Court News

LISBON — An East Liverpool woman accused of drug charges in two separate indictments was ordered to prison for 12 months.

Kayla Edge, 25, Pugh Road, appeared for sentencing recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court for third-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and fifth-degree felonies of possession of fentanyl-related compound and possession of cocaine.

Besides the prison term, she was given a mandatory fine of $5,000, with $1,400 forfeited to be applied to the fine. Edge possessed cocaine on April 16, 2022 and possessed fentanyl and methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk on April 18, 2022.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Nathan Knight, 40, North Market Street, Lisbon, was placed under community control, or probation, for three years and ordered to serve a term at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center as a requirement of community control. He received credit for 24 days already served in jail. Knight possessed methamphetamine on Jan. 20, 2023.

— Jarrod Westover, 24, North Market Street, Lisbon, was placed under community control for 24 months and ordered to spend up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center for three counts of burglary, a fourth-degree felony. Westover was accused of breaking into a Lisbon apartment without the occupant’s permission on Jan. 25, Jan. 29 and Jan. 30, each time using a credit card to open the door and steal food items.

— Gavin Linden, 22, Crestview Road, Leetonia, was ordered to serve up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center for violating his probation for two counts aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. His community control shall continue though Feb. 1, 2026. Linden possessed hydrocodone and amphetamine on April 11, 2022.

Grand Jury

LISBON — Multiple defendants were served recently with secret indictments issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury, including a man accused of raping a child and a woman accused of harming a child.

Brandon Seddon, 32, Barclay Avenue, Salem, was charged with first-degree felony rape, second-degree felony sexual battery and two counts of third-degree felony gross sexual imposition for allegedly engaging in sexual conduct or contact with a child who was 8 years old when the assaults began during the time frame from Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2021.

Katelyn Vangiesen, 21, West Washington Street, Lisbon, was charged with third-degree felony endangering children and fourth-degree felony assault for allegedly causing physical harm to a 4-year-old child and repeatedly administering unwarranted disciplinary measures to the child, who was mentally or physically handicapped, from Nov 12, 2023 to Nov. 16, 2023.

Also served with secret indictments were:

— Ashley Christine Culp, 38, West 10th Street, Salem, fourth-degree felony grand theft for allegedly depriving the Social Security Administration of $29,189 from March 1, 2019 to May 31, 2023.

— Thomas Shafer, 65, Hillcrest Avenue, Hanoverton, having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony, for allegedly having a firearm on Nov. 5, 2023 while prohibited from having a firearm due to a previous felony conviction.

— Meghan McElroy, 30, Maple Hill Road, Salineville, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and misdemeanor possession of drug abuse instruments for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and drug abuse instruments on Jan. 27.

— Richard M.J. Tittle, 33, Harvey Avenue, East Liverpool, first-degree felony possession of cocaine, second-degree felony possession of fentanyl-related compound and two counts fifth-degree felony possession of drugs for allegedly possessing cocaine in an amount equal or greater than 27 grams but less than 100 grams, possessing an amount of fentanyl equal or greater than 10 grams but less than 20 grams and possessing tramadol and buprenorphine.

— Dustin Jame Brooks, 37, Vine Street, East Liverpool, aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Nov. 15, 2023.

— Joseph Frantz III, 42, West Washington Street, Lisbon, three counts nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly failing to pay child support from May 1, 2022 to April 28, 2024.