Common Pleas

New Cases

Erin Kelly and Sean Kelly, both Metz Road, New Waterford, vs. John P. Bartos III and Gridiron Windows and Doors, LLC, both Youngstown; damages sought regarding alleged breach of contract, alleged failure to return deposit for unfinished work and other alleged violations.

Velocity Investments LLC, Wall Township, N.J. vs. Roger Kreps, Lakeview Road, Hanoverton; collection sought of alleged debts totaling $10,148 and $7,514.

Docket Entries

Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC vs. Michael Doyle, et al.; motion to vacate dismissal denied.

Terry Endsley Jr. vs. Lori Endsley; divorce granted.

Court News

LISBON — A Salem man accused of punching a woman in the face with brass knuckles had his bond reduced from $75,000 cash or surety to $25,000 cash or surety, with orders for house arrest if he posts bail to get released.

Robert Kastanek, 40, North Madison Avenue, Salem, was indicted this fall for two counts of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, for allegedly punching the woman in the face multiple times, using brass knuckles, and stomping on her ribs while she was on the ground on Sept. 18 in Salem.

A status hearing remains set for Jan. 10 in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, with a jury trial set for Jan. 27.

If he posts bail, conditions include living at the North Madison Avenue, Salem residence under absolute house arrest except for court appearances, meetings with his attorney and necessary medical appointments. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim or witness.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Kara Carter, 42, Ohio Avenue, East Liverpool, had her bond reduced from 75,000 cash or surety to $7,500 cash or surety, with orders to reside at Lincoln Avenue, Wellsville under electronically-monitored house arrest if she posts bail. She’s permitted to attend court hearings and meet with her attorney. She was ordered to have no contact with the victim or witness. Charges against Carter include fourth-degree felony strangulation, third-degree felony domestic violence and misdemeanors of aggravated menacing and unlawful restraint for allegedly pulling another woman’s hair and choking her during a domestic incident that became physical on Oct. 1 in East Liverpool, along with holding the woman captive in a bedroom from Sept. 26 to Oct. 1 in East Liverpool. A status hearing remains set for Jan. 23, with a jury trial set for Feb. 3.

— Rusty Boyer, 24, Oak Street, East Liverpool, was sentenced to a total of 57 months in prison, which is four years nine months, after pleading guilty to charges in two indictments and violating his probation in a third case. Boyer received 30 months after pleading guilty to a lesser offense of misdemeanor aggravated trespass, misdemeanor assault and third-degree felony intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness in a criminal case. He was originally charged with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, for forcing his way into an occupied apartment in Salem on April 17 and striking a man three times in the face when the man attempted to stop him from going up the steps to the second floor. A woman was also in the apartment. On May 10, he intimidated someone related to a criminal case. He received credit for 30 days served in jail. He also pleaded guilty to aggravated trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony, for preparing for sale methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk on Oct. 11, 2023. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and given a mandatory $5,000 fine. In October he was sentenced to nine months in prison for violating his probation for a fifth-degree felony charge of aggravated possession of drugs, receiving credit for 165 days already served. Boyer possessed methamphetamine on Dec. 24, 2021 in an amount equal or greater than five times bulk, but less than 50 times bulk. His community control was dishonorably terminated. All the prison terms were ordered served consecutively, bringing the grand total to 57 months.

— Cory Haueter, 38, Franklin Avenue, Salem, was sentenced to an indefinite term of three to four and a half years in prison for second-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs plus an additional 24 months in prison for fifth-degree felonies of aggravated possession of drugs, possession of cocaine and possession of drugs and third-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs. A charge of aggravated trafficking in drugs was dismissed. Haueter received credit for 125 days, 25 days and 26 days served in jail and he was given mandatory fines of $5,000 and $10,000. Haueter possessed methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than five times bulk but less than 50 times bulk on Aug. 4, 2022. He possessed methamphetamine on Sept. 20, 2022 and on Sept. 1, 2023, he possessed methamphetamine, cocaine and buprenorphine.

— Chelsie May, 36, Lisbon, was sentenced to 210 days in jail, with credit for 125 days served, leaving a balance of 85 days to serve for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and misdemeanor theft, along with violating her probation for nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony. May was accused of possessing methamphetamine on June 11, 2021 and stealing on May 13, 2020. She failed to pay child support for one child from July 11, 2021 to July 9, 2023.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, cases against Megan Dawn Behnke, 36, last known addresses Newell, W.Va. and Parma, were bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony escape and fifth-degree felony vandalism. She was fined $100 and sentenced to 25 days in jail, with credit for 25 days served, for misdemeanor drug paraphernalia. On Feb. 16, Behnke was under detention at the Columbiana County jail for a drug charge and was taken to Salem Regional Medical Center for a medical condition. According to an affidavit, an electronic ankle monitor was placed on her ankle and she was told she’s still in custody and not free to leave. The hospital contacted a deputy later to report she left. A deputy had received a tampering alert from the monitoring company and was allegedly told by the defendant that she intentionally cut the monitoring device. In Lisbon on Sept. 26, she possessed drug abuse instruments, a needle, syringe and tie off, in Lisbon on Sept. 26, 2020.

In a separate case from 2024, she was fined $200 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 90 days suspended and credit for 11 days served, leaving a balance of 79 days still to serve for possessing of drug instrument, falsification, obstructing official business and drug paraphernalia. She was ordered to complete 80 hours community service. Behnke, also known as Megan Reed, gave two false names to East Liverpool police investigating a shoplifter complaint on Feb. 15 at the Dollar General. She also possessed seven used syringes and two cut straws with an unknown residue inside at the time.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Feb. 10 for Sidni R. Livolsi, 35, Clark Avenue, Wellsville, charged with third-degree felony bribery and misdemeanor criminal trespass. Livolsi was being transported to the county jail by a Wellsville police officer on Dec. 17 when she allegedly offered him $12,000 to $14,000 to dismiss the charges and drop her off in Liverpool, the police affidavit said. He denied any offers of money and told her that’s a charge. The officer had recorded the drive because she had allegedly been very argumentative and disruptive, so there’s a recording of her trying to bribe the officer. Livolsi had been taken into custody for criminal trespass for allegedly being on the porch of a home in Wellsville on Dec. 17, one day after she was trespassed from the property and told she would be arrested if she returned.

A pretrial was set Dec. 23 for Matte DeJane, 40, Southeast Boulevard, Salem, charged with domestic violence for allegedly hitting a man with a broom during a domestic on Dec. 17 in Salem, with the broom broken in pieces at the scene.

A sentencing hearing was set Jan. 13 for Nathaniel Allen Newland, 19, Fifth Avenue, East Liverpool, who pleaded guilty to domestic violence for allegedly choking a woman and breaking her television on Dec. 17 in Liverpool Township.

A charge of violation of a protection order against Kenneth Bragg, 31, Youngstown, was dismissed, with the court noting no temporary protection order was in effect at the time of the complaint. Costs were taxed to the state. Bragg had been accused of allegedly having an altercation with a protected person from a protection order against him on Sept. 30 in East Liverpool, shouting the person’s name multiple times during the altercation.

A pretrial was set Feb. 27 for Braden Michael Dever, 27, Oakland, Md., charged with engaging in prostitution, possessing criminal tools and driving under suspension for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a female in exchange for money, then driving to East Palestine on Dec. 6 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Kenneth Roy Payne, 51, Louisville, was fined $250 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for criminal mischief amended from engaging in prostitution, with a charge of possessing criminal tools dismissed. He was ordered to complete 10 hours of community service and an online prostitution prevention course. Payne requested sexual conduct from an undercover agent for an agreed upon price of $260, then drove to Salem on Aug. 29 for the meeting.

Sebastian Chomczyk, 45, Poland, was fined $150 and sentenced to three days in jail, with credit for three days served, for disorderly conduct. A charged of obstructing official business was dismissed. Chomczyk was voluntarily intoxicated in the parking lot at Town Center Avenue in Columbiana and yelling at police officers on the scene who were trying to separate multiple people on Oct. 8.

Richard Ralph Vecchio, 62, Valley Drive, East Liverpool, was fined $100 and sentenced to 10 days in jail, with credit for seven days served, leaving a balance of three days to serve in jail for disorderly conduct-intoxication. East Liverpool police were called for a drunk person leaning against people’s cars, then waving people down and asking for a ride on Dec. 12. Vecchio was found lying face down on the sidewalk and was highly intoxicated.

A pretrial was set Feb. 27 for Stephanie Carter, 23, Ambrose Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with operating a vehicle impaired first offense and traffic control devices.

A pretrial was set March 25 for Jeffrey Walker, 67, Conkle Road, Salem, charged for OVI first offense, OVI refusal with prior within 20 years, left of center and no seat belt.

A pretrial was set Feb. 25 for Kimberly Wilson, 53, Main Street, Wellsville, charged with OVI second offense and speeding.

A pretrial was set March 27 for Jaiden Perry, 24, Austintown, charged with stopped school bus.

James Adams, 25, Tiger Drive, Wellsville, was fined $275 for driving under suspension, no seat belt and speeding.

Michael Hernon, 31, Steubenville, was fined $100 for speeding.

Steven Stokes Jr., 23, East Third Street, Salem, was fined $100 for driving under suspension.

Britney Asher, 25, Woodland Avenue, Salem, was fined $75 for hit skip/leave scene.

Brian Moran, 38, East Eighth Street, Salem, was fined $250 for driving under suspension.