Court News

LISBON –An East Liverpool man who failed to report a change in his address for the sex offender registration was sentenced to 36 months in prison, to be served at the same time as another sentence he received earlier this year.

Davon Moats, 22, Lisbon Street, East Liverpool, had been scheduled for a jury trial in two separate cases recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court when he instead entered a guilty plea to failure to provide notice of change of address and having weapons under disability, both third-degree felonies.

Besides the 36 months for the failure to report change of address, he was sentenced to 18 months for the weapons charge, but both will be served at the same time as the 24-month term he received for violating his probation for another case.

He received credit for 70 days already served. Moats was accused of having a weapon on Oct. 14, 2024 which he was prohibited from having due to a previous conviction. The failure to provide change of address occurred on June 24, 2024.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Megan D. Behnke, 37, last known address Newell, W.Va., was sentenced to 18 months in prison for third-degree felony escape and fifth-degree felonies of possession of fentanyl-related compound, possession of heroin and aggravated possession of drugs. Charges of possession of cocaine, possession of drugs, possession of fentanyl-related compound and vandalism were being dismissed. Behnke possessed fentanyl on Sept. 26, 2020 and methamphetamine and heroin on April 22, 2021. On Feb. 18, 2024, she was under detention at the Columbiana County jail for a drug charge and was taken to Salem Regional Medical Center where she removed the electronic ankle monitor on her ankle and left. She received credit for 166 days served.

— Anthony Wagoner, 44, Sprucevale Road, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to charges from two separate indictments, including third-degree felonies of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and having weapons while under disability, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and misdemeanor resisting arrest. Sentencing was set for Aug. 14. On March 12, 2024, Wagoner fled from police and resisted arrest and on July 5, 2023, he possessed methamphetamine and had a firearm when he was prohibited from having one due to a previous conviction.

— Richard Simons, 25, Youngstown, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for July 21, for possessing methamphetamine on April 11, 2023.

— Johnathan G. Vinkler, 48, Youngstown Pittsburgh Road, Petersburg, pleaded guilty to charges from two separate indictments, including third-degree felony illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governemtnal facility, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs, fourth-degree felony strangulation and misdemeanor domestic violence. Another charge of domestic violence was being dismissed. Sentencing was set for July 25. Vinkler was accused of pushing, grabbing, punching and choking a woman with both hands while allegedly threatening her life on Dec. 21, 2024 and possessing methamphetamine and trying to drugs into a detention facility on Oct. 20, 2023.

— Shane Knepper, 54, Woodland Avenue, Salem, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony lesser-included offense, with a specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case. Sentencing was set for July 25. A charge of aggravated trafficking in drugs will be dismissed. Knepper was accused of possessing methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk on Jan. 13, 2024.

— Scott Johns, 45, Creek Road, New Waterford, was placed on a treatment plan for two years after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing THC on Feb. 1, 2024.

— Michael Craig, 45, state Route 170, East Palestine, was placed on a treatment plan for two years after pleading guilty to possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing tramadol on July 5, 2022.

— Scott Thompson, 51, Butler, Pa., was placed under community control for three years for fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia. A fourth-degree felony promoting prostitution charged was dismissed. He received credit for 38 days served in jail. Thompson was accused of transporting a woman to East Palestine for a sex-for-hire meeting on Nov 18, 2023 and possessing suspected crack cocaine and a crack pipe.

— Brandon Plum, 42, Ravenswood, W.Va., was placed under community control for two years for third-degree felony domestic violence and two counts misdemeanor criminal damaging for throwing a woman down onto the bed, punching the wall several times, damaging a door and throwing her cell phone on April 30, 2020 in St. Clair Township. He received credit for one day served in jail.