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Courts

Common Pleas

New Cases

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Janelle Koontz, state Route 45, Wellsville, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for state Route 45, Wellsville property.

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. James Moraski, state Route 154, Lisbon, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for state Route 14, Columbiana property.

Crystal Holloway, Center Avenue, Lisbon, vs. Gary Holloway, North Beaver Street, Lisbon; divorce sought.

Pricie Bittner, West Main Street, New Waterford, and Danny Mullen Jr., West Martin Street, East Palestine; dissolution sought.

Lonnie Gilbert III, state Route 45 South, Salem, vs. Kathryn Gilbert, Depot Road, Lisbon; divorce sought.

Rose Howard, Moore Street, East Liverpool, vs. Greggory Howard, address unknown; divorce sought.

EZ Pay Buildings, LLC, Cincinnati, vs. Arlan Bailey, Cunningham Road, Salem; collection sought of alleged $20,114 debt.

Servis One, Inc., Irving, Texas, vs. Benjamin Wallace, South Lincoln Avenue, Salem, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for Columbiana County property.

Discover Bank, Columbus, vs. Helen Cataldo, 18th Street, Wellsville; collection sought of alleged $19,603 debt.

Docket Entries

Brooke Logan and Jordan Logan; dissolution granted.

County Treasurer vs. George & Knox LTD., et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. Edward Edling Jr., et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. Bernice Greenisen, et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. Lansberry Properties LLC., et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

Grand Jury

LISBON — Angela Martin, 45, McKee Road, Wellsville, was one of four defendants served Wednesday with secret indictments issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury.

Martin was charged with illegal use of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefit or WIC program benefits, a third-degree felony, for allegedly illegally using the assistance from Sept. 1, 2020 to Feb. 28, 2023.

Also served with secret indictments were:

— Adam Wolfe, 48, Newton Falls, aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on July 7, 2023 in an amount equal or exceeding bulk but less than five times bulk.

— Juston Buskirk, 45, West Martin Street, East Palestine, possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing cocaine on Nov. 15, 2022.

— Jonathan Weyand, 31, Chester, W.Va., possession of fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing fentanyl on Nov. 4, 2023.

Court News

LISBON — An East Palestine woman accused of defrauding Norfolk Southern out of money was ordered to pay restitution of $15,889 to the railroad.

Lauren Fegert, 40, Alice Street, East Palestine, entered a guilty plea to grand theft, a fourth-degree felony, in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court and was immediately sentenced.

She was placed on a treatment plan for four years as part of her sentence.

Fegert was accused of stealing $15,889 from Norfolk Southern by allegedly providing fictitious and altered hotel receipts between April 25, 2023 and June 8, 2023 when she was not relocated due to the February train derailment.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Robert Lewis Winters, 77, McSwiggen Road, Salineville, was placed under community control for three years for open burning or open dumping of solid waste, an unclassified felony, for allegedly recklessly disposing of solid waste by open burning or open dumping from April 16, 2021 to April 8, 2022. A fine of $10,000 and a county jail term of 90 days were both suspended. Winters was ordered to pay restitution of $1,000 to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

— Markell Albritton, 31, Steubenville, was placed under community control for 18 months after pleading guilty to attempted possession of marijuana, a fourth-degree felony, related to an attempt to possess marijuana on Feb. 14, 2023.

— Christine Bailey, 65, Northside Avenue, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to attempted felonious assault, a third-degree felony lesser included offense, with sentencing set for Dec. 16. She was originally charged with complicity in the commission of an offense, a second-degree felony, for allegedly soliciting or procuring others to commit felonious assault on July 15, 2023. According to county Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino, the case stemmed from a dispute over a fence.

— Terry Sonntog, 49, last known address Warren Avenue, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to charges from three separate indictments for fourth-degree felony grand theft, fifth-degree felony breaking and entering, third-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs, and fifth-degree felony permitting drug abuse. Sentencing was set for Nov. 1. A charge of aggravated trafficking will be dismissed. Sonntog broke into a man’s property and stole two barge propellers valued at $30,000 each on Nov. 14, 2023. On April 18, 2022, Sonntog allowed property to be used for commission of a felony drug offense and on Sept. 8, 2022, Sonntog possessed methamphetamine.

— A motion to suppress evidence in a drug case against a Wellsville woman was denied recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, with a judge ruling the woman’s rights were not violated.

Kristy Dillard, 45, Commerce Street, stands accused of first-degree felonies of possession of cocaine and trafficking in cocaine, with specifications for forfeiture of money from a drug case, for allegedly possessing $6,800 and preparing for sale and possessing cocaine in an amount equal or greater than 27 grams but less than 100 grams on Feb. 6.

A final status hearing remains set for Dec. 20, with a jury trial scheduled for Jan. 7.

Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton ruled against the motion to suppress the evidence found during a traffic stop, noting the vehicle was stopped for expired plates.

“There is no question that is a valid reason for the stop,” she wrote.

The officer had seen the vehicle at a known drug house and did a valid pat down and located $6,800 in her pocket, then noted a bulge in the woman’s pants. She started acting nervous and during a struggle, suspected narcotics were found, court documents said.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Travis Rhodes, 33, South Market Street, East Palestine, was sentenced to 24 months in prison total after pleading guilty to charges for six different drug cases. Four of the six six-month terms were ordered served consecutive to each other, which brought the total to 24 months or two years. Charges against Rhodes included six counts of aggravated possession of drugs, two counts of possession of fentanyl-related compound and single count of possession of heroin and possession of drugs, all fifth-degree felonies, including specifications for forfeiture of money from drug cases. He was accused of possessing methamphetamine and cocaine on Jan. 14, 2022, methamphetamine and LSD on Jan. 19, 2022, buprenorphine and fentanyl on Feb. 23, 2022, methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin on Sept. 16, 2020, methamphetamine on June 3, 2022, and methylphenidate on March 2, 2022. Cash amounts to be forfeited included $80, $35, and $34.

— Tyler Sadler, 24, McCracken Road, Salem, was placed under community control for three years and ordered to serve up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center in Wintersville and three days in the county jail for a lesser offense of attempted failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer, a fourth-degree felony, fifth-degree felony obstructing official business, fifth-degree felony operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drug of abuse or both, and misdemeanor driving under suspension. Another OVI charge was dismissed. His driver’s license was suspended for three years effective March 14, 2023. Sadler was accused of leading Columbiana police on a high speed chase March 14, 2023 and failing to pull over after emergency lights and sirens were activated. The vehicle was tracked to New Waterford, with tracks and footprints in the snow leading to an apartment where Sadler was found.

— Cristal Cronin, 49, Hammondsville, was sentenced to six months in prison, with credit for one day served in jail, for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. Charges of possession of cocaine and possession of fentanyl-related compound were dismissed. Cronin possessed methamphetamine on Dec. 8, 2022.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a preliminary hearing was set Oct. 31 for Randy May, 46, Mill Street, Leetonia, charged with felonious assault, a first-degree felony, for allegedly using a 2-foot-long solid steel rod to beat Leetonia police officer John Hancock about the head and face on Oct. 21 on Pearl Street in Leetonia, causing injury which included a broken ankle that will keep him off work for a long period of time

A case against Michael Stacy, 34, Myrtle Beach, S.C., was bound over to the county grand jury for felonious assault, a second-degree felony, for allegedly causing physical harm to a woman by means of a deadly weapon by hitting her with a stick on Oct. 17 in Wellsville.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Oct. 31 for Jason Ramsey, 22, Akron, charged with fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property and misdemeanors of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and obstructing official business for allegedly being in a stolen vehicle on Oct. 24 in Salem, with the key in his pocket, using the vehicle without permission and then running from the vehicle when police arrived.

A pretrial was set Jan. 14 for Christopher Dorsey, 43, Erie Street, East Liverpool, charged with assault, deposit litter, garbage, trash or junk on adjacent property on alley, driving under suspension and use of unauthorized plate. Dorsey allegedly smacked a man in the face at the Mainland Gas Station in East Liverpool on July 28. On March 30 in East Liverpool, he was accused of dumping tires in the back of a vacant house.

A pretrial was set Oct. 31 for James Keys Jr., 38, Vine Street, East Liverpool, charged with assault for allegedly pushing a woman to the ground while she was attempting to break up a fight on July 16 in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set Jan. 30 for Anthony Kelly, 36, Wood Street, East Palestine, charged with aggravated menacing for allegedly threatening to shoot a woman at East Palestine High School via an email earlier this month.

Mateo Alonzo, 38, East Fourth Street, Salem, was fined $300 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 160 days suspended, credit for three days served, and the remainder to be served by house arrest, for domestic violence. He was ordered to complete 30 hours community service. Alonzo was accused of grabbing a woman by the back of her hair and pulling her around during a domestic on Sept. 13 in Salem.

Lawrence Pat Powers, 58, Acme, Pa., was fined $500 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for engaging in prostitution, with a charge of possessing criminal tools dismissed. He was ordered to complete 10 hours community service and an online prostitution prevention course. Powers was accused of responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a female in exchange for $240, traveling to East Palestine on Jan. 24 for the meeting.

Nathaniel Paul Beck, 45, Kent, was fined $250 and given a suspended 60-day jail term for criminal mischief amended from engaging in prostitution, with a charge of possessing criminal tools dismissed. He was ordered to forfeit $140 to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, and to complete 60 hours community service and an online prostitution prevention course. Beck arrived in East Palestine on July 24 for a sex for hire arrangement.

Eric A. Zelesnak, 47, Youngstown, was fined $250 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for disorderly conduct amended from engaging in prostitution, with a charge of possessing criminal tools dismissed. He was also fined $250 for driving under suspension. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and an online prostitution prevention course. He was accused of responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a female in exchange for $120, then traveling to East Palestine on June 15 for the meeting.

A pretrial was set Nov. 12 for David Patrick Miscimarra, 62, Boardman, 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 for hire, arriving in St. Clair Township on Oct. 9 for the meeting.

A pretrial was set Oct. 31 for Jay Frantz, 35, East Chestnut Street, Lisbon, charged with assault and obstructing official business for allegedly striking a man in the face, causing a cut near the man’s ear on Oct. 23 in Lisbon, then leaving the residence and hiding underneath the porch from officers.

A pretrial was set Oct. 31 for Juston Buskirk, 45, Akron, charged with assault for allegedly punching a woman in the face in East Palestine, holding her down in a chair with his knee on her neck and dragging her across the floor by her hair and holding her down on Nov. 21, 2023.

A pretrial was set Jan. 9 for Zachary Conner, 21, East Pidgeon Road, Salem, charged with theft for allegedly stealing eight $100 gift cards and a bank card from a residence in Perry Township on Oct. 23.

Billie Thompson, 42, Youngstown, was sentenced to 90 days in jail for theft, possessing criminal tools and drug paraphernalia, with the sentence to be served at the same time as a prison term she’s currently serving. Thompson was ordered to pay costs. She was accused of leaving the Calcutta Walmart without paying for 39 items totaling $372 on Oct. 31, 2023, with some of the items concealed in a purse and some unscanned. During a traffic stop on June 26, 2023 in East Palestine, she possessed a digital scale, several plastic baggies used to package methamphetamine and some suspected methamphetamine.

A pretrial was set Oct. 31 for Meghan McElroy, 31, Maple Hill Road, Salineville, charged with obstructing official business, obstructing justice, and two counts of theft. On Aug. 25, she allegedly left the Calcutta Walmart without paying for 32 items valued at $968. McElroy allegedly lied about her name on Sept. 6 when questioned by police during an incident in East Liverpool. On Oct. 23 in East Liverpool, she allegedly tried to run out of the Calcutta Walmart away from loss prevention personnel, then away from St. Clair Township police officers after an alleged shoplifting incident. She was accused of failing to pay for seven items valued at $199 and giving police a false name and date of birth.

A pretrial was set Jan. 6 for Emily Slepski, 25, state Route 46, New Waterford, charged with furnishing alcohol to underage person for allegedly selling a bottle of beer to an 18-year-old while bartending at Homestead Kitchen in Columbiana on Oct. 11.

A pretrial was set Oct. 31 for Ryan Armstrong, 39, Hoopes Road, Salem, charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly being intoxicated in public on Oct. 22 in Salem.

A pretrial was set Oct. 31 for Amy Jo Haines, 32, East Chestnut Street, Lisbon, charged with obstructing official business for allegedly shutting the door in the face of Lisbon police officers attempting to arrest a man who had run inside the residence after being told he was under arrest for assault.

A pretrial was set Nov. 4 for Rachel Hess, 30, last known address Sixth Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with theft, drug paraphernalia, operating a vehicle impaired first offense, OVI refusal with prior within 20 years, expired license, lane violation and driving under suspension. Hess was accused of allegedly failing to scan and pay for 28 items totaling $189 at the Calcutta Walmart on Feb. 27. Hess allegedly possessed a glass pipe for smoking methamphetamine during a traffic stop on July 26, 2023 in East Liverpool. A probation violation hearing was also set Nov. 4 for drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing three glass pipes during an incident March 18 in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set Jan. 14 for Matthew Crowl, 46, listed as homeless, Salem, charged with possessing drug abuse instrument and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. On Oct. 23 in Salem, Crowl allegedly possessed a clear baggy with a white crystal substance and a hypodermic needle.

James Howell Jr., 59, Ohio Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $730 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 170 days suspended, leaving a balance of 10 days still to serve in jail for OVI, driving under suspension, failure to control and drug paraphernalia. His driver’s license was suspended for one year and he was ordered to complete 30 hours community service. On July 6 during a traffic stop, he possessed a burnt glass pipe.

Raeanne Brantley, 36, Beaver Falls, Pa., was fined $935 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 87 days suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program, for operating a vehicle impaired and reasonable control. A charge of no seat belt was dismissed. Her driver’s license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted, and she was ordered to complete 40 hours community service.

All charges were dismissed against Malcom Wade, 30, Washington Street, East Liverpool, who had been cited for driving under suspension, loud exhaust and failure to display valid sticker. Costs were taxed to Wade.

A pretrial was set Jan. 28 for Christopher Slasor, 53, Moore Street, East Liverpool, charged with driving under suspension, expired plates, illegal plates and traffic control devices. Slasor was fined $360 for speeding, no license and expired registration.

A pretrial was set Nov. 5 for Michelle Hall, 47, West Washington Street, Lisbon, charged with driving under suspension and a tail lights violation.

A pretrial was set Jan. 28 for Jessica Spitaleri, 20, Louisville, charged with left of center.

Willam Mark, 59, Hubbard, was fined $100 for speeding.

Jeffrey Roe II, 44, Hillcrest Road, Wellsville, was fined $280 for driving under suspension and registration required.

David Wales, 36, West Southern Avenue, Columbiana, was fined $250 for driving under suspension.

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