Municipal Court

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a case against Preston English, 31, Densmore Avenue, East Liverpool, was bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanor obstructing official business for allegedly failing to come out of a house in East Liverpool on Nov. 2 when police officers had a warrant for his arrest. He was found hiding in a bath tub in the residence. During a pat down before being transported to the county jail, he allegedly tried to kick away a baggy of suspected narcotics that fell from his shorts to the ground. In a separate case, English was fined $500 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 150 days suspended and credit for 12 days served, leaving a balance of 18 days still to serve for assault. He was ordered to complete 80 hours community service and to have no contact with the victim. English slapped a woman in the face during a verbal altercation, smashing her glasses into her face, causing injury on Oct. 1 in East Liverpool.

A case against Andrew Hunley, 48, Youngstown, was bound over to the county grand jury for fifth-degree felony breaking and entering and misdemeanor possession of drug abuse instrument for allegedly entering a garage and taking a fuel can on Oct. 30 in St. Clair Township. Hunley also allegedly possessed a baggy of hypodermic needles.

A case against Timothy Franklin Gibbs, 36, last known address College Street, East Liverpool, or Aliquippa, Pa. was bound over to the county grand jury for fifth-degree felony breaking and entering for allegedly breaking into the Craft Treasurers & Boutique store in East Liverpool on Oct. 24 with two others, stealing $1,365 worth of money and goods. He had one of the stolen items, a large two-sided water fall incense, in his possession when taken into custody. A pretrial was set Dec. 5 for Gibbs for charges of drug paraphernalia, open container and disorderly conduct for allegedly drinking an alcoholic beverage in an open container on a public sidewalk while walking in East Liverpool on Oct. 29 and also possessing a drug scale with white residue.

A case against William Donald Barrett, 43, Sophia Street, East Liverpool, was bound over to the county grand jury for fifth-degree felony breaking and entering for allegedly entering a garage and taking a fuel can in St. Clair Township on Oct. 30.

A case against Kerry Lytle, 48, Lisbon Street, East Liverpool, was bound over to the county grand jury for fifth-degree felony theft for allegedly failing to pay the proper price for multiple items at the Calcutta Giant Eagle on Oct. 15.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Nov. 25 for David Fry, 58, Steubenville, charged with third-degree felony domestic violence and misdemeanor criminal trespass for allegedly trespassing at a Wellsville property and assaulting a juvenile by banging her head against the wall during an argument on Oct. 12. He was ordered to have no contact with the child, the Wellsville residence or any weapons. His bond was set at $25,000 cash or surety.

Seth Mora, 30, Grant Street, Rogers, was fined $250 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 177 days suspended and credit for three days served for domestic violence. A fourth-degree felony charge of disrupting public services was dismissed. On Aug. 18 in Rogers, Mora punched a woman in the eye three times. When she told him she was calling 911, he was accused of allegedly taking her cell phone out of her hand and throwing it on the ground, damaging it.

A pretrial was set Feb. 18 for Stephen Jones, 35, East Martin Street, East Palestine, for criminal damaging and menacing by stalking for allegedly throwing something at another man’s vehicle and attempting to open the car door, hitting the window with a closed fist and threatening the man.

A pretrial was set Dec. 19 for Nicholas Knopik, 40, Hubbard, charged with attempted for allegedly attempting to possess cocaine during an incident in East Palestine on Aug. 27, 2022.

A pretrial was set Feb. 10 for Trinity Lewis, 18, Norton Street, East Liverpool, for assault after her request to withdraw her previous guilty plea to the charge was granted. Lewis was accused of pulling a woman to the ground by her hair and punching her on the ground multiple times at Walmart in Calcutta on Oct. 30.

An aggravated menacing charge was dismissed against Brian Campbell, 37, Cream Ridge Road, Lisbon, who had been accused of allegedly threatening to burn a relative’s house down and then going into the woods screaming, and then threatening deputies who responded on Nov. 4 in Elkrun Township. A preliminary hearing is now set for Dec. 12 for him for a charge of obstructing official business, a fifth-degree felony, related to the same incident. That’s also the date for a competency hearing after a forensic exam for competency and sanity was ordered.

A pretrial was set Nov. 25 for Justin Cornell, 27, Columbia Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with domestic violence for allegedly striking another man in the face with a closed fist in East Liverpool on Nov. 13.

Brian J. Sellitto, 47, Willoughby, was fined $500 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 29 days suspended and credit for one day served, for two counts of disorderly conduct amended from engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and an online prostitution prevention course. He was ordered to forfeit $50 to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. Sellitto was accused of requesting sexual conduct from an undercover agent for an agreed upon price of $50 and traveling to Salem on June 5 for the meeting.

A pretrial was set Jan. 28 for Jesse L.M. Murray, 39, Southeast Boulevard, Salem, charged with obstructing official business for allegedly failing to listen to officer commands in his driveway after failing to stop for a traffic stop, then refusing to provide his information on Aug. 30 in Salem.

Dakota Egnew, 27, Steubenville, was fined $250 and sentenced to 24 days in jail, with credit for 24 days served, for theft for stealing $100 out of the cash register while employed at Circle K in Lisbon on Sept. 16, 2015.

Michael Keefer and Jessica Keefer, no ages listed, both Thompson Avenue, East Liverpool, were each charged with five counts of failure to file city income tax returns for failing to file income tax returns in East Liverpool from 2020 through 2024.

A sentencing hearing was set Jan. 28 for Chad Blewitt, 62, Chester Avenue. East Liverpool, who pleaded no contest and was found guilty of six counts of failure to file city income tax return for failing to file city income tax returns in East Liverpool from 2019 through 2024.

Tyler Smith, 34, Duke Road, East Liverpool, was fined $1,100 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 174 days suspended and credit for one day in jail plus three days credit for a driver intervention program, leaving a balance of two days to serve in jail for operating a vehicle impaired, reasonable control, and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle. His driver’s license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted, and he was ordered to complete 30 hours community service. Smith possessed a loaded gun in his vehicle, which he crashed while impaired on Oct. 9 in Madison Township.

A pretrial was set Nov. 25 for Rachel Hess, 30, Sixth Avenue, East Liverpool, Rochester, Pa., charged with drug paraphernalia, theft, OVI first offense, OVI refusal with prior within 20 years and driving under suspension. That day she’ll also face a probation violation hearing for a drug paraphernalia charge. Hess was fined $200 for expired license and marked lanes. Hess was accused of possessing a glass pipe for the use of methamphetamine during a traffic stop on July 26, 2023 and for failing to scan and pay for 28 items totaling $189 at the Calcutta Walmart on Feb. 27. The probation violation case involved the possession of three glass pipes.

A pretrial was set Feb. 18 for Cori Vassell, 41, Broadway Avenue, Wellsville, charged with operating a vehicle impaired first offense, OVI breath first offense and reasonable control.

Julio Alvarez Box, 27, East Third Street, Salem, was fined $1,105 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 86 days suspended and credit for four days served, for OVI, driving under suspension and assured clear distance. Another OVI charge was dismissed. His driver’s license was suspended for one year and he was ordered to complete 40 hours community service.

A pretrial was set Jan. 27 for Kayla Rae Duffield, 36, Blackmore Street, East Liverpool, charged with OVI first offense, OVI breath first offense and traffic control devices.

Marla Zema, 47, Main Street, Wellsville, was fined $285 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for reckless operation amended from OVI, driving under suspension and no seat belt.

A pretrial was set Jan. 28 for Robert Eugene Bevington, 52, Newell, W.Va., charged with OVI first offense.

A pretrial was set Nov. 21 for Aaron Ice, 47, Crews Road, Wellsville, charged with driving under suspension and marked lanes.

A pretrial was set Jan. 27 for Darius Dupri Wise, 26, Midland, Pa., charged with driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set Jan. 13 Timothy Halfhill, 52, Rankin Street, East Liverpool, charged with driving under suspension and speeding.

A pretrial was set Jan. 16 for Larry Warner, 64, North Madison, Salem, charged with driving under suspension and white light to the rear.

A pretrial was set Feb. 18 for Travis Sobona, 45, Enon Valley, Pa., charged with physical control.

Robert Atkinson, 47, Carrollton, was fined $100 for driving under suspension.

Antonio Sabatine, 31, Alliance, was fined $100 for stopped school bus.

Brooke Heath, 29, Memorial Road NE, Kensington, received no fine but was ordered to pay court costs for no valid license and a head light violation.

Richard Nicholson, 44, Connellsville, Pa., was fined $25 for marked lanes.

Common Pleas

New Cases

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. David R. Bell, Crestview Road, Leetonia, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for Crestview Road, Leetonia property.

2023-1 Prime Consumer Loan Trust, Independence vs. Tracie Cameron, Fourth Avenue, East Liverpool; collection sought of alleged $6,099 debt.

Mariner Finance, LLC, Nottingham, Md. vs. James Wilkes, Carroll Road, East Liverpool; collection sought of alleged $4280 debt.

Credit Acceptance Corporation, Columbus, vs. Jessica Lewis, South Main Street, Columbiana; collection sought of alleged $16,923 debt.

Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC, Anaheim, Calif. vs. Joyce Herstine, England Drive, East Palestine, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for Columbiana County property.

Docket Entries

Nationstar Mortgage LLC vs. Margaret Faltenovich, et al.; mortgage foreclosure ordered for Sharon Drive, East Liverpool property.

U.S. Bank National Association vs. Jennifer Reed; $8,675 judgment granted to plaintiff.

Daniel Todd II vs. Heidi Todd; divorce granted.

Bridget Barbato vs. Austin Barbato; divorce granted.

Terry Lee Jones vs. Holly Lee Jones; divorce granted.

Robin VanHorn and Robert VanHorn; dissolution granted.

Chase Grogg and Raelynn Sue Grogg; dissolution granted.