Common Pleas

New Cases

James Shuler III, Faulk Avenue, East Liverpool, vs. Marissa Wright, Williams Avenue, East Liverpool; divorce sought.

Carrington Mortgage Services LLC, Anaheim, Calif., vs. Nicklas Brown, East Seventh Street, Salem, et al..; mortgage foreclosure sought.

Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC, Buffalo, N.Y., vs. Renee Walls, Westlake, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought.

Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC, Buffalo, N.Y., vs. Crystal Travis, Y and O Road, Wellsville, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought.

Seven Seventeen Credit Union, Inc. vs. Daniel Crow Sr., Broadway Avenue, Wellsville, et al.; collection sought of alleged $21,738 debt plus $335 interest.

Discover Bank, Columbus, vs. Brent Yokley, Pearce Circle, Salem; collection sought of alleged $25,669 debt.

Capital One, N.A., Dublin, vs. James Morehead, Duke Vodrey Road, East Liverpool; collection sought of alleged $15,591 debt.

Grand Jury

LISBON — Ciara White, 25, Campbell Road, Hanoverton, was served Monday with a secret indictment issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Jan. 27, 2024.

Court News

LISBON — A Pennsylvania man accused in a sex for hire case entered guilty pleas to two felonies, with sentencing set for March 17 in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.

David Russell Abate, 36, Somerset, Pa., pleaded guilty to a lesser offense of attempted compelling prostitution and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, both fourth-degree felonies. The first count was originally third-degree felony compelling prostitution.

A fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools charge will be dismissed.

Abate was accused of responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website of an adult female and a minor child and requesting to have sexual conduct with the minor in exchange for $100, then traveling to East Palestine on March 28 for the meeting with the cell phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Gary Dorsey, 63, 14th Street, Wellsville, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine, fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property and third-degree felony having weapons while under disability. Dorsey was accused of possessing cocaine and a stolen gun while prohibited from possessing a firearm on June 15, 2023 due to a prior felony conviction.

— Todd Kolodziej, 51, New Brighton, Pa., was sentenced to 12 months in prison for tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and misdemeanor possessing drug abuse instruments. He received credit for 18 days already served in jail. On March 22, 2021, he possessed drug abuse instruments and tampered with evidence.

— Richard Tittle, 34, Harvey Avenue, East Liverpool, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for possession of cocaine and possession of fentanyl-related compound, both fifth-degree felonies. He received credit for three days served in jail. Tittle possessed cocaine and fentanyl on June 24, 2022.

— Justin Lake, 27, Depot Road, Salem, was ordered to serve a term at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center until the program is complete after violating the terms of his treatment plan, which was then dishonorably terminated, for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and misdemeanor possession of drugs. Lake possessed methamphetamine and buprenorphine on Aug. 7, 2021.

— Jason Nelson, 44, Norton, was placed on community control for two years after pleading guilty to a lesser offense of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony which was originally a third-degree felony, for possessing methamphetamine on June 4, 2022.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a case against Joseph DeSarro II, 31, Duke Vodrey Road, East Liverpool, was bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felonies of illegal conveyance of prohibited items onto grounds of a detention facility or of an institution and tampering with evidence for allegedly tampering with a plastic bag and shoving it down his pants after being placed in a patrol car following a traffic stop in East Liverpool on Dec. 31, 2024 when he was a passenger. While in the dressing room at the Columbiana County jail, he was allegedly found to be in possession of multiple illegal narcotics and allegedly admitted to the illegal narcotics being crack, cocaine and fentanyl.

Cases against Christian Matthew Bell, 29, Northside Avenue, East Liverpool, were bound over to the county grand jury for second-degree felony burglary, third-degree felony theft, fourth-degree felony theft and misdemeanor theft. On Aug. 28, 2024 in East Liverpool, Bell allegedly entered another man’s home while he was at work and stole several items, including a video game system, a firearm and $2,000 cash. Police collected security footage that showed the defendant entering and exiting the home.

Cases against Hope Jackson-Ingram, 31, Broadway Avenue, Wellsville, were bound over to the county grand jury for fourth-degree felony strangulation and misdemeanor endangering children for allegedly choking a teen girl during a domestic on Dec. 13, 2024 in Wellsville.

A case against Randy Reese, 36, Youngstown, was bound over to the county grand jury for promote prostitution-transport across state lines for sex for hire, a fourth-degree felony, and possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly driving a woman to a sex for hire meeting in East Palestine on Nov. 23, 2024 with at least one of the phone numbers the woman used to communicate with an undercover agent allegedly coming from Reese’s phone.

John Todd McIntosh, 46, Smithfield Street, East Liverpool, was fined $200 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 89 days suspended and credit for one day served, for domestic violence. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service. McIntosh was accused of spitting on a woman and keeping her awake by playing loud music and continuing to argue with her during a domestic Dec. 12 in St. Clair Township. Police had already been to the residence once for an argument and then had to return.

Justin Cornell, 27, Columbia Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $100 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 132 days suspended and credit for 48 days served, for domestic violence for striking another man in the face with a closed fist in East Liverpool on Nov. 13, 2024.

Chad Fowler, 39, Salem Grange Road, Salem, was fined $400 and given a suspended 180-day jail term for misdemeanor assault. A fourth-degree felony strangulation charge was dismissed at the state’s request with the victim’s consent. Fowler was accused of assaulting a woman in Salem on Dec. 9, 2024, grabbing her, taking her to the ground and choking her from behind.

A second-degree felony charge of discharging a firearm into a habitation was dismissed against Howard Babik, 53, Adams Road, Rogers, at the request of the prosecutor, with costs taxed to the defendant with a stipulation to probable cause. He was fined $250 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 176 days suspended and credit for four days served for using weapons while intoxicated. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service. Babik was accused of firing five rounds from a 9mm handgun into a residence in Rogers on Nov. 29, 2024, with one round going through a window and striking a refrigerator door handle.

Wayne Gorby Jr., 26, Newgarden Avenue, Salem, was fined $250 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 150 days suspended, leaving a balance of 30 days to serve in jail, for endangering children. He was ordered to complete 30 days community service and have no contact with the juvenile victim. On Jan. 14, 2024, he was accused of spanking a child to the point of bruising during an incident in Columbiana.

A pretrial was set Feb. 27 for Ronald Roach, 54, state Route 170, East Liverpool, charged with two counts of violation of a protection order for allegedly calling a protected person several times on his cell phone and leaving a voice mail on Dec. 19, 2024 in East Liverpool, also calling while police were there. He also tried to make contact via social media with another protected person in East Liverpool on Nov. 17, 2024.

Chad Anthony Coonfare, 46, New Castle, Pa., was fined $750 and given suspended 90-day jail term for engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and an online prostitution prevention course. Coonfare was accused of responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a female in exchange for $140, then arriving in East Palestine on June 28, 2024 for the meeting.

A pretrial was set March 31 for Jerome Edward Lewis, 35, Youngstown, 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 a female in exchange for $60, then traveling to East Palestine for the meeting on Dec. 26, 2024 with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Jacob S. Faigen, 32, Pittsburgh, Pa., was fined $1,625 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 177 days suspended and credit for one day served in jail and three days in a driver intervention program, for engaging in prostitution, possessing criminal tools and operating a vehicle impaired first offense amended from a second office. A charge of OVI refusal with prior within 20 years was dismissed. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and a 12-hour education course. His driver’s license was suspended for one year. 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 $80, then traveling to East Palestine on Dec. 27, 2023 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

John Boyd Jr., 56, Cambridge, was fined $750 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and a 12-hour education course. Boyd was accused of responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a in exchange for $140, then traveling to East Palestine on Jan. 22, 2024 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Brian Campbell, 37, Cream Ridge Road, Lisbon, was fined $300 and sentenced to 63 days in jail, with credit for 63 days served, for resisting arrest and obstructing official business, both amended from felonies to misdemeanors, and misdemeanor aggravated menacing. Another charge of obstructing official business was dismissed. Campbell had been accused of threatening to burn a relative’s house down and then going into the woods screaming, possibly armed with a knife and threatening deputies on Nov. 4, 2024. An affidavit by a deputy sheriff said when deputies arrived, Campbell was yelling he was the lord and was threatening deputies and their families, holding a golf club above his head ready to swing. He was given multiple commands to drop the golf club and continued to make threats until a deputy tased him and he dropped the golf club and was taken to the ground.

Alan Carsey, 54, Park Court, Columbiana, was found not guilty of disorderly conduct, with court costs taxed to the state. Carsey had been accused of engaging in threatening harm to persons or property in Columbiana on July 24, 2024.

Cody Johnson, 32, last known address East Ohio Avenue, Sebring, was fined $250 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for disorderly conduct amended from telecommunications harassment. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim. Johnson was accused of messaging a woman from multiple different numbers and harassing her on March 3, 2021 in Salem.

A pretrial was set March 13 for Jada Cheri Pack, 38, Erie Street, East Liverpool, charged with two counts of theft for allegedly stealing several items at the Dollar General in East Liverpool on Dec. 21 2024 and failing to scan and pay for 49 items valued at $700 from the Calcutta Walmart on Dec. 18, 2024. She was ordered to stay out of both stores as a condition of bond.

A charge of criminal mischief against Jacob McCool, 21, Chestnut Street Extension, Leetonia, was dismissed, with a stipulation to probable cause and the court costs taxed to the state. McCool was accused of allegedly shooting paintballs at a house on Longs Crossing Road, Leetonia as part of a paintball prank at random houses on March 19, 2023, causing damage to the siding.

A charge of criminal mischief against Gannon Shepard, 21, state Route 558, Leetonia, was dismissed, with a stipulation to probable cause and the court costs taxed to the state. Shepard was accused of allegedly shooting paintballs at a house on Longs Crossing Road, Leetonia as part of a paintball prank at random houses on March 19, 2023, causing damage to the siding.

A pretrial was set April 7 for Bradley Reeder, 42, West Lincoln Way, Lisbon, charged with driving under suspension, failure to display valid sticker, illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing a baggie containing an unknown white substance and a paper fold containing a crystal like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine during a traffic stop on Dec. 28, 2024 in Lisbon.

A pretrial was set March 10 for Dawn Lazar, 65, East State Street, Salem, charged with hit skip/leave scene.

Daniel Fitzgerald, 21, Kelly Park Road, Leetonia, was fined $1,225 and sentenced to 90 days in the county jail, with 87 days suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program, for misdemeanor improper handling weapons while intoxicated amended from fifth-degree felony improper handling firearms in a motor vehicle and misdemeanors of operating a vehicle impaired (two OVIs merged) and marked lanes. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service. Fitzgerald had a loaded handgun in the rear seat of his vehicle during a traffic stop on Sept. 13 in Columbiana. His driver’s license was suspended for one year.

Kevin Bulford, 47, Butcher Road, Salem, 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, for OVI and reckless operation. His driver’s license was suspended for one year with driving privileges granted. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

A pretrial was set March 10 for Mincie Fluharty, 37, Damascus, charged with OVI second offense and OVI refusal second offense. A probation violation hearing was also set March 10 for Fluharty regarding a 2023 OVI case.

Richard Russell Jr., 54, St. George Street, East Liverpool, was fined $725 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 150 days suspended, leaving a balance of 30 days to serve in jail for use of unauthorized plate and OVI second offense amended from a third offense and merged with an OVI refusal with prior within 20 years. His driver’s license was suspended for two years and he was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

A pretrial was set March 31 for Ethan Samuel Hart, 19, East Washington Street, Lisbon, charged with OVI first offense.

A pretrial was set March 13 for Dustin Beadnell, 22, Hammondsville, charged with OVI first offense, no seat belt and reasonable control.

A pretrial was set March 31 for Alicia Harris, 34, Bank Street, East Liverpool, charged with OVI first offense and reasonable control.

A pretrial was set April 3 for Michael Poynter, 66, Kingsridge Road, East Liverpool, charged with OVI first offense and reasonable control.

A pretrial was set March 18 for Casey Renee Carter, 32, East Liverpool Road, East Liverpool, charged with no valid license.

A pretrial was set March 11 for Ian Wellington, 53, Fife Coal Road, Wellsville, charged with driving under suspension and operating without proof of financial responsibility.

A pretrial was set March 18 for Trenton Childers, 21, Canfield, charged with speeding.

A pretrial was set March 31 for Michael Provenzano, 22, New Cumberland, W.Va., charged with a 12-point suspension.

Mark Felton, Co Rd 55, Salineville, was fined $200 for driving under suspension.

Tracy Shaffer, 58, Canton, was fined $200 for driving under suspension

Kayla Mennell, 28, Walnut Street, Rogers, was fined $200 for no driver’s license.

Joseph Kaminsky, 26, West Martin Street, East Palestine, was fined $200 for driving under suspension.

Tyler Howell, 27, New Cumberland, W.Va., was fined $75 for failure to control.

Robert Simms, 32, Ohio Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $500 for three counts driving under suspension, along with illegal plates and use of unauthorized plate. Charges of illegal plates and no valid license were dismissed.

Sophia Witmer, 43, Leetonia Road, Leetonia, was fined $150 for an equipment violation amended from improper backing.

Bradley McKenzie, 43, state Route 267, East Liverpool, was fined $150 for speeding.