 for Thomas Larkins Jr., 41, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, charged with drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension for a 2022 incident.

Robert William Kennedy, 26, Irondale, was fined $300 and sentenced to three days in jail, with credit for three days served, for drug paraphernalia, no license and a turn signal violation. Kennedy possessed a pipe during a traffic stop on July 12 in St. Clair Township.

A pretrial was set Oct. 15 for Savanna Seth, 22, Columbus, charged with drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing a glass smoking pipe with white residue under her purse during a traffic stop on June 28 in Rogers.

A pretrial was set Oct. 8 for Brian Edward Smith, 52, East Eighth Street, Salem, charged with operating a vehicle impaired first offense, OVI breath first offense, loud exhaust and no seat belt.

Janelle Jenkins, 63, Depot Road, Salem, was fined $925 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 165 days suspended, leaving a balance of 15 days to serve in jail, for OVI first offense and marked lanes. His driver’s license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

Damien Wayne Jones, 22, Stagecoach Road, East Liverpool, was fined $925 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 27 days suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program for physical control, amended from OVI, and marked lanes. His driver’s license was suspended for 180 days and he was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

A pretrial was set Oct. 7 for Robert George Burns, 77, Brookdale Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with OVI first offense and marked lanes.

A pretrial was set Oct. 10 for Chester Long, 47, Canton, charged with OVI second offense, reasonable control and unsafe vehicle.

A pretrial was set Oct. 17 for Julie Mohn, 41, Youngstown, charged with forfeiture.

A pretrial was set Sept. 12 for Nancy Jones, 62, Rauch Road, East Palestine, charged with speeding.

A pretrial was set Sept. 16 for Ahmad Zeeshan, 37, California City, Calif., charged with speeding.

Tyler Ross, 31, Signal Road, Columbiana, was fined $150 for driving under suspension.

Jeremy Echols, 42, State Street, Leetonia, was fined $200 for driving under suspension.

Kimberly Walter, 55, North Lima, was fined $100 for speeding.

Cassidy William Pringle, 18, Youngstown, was fined $100 for expired license.

Richard Bangor, 69, Highland Colony Street, East Liverpool, was fined $50 for an equipment violation, amended from speeding.

Levi Stahl, 43, Darlington, Pa., was fined $50 for an equipment violation, amended from speeding.