Common Pleas

New Cases

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Matthew Land, West Lincoln Way, Lisbon, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for West Lincoln Way, Lisbon property.

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. William Poling, Van Buren Avenue, Salem, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for Van Buren Avenue, Salem property.

Halley Pancake, Kelly Park Road, Columbiana, and Cory Pancake, Kelly Park Road, Columbiana; dissolution sought.

Geoffrey Dixon, Lee Street, East Liverpool, and Kimberly Dixon, Lee Street, East Liverpool; dissolution sought.

Nations Direct Mortgage, LLC, Mt. Laurel, N.J., vs. Anna Madison, Sunset Drive, Lisbon, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought.

Docket Entries

Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC vs. Patrick Murphy, et al.; mortgage foreclosure ordered for Orchard Grove, East Liverpool property.

Click N’ Close, Inc. vs. Ashley Dunlevy, et al.; case dismissed.

Onemain Financial Group, LLC vs. Joy Davis; case dismissed.

Seven Seventeen Credit Union, Inc. vs. Dale Oliver and Corinna Scarsella; $15,225 judgment granted to plaintiff against defendant Corinna Scarsella.

Credit Acceptance Corporation vs Kaylyn Phillips; $16,107 judgment granted to plaintiff.

Village Capital & Investment LLC vs. Christina Hudson, et al.; case dismissed.

Douglas Brayshaw vs. Braxton Wright, et al.; claims against defendant Liberty Mutual Personal Insurance Company dismissed, claims remain against Braxton Wright and Christopher Wright.

Court News

LISBON — An East Palestine man accused of possessing images of child pornography is scheduled to face a status hearing at 9:30 a.m. March 27 in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.

Robert W. Rogers, 74, Bacon Avenue, appeared recently for a hearing, accompanied by his defense attorney Coleen Hall Dailey.

Rogers was charged with 17 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, a fourth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing the images on June 18, 2024.

The pandering charge alleged that Rogers did “with knowledge of the character of the material or performance involved, buy, procure, possess or control obscene material that has a minor as one of its participants.”

His bond of $50,000 cash or surety was continued.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Robert Ross Jr., 35, Cleveland, pleaded guilty to theft, with sentencing set for May 16. Ross was accused of stealing a Chromebook and other personal items from another person from May 4, 2024 to May 29, 2024.

— Chelsea Curran, 32, Chester Street, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to third-degree felony illegal use of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits or WIC Program Benefits and fourth-degree felony forgery, with sentencing set for April 18. The indictment alleged that she misused benefits from Jan. 21, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2022 and that she provided correspondence to the county Department of Job and Family Services purportedly from her landlord that she knew was forged from Jan. 1, 2021 to Jan. 27, 2021.

— Dustin James Brooks, 38, Ephriam Street, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing methamphetamine on Nov. 15, 2023. Sentencing was set for May 15.

— Joseph Hakala, 31, East Washington Street, Lisbon, pleaded guilty to third-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer. A misdemeanor driving under suspension charge was dismissed. Sentencing was set for April 25. Hakala fled from an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper attempting a traffic stop in Madison Township, reaching speeds of 100 mph and fleeing into West Virginia on Aug. 14, 2024.

— Elizabeth McCauley, 50, Newell, W.Va., pleaded no contest and was found guilty of a lesser offense of attempted possession of cocaine, a misdemeanor, with a specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case. She was sentenced to one day in jail, with credit for one day already served, and ordered to forfeit $340. She was originally charged with possession of cocaine for possessing cocaine on Nov. 4, 2018.

— Michael Vasvari, 41, Hubbard, pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl-related compound, a fourth-degree felony, and possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, with specifications for forfeiture of money from a drug case, with sentencing set for April 25. Vasvari was accused of possessing fentanyl and cocaine, along with $161, on Aug. 26, 2023.

— Sarah Graham, 22, East Main Street, East Palestine, pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated possession of drugs, all fifth-degree felonies, from two separate cases, with sentencing set for April 11. The charges also included a specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case. Graham possessed methamphetamine on Oct. 7, 2022, June 7, 2023 and June 8, 2023, and hydrocodone on Aug. 23, 2023, along with $64 she possessed in June 2023.

— Joey Jenkins, 57, Grove City, was sentenced to 30 days in the county jail for violating probation for a charge of aggravated possession of drugs. Jenkins’ intervention plan was dishonorably terminated. Jenkins possessed methamphetamine on July 15, 2022.

— Jeremy Smith, 45, Summit Drive, Salineville, was placed under community control for two years after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and possessing drug abuse instruments, a misdemeanor. Smith possessed methamphetamine and a syringe on Jan. 27, 2024.

— Tai Kotas, 44, Aetna Street, Salem, was sentenced to six months in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing methamphetamine on Jan. 28, 2024. The prison sentence was ordered served at the same time as the 10-month prison sentence Kotas received in November 2024 for receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony, and misdemeanor unauthorized use of a motor vehicle for driving a stolen 2019 Chevy belonging to Avis Budget Group on Jan. 28, 2024 in Perry Township without permission.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Feb. 24 for James Beede Oiler, 41, First Street, Wellsville, charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and misdemeanor left of center. Oiler was accused of allegedly purposefully driving his vehicle left of center to strike a vehicle driven by a woman on Birch Road in St. Clair Township in an attempt to cause harm on Feb. 14. He also allegedly punched the driver side window of the car, causing the woman to flee out the passenger door. He then allegedly grabbed her and took her phone and threw it in the woods, causing her to flee back to the residence where she was staying to call police.

A preliminary hearing was set Feb. 27 for Andre Owens Jr., 26, Elm Street, East Liverpool, charged with fourth-degree felony domestic violence for allegedly biting a woman and attempting to strangle her during a domestic dispute on Feb. 17 in East Liverpool.

A preliminary hearing was set Feb. 24 for Jeremiah Joseph Loredo, 39, Toledo, charged with illegal-minor in nudity oriented material/perform for allegedly having images of minors in a state of nudity on his phone after he arrived for a sex-for-hire meeting in East Palestine on Feb. 16. He was fined $400 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 80 days suspended and credit for two days served, leaving a balance of eight days still to serve for engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and an online prostitution prevention course. Loredo responded to an undercover ad of a female and her adult daughter on a known prostitution website, arranging for sexual activity with both females in exchange for cash to be paid via the Cash App. He also possessed the phone used to make the arrangements and a baggie of suspected cocaine, the affidavit said.

A preliminary hearing was set Feb. 24 for Bryan McIntyre, 21, Clark Avenue, Wellsville, charged with fourth-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer for allegedly fleeing from an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper attempting a traffic stop on Feb. 18. He was fined $50 for loud exhaust and an original charge of driving under suspension was dismissed, along with a windshield violation.

A pretrial was set April 14 for Allan Murphy III, 32, Creek Road, New Waterford, charged with driving under suspension and also for a private review after waiving extradition as a fugitive from justice for a warrant for threat to self/other in Pennsylvania. According to court documents, he allegedly harmed a woman in 2022 in Beaver County.

A pretrial was set May 8 for Nathan Horn, 36, Akron, charged with theft for allegedly taking a wallet while at Taco Bell in Calcutta on Feb 5.

A pretrial was set March 6 for Bradley Eltringham, 38, Church Street, Salineville, charged with assault, falsification, obstructing official business, menacing and disorderly conduct for allegedly giving the wrong name, date of birth and social security number multiple times after Salineville police officers found him laying on the side of the road in Salineville on Feb. 9. He allegedly made several attempts to spit on officers and spit on an EMT. He also allegedly attempted to grab an officer’s duty belt after multiple commands to stop, made threats of harming officers and had several bottles of liquor in a bag while giving off an odor of alcohol and slurring his speech.

Shawn Samuel DeWitt, 34, Beaver Falls, Pa., was fined $775 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for engaging in prostitution, possessing criminal tools and open container. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and a 12-hour education course. DeWitt on April 24, 2024 arrived in East Palestine for a meeting after responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a female in exchange for $140. He had an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.

Nickalaus Rutherford, 40, Cuyahoga Falls, was fined $200 and given a suspended 180-day jail term for four counts of passing bad checks. Another two counts of passing bad checks were dismissed. He was accused of writing checks on a closed account to Giant Eagle for $234.39 on Nov. 1, 2019 and for $277.43 on Oct. 31, 2019, to Pottery City for $396.77 on Oct. 24, 2019 and to Giant Eagle for $227.35 on Oct. 29, 2019.

A pretrial was set March 3 for Amy Desimone, 54, Balley Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with falsification, possessing criminal tools, obstructing justice, tampering with evidence, drug paraphernalia and two counts of theft. On Feb. 17, Desimone allegedly stole 13 items totaling $245 at the Calcutta Walmart, using a personal bag to conceal the items, and gave St. Clair Township police officers false information about her name, social security number and date of birth. She also allegedly gave false information about another suspect and possessed a pipe used for smoking which she wrapped in a paper towel to conceal. Desimone also failed to scan and pay for 18 items totaling $178 at the Calcutta Walmart on Aug 2, 2024.

A pretrial was set March 3 for Nicholas Desimone, 18, Alpha Street, East Liverpool, charged with falsification and drug paraphernalia for allegedly giving a false name to police investigating shoplifters at the Calcutta Walmart on Feb. 17. During a traffic stop on Sept. 13, 2024 in St. Clair Township, he allegedly possessed a pink straw with powder residue.

Holly Baker, 24, West Main Street, Salineville, was fined $250 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 165 days suspended, leaving a balance of 15 days still to serve in jail for complicity to commit theft. She was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to make restitution of $342 to the Salem Laundry Room. She was ordered to have no contact with the Salem Laundry Room. Baker was the driver of a vehicle and helped load a stolen laundry cart and two stolen stools into the vehicle and drove off on Aug. 18, 2024 at the Salem Laundry Room in Salem. Another person had taken the items from the Salem Laundry Room, including the two stools and two laundry carts.

A sentencing hearing was set March 3 for Dakota Densmore, 20, state Route 46, New Waterford, who pleaded no contest and was found guilty of violating a temporary protection order for allegedly being on a property in New Waterford on Feb. 14 that he’s not allowed on due to a protection order.

A pretrial was set May 5 for James Neville, 60, Hollywood Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with disorderly conduct and open container for allegedly being intoxicated and standing on the road drinking a can of beer in East Liverpool on Feb. 14.

A pretrial was set Feb. 27 for Christopher Thomas, 39, Etruria Street, East Liverpool, charged with criminal trespass and drug paraphernalia for allegedly trespassing in a home that he had already been trespassed from on March 3, 2024 in East Liverpool, caught climbing through the window by police. On Feb. 15, when he was being taken into custody on a warrant, he possessed five plastic burnt pipes inside his book bag in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set March 10 for Stephen Jones, 3, East Martin Street, East Palestine, charged with criminal damaging and menacing by stalking for allegedly threatening another man with physical harm and damaging the window of his vehicle and denting the door in East Palestine on Nov. 13, 2024.

Kayla Clingerman, 38, listed as homeless, Salem, was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 18 days suspended and credit for 12 days served, for criminal trespass and drug paraphernalia. She was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and to have no contact with the Salem post office. On Feb. 6, she was seen inside the Salem post office after being trespassed from the property on Feb. 4. She possessed multiple pipes with burnt residue when taken into custody.

A pretrial was set May 5 for Mark Seaman, 61, Prospect Street, Salem, charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle for allegedly moving a woman’s vehicle in the parking lot of apartments on Prospect Street in Perry Township without her permission on Feb. 12.

A pretrial was set April 21 for Bradly Cianni, 39, Chester Avenue, Wellsville, charged with failure to display valid sticker, possession of drug abuse instrument, drug paraphernalia and use of unauthorized plate for allegedly possessing used syringes, a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine and a plastic bag containing a cloudy rock substance during a traffic stop on Jan. 19 in St. Clair Township.

A pretrial was set April 10 for Charles Gough, 26, Echo Dell Road, East Liverpool, charged with drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing a burnt metal pipe during a traffic stop on June 27, 2024 in St. Clair Township.

A pretrial was set May 5 for Thomas Possage, 53, McAllister Road, Lisbon, charged with operating a vehicle impaired second offense, OVI breath second offense and two lights displayed.

A pretrial was set May 12 for Ruth Ann Rose, 41, Seigler Road, Salineville, charged with driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set April 10 for Cory Wallace, 30, Prospect Street, Salem, charged with speeding.

A pretrial was set March 27 for Cody Reckner, 30, South Main Street, Columbiana, charged with failure to display valid sticker, no valid license and driving under suspension.

Robert Welling, 37, state Route 267, East Liverpool, was fined $50 for failure to yield, with no fine for driving under suspension.

A charge of possessing marijuana was dismissed against Marquise Wilkins, 35, Youngstown for a case from 2022.

Michelle Green, 56, West Main Street, East Palestine, was fined $150 for driving under suspension and a red light violation.

Kristopher McIntosh, 27, Marland Street, East Liverpool, was fined $25 for a tail light violation amended from speeding.

Donald Riggs, 47, Monroeville Heights, Salineville, was fined $350 for two counts of driving under suspension and one count left of center.

Richard Chludzinski, 51, Grant Street, Rogers, was fined $330 for speeding, driving under suspension and no seat belt.

Vinay Posham, 26, Youngstown, was fined $250 for a stop sign violation, distracted driving and driving alone on permit amended from driving under suspension. The $100 fine for distracted driving was suspended for completing a distracted driving safety course.

Michael Mastin, 64, Jefferson Street, Salineville, was fined $150 for driving under suspension.