Common Pleas

New Cases

Kari Goss, Herbster Street, Columbiana, vs. Joseph Anthony Goss, county jail, County Home Road, Lisbon; divorce sought.

Seven Seventeen Credit Union, Inc., Warren, vs. Russell Kukuk, South Union Avenue, Salem; collection sought of alleged $15,305 debt and $153 plus interest.

John Ewing, Cusick Road, Lisbon, vs. Claudette Miller, New Cumberland, W.Va., and Erie Insurance Property & Casualty Company, Erie, Pa.; damages sought for personal injury claim from 2022 traffic accident.

Docket Entries

Brown Valley Farm, LLC vs. Encino Energy, LLC, et al.; case removed and remanded to United States District Court at request of defendant.

Abigail Leake vs. Willard Leake III; divorce granted.

Veronica Foster and Timothy Foster; dissolution granted.

County Treasurer vs. Anthony Gunter, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Green Lane, East Liverpool property.

County Treasurer vs. William Kennedy Collins, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Anderson Boulevard, East Liverpool property.

Marriage Licenses

Andrew Null II, 23, Salem, mechanical assembler, and Elyssa Jones, 21, Salem, title clerk.

Michael Ross Shasteen, 34, Salineville, cook, and Breanna Castro, 38, Salineville, bartender/co-gm.

Dustin Green, 33, East Liverpool, laborer, and Cortney McDole, 33, East Liverpool, direct support professional.

Brian Sowers, 27, Salem, landscape construction, and Breanna Brewer, 22, Salem, self-employed.

Mackey Stonier, 32, East Palestine, crane operator, and Lea Daugherty, 31, East Palestine, registered nurse.

Zachary Morris, 24, Hanoverton, truck driver, and Ashley McCoy, 25, Hanoverton, house cleaning.

Noah Palmer, 26, Wellsville, tax accountant, and Ann Pflug, 27, Wellsville, compliance specialist.

Zachary Rothwell, 29, Lisbon, laser operator, and Emily May, 27, Lisbon, nurse LPN.

Jordan Mick, 22, East Liverpool, electrician, and Emily Hasson, 22, East Liverpool, administrative assistant.

Zander Murphy, 20, Chester, W.Va., EMT, and Savannah Brewer, 21, Wellsville, unemployed.

Timothy Hall, 56, New Waterford, machinist, and Maria King, 70, New Waterford, retired.

Cameron Dickey, 20, New Waterford, laborer, and Kayla Deily, 21, New Waterford, med tech.

Court News

LISBON — A criminal case against a Salem man for three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor was dismissed after he was found not competent to stand trial.

Joshua Welsh, 24, East Fourth Street, had been accused of having sexual conduct from Jan. 1, 2019 to Dec. 21, 2021 with a child starting when the child was 13 years old.

Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton found that he was not restorable to competency within the statutory time frame required. The case was being sent to Probate Court for a civil commitment proceeding.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— A court entry related to Brock Ward, 40, Oakland Avenue, East Liverpool, was corrected to note that he was ordered into inpatient psychiatric hospitalization at Heartland Behavioral Health for up to six months, not 18 months, after being found incompetent to face trial for two counts fourth-degree felony assault and one count fifth-degree felony harassment by an inmate for an incident in East Liverpool on Feb. 7 when he allegedly spit saliva in the face of a police officer and kicked another officer in the leg. A judge found that his competency may be able to be restored with treatment.

— Jasper Mountz, 40, Bethesda Road, Kensington, was placed on a treatment plan for three years after pleading guilty to fourth-degree felony trespass in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present and misdemeanor illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia for entering an attached garage in Salem without permission and possessing drug paraphernalia on March 4. He was ordered to stay away from the property in question in Salem.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a preliminary/pretrial hearing was set today for Shane R. Hart, 31, West Main Street, Salineville, charged with fourth-degree felony disrupting public services and misdemeanors of domestic violence and resisting arrest for allegedly grabbing a woman by the arms and telling her he was going to hurt her during a disturbance on July 25 in Salineville.

Another woman who went to the location to check on the woman found her having an argument with the defendant and when she told him she was calling the police he allegedly forcibly took the cell phone away from her to prevent her from calling for assistance. When a police officer attempted to make contact with him, he allegedly attempted to block access by putting mattresses in the hallway between himself and the officer. He also allegedly pulled away and had to be taken to the ground and forcibly placed into handcuffs.

A preliminary hearing was set Aug. 5 for Russell Lightner Jr., 45, state Route 45, Lisbon, charged with first degree felony aggravated burglary and felonious assault, a second-degree felony for an alleged stabbing at the Frola Motel on July 26 on state Route 45 in Center Township where a woman reported being cut by Lightner, who entered the woman’s apartment and began to yell at her. Witnesses alleged they heard items being thrown around and one witness said it sounded like knives being thrown. The woman was injured and being treated at East Liverpool City Hospital.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Aug. 5 for Hunter Congrove, 21, state Route 45, Lisbon, charged with two counts fourth-degree felony assault and misdemeanors of obstructing official business and resisting arrest for allegedly biting a police officer, attempting to grab his taser and kicking another police officer in the face during a physical altercation while they were trying to take him into custody in St. Clair Township on July 26. Police had been called to the Walmart parking lot for a man going car to car trying to open doors. When told he was being detained, he started to resist and got into the altercation with police, who took him to the ground and tased him during the scuffle. He also allegedly gave several fake names and lied about his identity.

A preliminary hearing was set Aug. 5 for Storm McDonald, 21, Akron, charged with fourth-degree felony burglary for allegedly breaking into a Wellsville home on July 28 with four others.

A preliminary hearing was set Aug. 5 for Faith Jones, 21, Akron, charged with fourth-degree felony burglary for allegedly breaking into a Wellsville home on July 28 with four others.

A preliminary hearing was set Aug. 5 for Chase McDonald, 18, Akron, charged with fourth-degree felony burglary for allegedly breaking into a Wellsville home on July 28 with four others.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Aug. 5 for Alexander Ashley, 19, Tallmadge, charged with fourth-degree felony burglary and misdemeanor aggravated menacing for allegedly breaking into a Wellsville home on July 28 with four others and threatening the resident and allegedly flashing a gun, which was later found broken with no bullets.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Aug. 5 for Brandon Dunn, 39, whose address was listed as the county jail, County Home Road, Lisbon, charged with third-degree felony escape and misdemeanor obstructing official business. He was accused of allegedly taking off a GPS unit and leaving Salem Regional Medical Center on July 28 after being told by deputies that he would be charged if he left the hospital where he had been taken from the jail for chest pains. Hospital staff reported that he took off the GPS unit and left. The obstructing charge stemmed from a Feb. 13, 2021 incident in St. Clair Township.

A pretrial was set Oct. 29 for Beth Stutler, 28, Canton, charged with endangering a child for allegedly violating a duty of care, protection and support on July 8 when a juvenile boy nearly drowned at Guilford Lake. Witnesses said the child was only wearing a diaper when pulled from the water after being seen floating near a buoy and found purple, unconscious and foaming at the nose and mouth. Witnesses said the defendant was nearby in the water when the child was brought out of the water. She told a state trooper she lost sight of the child while in the changing room.

A pretrial was set Oct. 29 for Jason Trosky, 49, East Martin Street, East Palestine, charged with two counts of domestic violence for allegedly chasing a juvenile in an alleged fit of rage on July 28 in East Palestine, with the victim believing he was going to cause him physical harm. He was also accused of throwing items at a woman, including a blue plastic toy truck that struck her in the thigh.

A pretrial was set Aug. 8 for Bryan Veglia, 32, Duke Vodrey Road, East Liverpool, charged with two counts of assault and two counts of criminal damaging for an incident July 28 in Wellsville when he harmed a woman.

A pretrial was set Aug. 8 for Christopher Dorsey, 43, Erie Street, East Liverpool, charged with assault for allegedly smacking another man with an open hand at the Mainland Gas Station in East Liverpool on July 28.

A pretrial was set Nov. 4 for Selena Lopez, 19, West 16th Street, Salem, charged with domestic violence for allegedly slapping a man and hitting him in the arms and chest area during a domestic altercation on July 27 in Perry Township.

A pretrial was set Aug. 8 for Trevor Reno, 19, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with domestic violence for allegedly pushing a woman and another female during a domestic on July 26 in Salem.

Madison J. Schreckengost, 22, Stow, was fined $400 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for possessing criminal tools and soliciting for posting an ad on a known website used for solicitation of prostitution, soliciting sexual conduct from an undercover agent for $100, then arriving in Salem on Dec. 6, 2023 for the meeting. Schreckengost was ordered to complete 40 hours community service.

A pretrial was set Oct. 1 for Lohith Kumar Talla, 28, Oakdale, 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 females in exchange for $140, then traveling to East Palestine on July 28 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Steven Caravella, 35, Coudersport, Pa., was fined $250 and given a suspended 60 day jail term for sexual imposition. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service, which he may buy out, and to have no contact with the victim. Caravella was accused of sexual imposition with a 17-year-old girl on June 7, 2017 in East Palestine.

A pretrial was set Aug. 8 for William Shuman, 44, St. George Street, East Liverpool, charged with domestic violence for allegedly punching a woman in the right side of her face after arguing with her on July 26 in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set Oct. 29 for Christopher Trautvetter, 36, Midland, Pa., charged with assault for allegedly pushing a woman against a wall and against the floor. She began defending herself and called 911 on July 27 in East Liverpool. An officer saw defensive marks on the victim and blood marks on the floor and wall.

A pretrial was set Aug. 8 for David Sparks, 31, Sophia Street, East Liverpool, charged with aggravated menacing for allegedly threatening to blow a woman’s head off at a laundromat in East Liverpool on July 15 during an argument. Video footage showed him pulling what looked to be a sawed off shotgun from his waistband but leaving it covered with his shirt, but he admitted he used a stick in the shape of a gun to stick up for his female friend, an affidavit said.

A status hearing was set Oct. 28 and a jury trial was set Nov. 6 for Jeffrey Knoblock, 25, Taylor Road, Rogers, charged with assault for allegedly punching another man in the face and several times in the side on March 18 in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set Oct. 1 for Devin Wooten, 25, South Beaver Street, Lisbon, charged with resisting arrest and persistent disorderly conduct for allegedly yelling at a woman, throwing her belongings around and refusing to allow her inside to retrieve them in Lisbon, then pulling away from officers handcuffing him.

Logan Jones, 34, Oak Street, Lisbon, was fined $350 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for criminal damaging amended from criminal endangerment, and criminal trespass. A charge of theft was dismissed. Logan Jones was buying out 20 hours community service and ordered to pay $1,159.79 restitution to the victim. Logan Jones was accused of trespassing on a Brookfield Avenue, Lisbon property on May 22 and damaging a phone.

A pretrial was set Nov. 4 for George Feezle, 49, Enon Valley, Pa., charged with theft for allegedly failing to scan and pay for three items totaling $12.43 from the Calcutta Walmart on April 29.

Ralph A. Blundo, 77, New Castle, Pa., was fined $250 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for criminal trespass. A menacing charge was dismissed. Ralph A. Blundo was ordered to stay away from East Palestine schools and sporting events. He was charged for his part in an incident at East Palestine High School during an AAU basketball tournament on May 5. The elder Blundo was accused of making physical threats of harm to a referee and another male and refused several times to leave after being told several times to go.

Charges of obstructing official business and criminal trespass were dismissed against Ralph J. Blundo, 51, New Castle, Pa., who had been accused of refusing to leave East Palestine High School during an AAU basketball tournament on May 5. He had been questioned by law enforcement about a teen who allegedly made threats to the mother of a child on the opposing team and a referee and allegedly denied knowing the teen, who he did know. He was asked several times to leave and allegedly continued to engage in a verbal confrontation with two males, including the referee.

A pretrial was set Aug. 8 for Julie Underwood, 47, Maine Boulevard, East Liverpool, charged with possession of drug abuse instruments and possession of drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing drug paraphernalia, drug abuse instruments and suspected narcotics in her purse during a traffic stop July 21 in St. Clair Township.

A charge of speeding was dismissed against James Vincent Hall, 37, Burgettstown, Pa., at the prosecutor’s request because the defendant was impersonated by his twin brother.

A probation violation hearing was set Aug. 27 for Gregory Lawson Jr., 23, Salem Alliance Road, Salem, for charges of operating a vehicle impaired and speeding.

Harry Wrightsman, 71, Sixth Street, Wellsville, was fined $925 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 87 days suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program. His driver’s license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service.

A pretrial was set Aug. 20 for Sydney Huffnagle II, 31, Salineville Road NE, Mechanicstown, charged with OVI third offense, driving under suspension and marked lanes.

A pretrial was set Oct. 3 for Jerry Malone II, 44, West Fifth Street, Salem, charged with OVI third offense, OVI refusal third offense and driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set Nov. 4 for Brenda Henry, 51, Canton, charged with OVI first offense and OVI breath first offense.

A pretrial was set Aug. 19 for Cruz Murphy, 32, East North Avenue, East Palestine, charged with OVI second offense, driving under suspension and reasonable control.

A pretrial was set Oct. 8 for Ryan Gregory, 38, Akron, charged with OVI first offense and failure to use turn signal.

A pretrial was set Oct. 29 for Ross Chaplow, 42, Metz Road, Columbiana, charged with OVI second offense and driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set Oct. 7 for Jimmy Anderson, 34, Pine Hollow Road, Lisbon, charged with driving under suspension, non compliance and improper/expired registration.

A pretrial was set Aug. 8 for Kevin Gregory, 34, Oak Street, Leetonia, charged with driving while texting.

A pretrial was set Nov. 5 for James Zimmerman, 29, state Route 7, Columbiana, charged with a 12-point suspension.

A pretrial was set Aug. 13 for Richard Cox, 41, North Benton, charged with driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set Oct. 7 for Monique Jimperson, 31, South Main Street, Columbiana, charged with driving under suspension.

Nicholas Ramsey, 32, Cortland, was fined $180 for speeding and no seat belt.

Raylynn Gibson, 34, state Route 154, Rogers, was fined $300 for driving under suspension and loud exhaust.

Thomas Neville, 20, Akron, was fined $50 for speeding, with driving under suspension dismissed.

John J. Miller, 72, East Park Avenue, Columbiana, was fined $250 for driving under suspension.

Tiesha Howell, 29, Youngstown, was fined $135 for driving under suspension and speeding.

Matthew Winkle, 41, Moore Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $195 for driving under suspension and lights required.