Courts
Common Pleas
New Cases
Robert Ryan, Oak Street, Salem, vs. Anna Ryan, Auburndale, Fla.; legal separation sought.
Stephanie Walker, Ohio Avenue, Salem, vs. Brad Walker, New Iberia, La.; divorce sought.
Carrington Mortgage Services LLC, Anaheim, Calif., vs. Brandon Seddon, Barclay Avenue, Salem, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for Vine Street, Salem property.
Docket Entries
Megan Thompson and Aaron Thompson; dissolution granted.
County Treasurer vs. Steven Corey Burcham, et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.
County Treasurer vs. William Beebout, et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.
County Treasurer vs. Dana Alan Musulin, et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.
County Treasurer vs. Robert McPheron Jr., et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.
Grand Jury
LISBON — A man accused of helping others commit a theft was served recently with a secret indictment issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury for two felony counts.
Andrew Hunley, 49, Youngstown, was charged with fifth-degree felonies of breaking and entering and complicity in the commission of an offense. According to the indictment, on Oct. 24, 2024, Hunley broke into an unoccupied residence and aided and abetted others in the commission of a felony theft offense of merchandise totaling $1,365.
Also served with secret indictments on Monday and Tuesday were:
— Robert C. Cochran, 36, Vine Street, Lisbon, aggravated possession of drugs, possession of drugs and two counts of possession of cocaine, all fifth-degree felonies, with specifications for forfeiture of money from a drug case for allegedly possessing cocaine on Sept. 13, 2023 and Feb. 5, 2024 and also on Feb. 5, 2024 possessing alprazolam, methamphetamine and $869.
— Norman Sleper, also known as Darrell, 57, Ravine Street, East Liverpool, aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, with a specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and $405 on March 10, 2024.
— John Bell, 73, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Liverpool, possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, with a specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case, for allegedly possessing cocaine and $465 on March 31, 2023.
— Tai Kotas, 44, Aetna Street, Salem, aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Jan. 28, 2024.
— Christopher Little, 47, East Main Street, New Waterford, possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, with a specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case, for allegedly possessing cocaine and $532 on Dec. 15, 2022.
— Albert McVay, 61, Trinity Church Road, Lisbon, fifth-degree felony breaking and entering and misdemeanors of criminal trespass and theft for allegedly trespassing and breaking into Dollar General on Oct. 26, 2024 and stealing a table and chairs.
Court News
LISBON — An East Palestine man accused of making false claims for monetary reimbursement from Norfolk Southern related to the 2023 train derailment and chemical fire entered a guilty plea recently.
Thomas Burkett, 63, North Sumner Street, pleaded guilty in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court to fourth-degree felony grand theft for obtaining $11,589 from Norfolk Southern’s community assistance center set up after the train derailment, after providing receipts from Feb. 8, 2023 through May 25, 2023 for food and fuel, alleging he had relocated to a residence in Midland, Pa.
Sentencing was set for April 4.
Also in Common Pleas Court:
— John Soldo, 51, Sixth Street, Salem, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, and possession of fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, both with specifications for forfeiture of money from a drug case. Soldo possessed $187, fentanyl and an amount of methamphetamine equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk, all on Sept. 21, 2022. Sentencing was set for April 4.