Common Pleas

New Cases

Brian Stowers, Annesly Road, East Liverpool, vs. Denise Stowers, Leslie Road, Lisbon; divorce sought.

Zachary Martin, Westfield Road, East Liverpool, vs. Yoselin Godinez-Lopez, Rose Avenue, Salem; divorce sought.

Matthew and Sarah Day, both Butcher Road, Leetonia, vs. Nancy Scullion, East Ninth Street, Salem, et al.; damages sought for alleged personal injury/uninsured and underinsured motorist claim for 2023 traffic crash.

Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC, Virginia Beach, Va., vs. Tennor McLaughlin, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Liverpool, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for Pennsylvania Avenue, East Liverpool property.

Howard Mitchell Jr., Youngstown, vs. Travel Net Transit LLC, Cuyahoga Falls, and Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, Columbus; case transferred from Butler County Common Pleas Court for appeal of additional claim denial.

Docket Entries

MidFirst Bank vs. Anita Dines, et al.; claims dismissed

U.S. Asset Management Inc. vs. Denzell Gaston; $112,906 judgment to plaintiff plus $57,526 interest.

Marriage Licenses

Peter Zeigler, 46, Salem, maintenance assistant, and Kayla Anderson, now known as Kayla Fortune, 37, Salem, LPN.

Samuel Weingart, 31, New Waterford, formulation manager, and Taylor Jarrett, 26, New Waterford, calf manager.

Dillon Baker, 30, Salem, welder, and Nicole Whitcher, 30, Salem, firefighter/EMT.

Nathan Davis, 24, East Liverpool, team lead, and Hannah White, 24, East Liverpool, registered nurse.

David Schreffler, 28, East Liverpool, unemployed, and Heidi Valention, 25, East Liverpool, staffing specialist.

Edward Dinger, 72, Hanoverton, retired, and Kimberly Craig, 34, Hanoverton, unemployed.

Cody Davis, 26, East Palestine, maintenance tech, and Abbey Blazer, 32, East Palestine, direct support professional.

Jarrod Rose, 22, Homeworth, construction laborer, and Riley Mesley, 23, Homeworth, registered nurse.

Richard Honaker, 63, East Liverpool, retired, and Cynthia Goodlin, 63, East Liverpool, customer service representative.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court on Monday, a man with a case pending in Common Pleas Court for breaking into the home of two public officials appeared for an alleged vandalism involving a swastika painted on a Trump sign last month.

Nathan Johnson, 29, West Railroad Street, Columbiana, was fined $100 and sentenced to 30 days in jail for criminal mischief and also ordered to pay restitution of $487.99 for damage to the sign. The county sheriff’s office took a report on July 11 for a report of an unknown male who spray painted swastikas on a Trump sign at the intersection of state Route 7 and Waterford Road. Johnson admitted to doing it when taken into custody.

Cases against Phillip Jackson, 69, Riverview Street, East Liverpool, were bound over to the county grand jury for second-degree felony strangulation and misdemeanor domestic violence for allegedly punching a woman in the face, slamming her head against the wall and floor, stomping on her arms and ribs area and strangling her with his hands, causing her to go in and out of consciousness on Aug. 2 in East Liverpool.

Cases against Timothy Moore Jr., 28, Ashtabula, were bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony failure to comply and misdemeanors of littering from a vehicle, no seat belt, driving while texting, failure to display valid sticker, no valid license and reckless operation for allegedly fleeing from an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper attempting a traffic stop on Aug. 2 in Elkrun Township, stopping at first, then taking off southbound on state Route 11 reaching speeds of more than 100 mph before ending on a deadend on Pennsylvania Avenue Extension in East Liverpool.

A preliminary hearing was set Aug. 18 for Kevin Hupp, 29, Idaho Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with second-degree felonies of strangulation and domestic violence. He allegedly grabbed a woman by the throat and began to choke her on Aug. 10 in East Liverpool.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Aug. 18 for Justin Derringer, 37, West South Range Road, Salem, charged with fourth-degree felony disrupting public services and misdemeanors of domestic violence, criminal trespass, and public indecency expose private parts. Derringer was accused of allegedly threatening to shoot a woman with a crossbow and possessed a crossbow on Aug. 8 in Salem. He had been trespassed from the property earlier in the day. He also allegedly took the phone from the woman’s hand by force as she attempted to call 911 for emergency law enforcement assistance. On Aug. 9, Derringer was found naked lying face up in the back yard of a Salem property.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Aug. 18 for Donnie Merganthaler, 26, Maryland Avenue, Salem, charged with fifth-degree felony domestic violence and misdemeanor assault for allegedly pushing a pregnant woman multiple times threatening to hit her unless he got the car keys after an argument on Aug. 10 in Perry Township. He also struck the victim’s relative multiple times when she tried to get between them and then picked her up and slammed her to the ground.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Aug. 18 for John Sisson, 43, Pass Lane, Lisbon, charged with third-degree felony strangulation and misdemeanor domestic violence for allegedly physically assaulting a woman and allegedly sexually assaulting her, according to an affidavit. The affidavit also said she told deputies that he grabbed her hair again and dragged her near a shed, allegedly strangling her and sexually assaulting her on Aug. 10 in Hanover Township.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Aug. 14 for Christopher Burns, 41, Glassport, Pa., charged with third-degree felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanors of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. Burns was accused of allegedly responding to an undercover familial ad on a known prostitution website of an adult mother trafficking her daughter and arranging for sexual activity with the daughter for $140, sending $60 of the fee to an undercover account through a Cash App, then arriving in East Liverpool for the meeting. He was found in possession of a phone concealed under a pile of personal belongings in his truck and was prohibited from owning a smart phone as a condition of his probation for a case involving video recording a minor in a state of unity and sexual conduct with a minor, according to an affidavit by an agent of the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.

A pretrial was set Nov. 13 for Gregg Robinson, 50, Ohio Avenue, Salem, charged with domestic violence for allegedly striking a man in the head with a flashlight, punching him and striking him with his fists on July 24 in Salem Township.

A pretrial was set Aug. 25 for Lisa Young, 51, Rose Drive, Lisbon, charged with domestic violence for allegedly slapping a juvenile in the face, kicking him in his legs and behind and pushing him to the ground when she continued to hit and kick him on Aug. 9 in Lisbon.

A pretrial was set Oct. 30 for Britney Dermotta, 38, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, charged with domestic violence for allegedly causing scratches and red marks on a man during a domestic on July 3 in Salem.

A pretrial was set Nov. 6 for Jackie H. Gu, 43, Dayton, charged with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for allegedly responding to a familial ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with the females in exchange for money to be paid via the Cash App, then arriving in East Palestine on Aug. 8 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

A pretrial was set Nov. 6 for Jarold Mark Silver, 67, Youngstown, charged with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for allegedly responding to a familial ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with the females in exchange for $260, then driving to East Palestine on Aug. 8 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Anthony Ward, 48, Massillon, was fined $750 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 120 days suspended and credit for 25 days served, leaving a balance of 35 days still to serve for engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. He was accused of requesting sexual conduct for $140 from an undercover agent and traveling to Salem on March 7, 2024 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

A pretrial was set Aug. 25 for Thomas Welsh Jr., 40, East Third Street, Salem, charged with violating a protection order for allegedly riding an electric scooter passed a woman and child, yelling at them or speaking loudly in Salem on Aug. 11. They were protected parties in a protection order against Welsh.

A pretrial was set Aug. 14 for James Elliott, 34, Beechwood Street, East Liverpool, charged with violation of a protection order for allegedly going to a protected house on Aug. 8, which was video recorded on security footage, and also contacting the victim via text messages with his location, resulting in police officers finding him and placing him under arrest in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set Aug. 18 for Sidni Livolsi, 36, Clark Avenue, Wellsville, charged with obstructing official business for impeding an officer from doing his duties by using her weight to fall to the ground twice after being medically cleared, causing the officer to fall to his knee the second time on July 7 in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set Aug. 25 for Anthony Vaughn, 26, state Route 164, Salineville, charged with theft for allegedly leaving the Calcutta Walmart on June 16, 2024 without paying for six items on June 16, 2024.

Bambi Woodworth, 42, U.S. Route 62, Beloit, was fined $350 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 172 days suspended and credit for eight days served, for theft and menacing. She was ordered to complete 30 hours community service and to make restitution of $314 to Walmart. She was ordered to stay out of the Salem Walmart. On July 27, 2020, Woodworth failed to scan and pay for 44 items totaling $314 and Walmart employees said she threatened them, making them think she was going to assault them. In the affidavit from five years ago, she said she threatened to assault them, but not beat them up, just shove them out of the way. She was also fined $100 for drug paraphernalia for possessing a clear plastic container with residue during a traffic stop on Aug. 3 when she was a passenger.

Michael McElroy, 49, South Amherst, was fined $200 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 79 days suspended and credit for 11 days served, for receiving stolen property. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service. During a traffic stop on Aug. 2 in Salem, he possessed a phone reported stolen out of Sandusky.

Courtney Norris, 31, Church Street Extension, Salineville, was fined $75 for child restraint amended from endangering children for having five children in the car not wearing seat belts and not in car seats during a traffic stop on Nov. 27, 2024 in Salineville.

Kristen Layne, 33, Crestline, was fined $200 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. She was ordered to complete 30 hours community service. During a traffic stop on Oct. 12, 2024 in Lisbon, she possessed a glass smoking device.

Bradley Reeder, 43, West Lincoln Way, Lisbon, was fined $200 and sentenced to 30 days in jail for resisting arrest. Reeder pulled away from a police officer while trying to retreat into his residence on Aug. 9 when the officer was trying to take him into custody for a warrant. He was placed at taser point and ordered to the ground.

Christopher Williams, 59, Canfield, was fined $350 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and open container. A charge of marked lanes was dismissed. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service. During a traffic stop on May 8 in Columbiana, Williams possessed a firearm with a partially loaded magazine and an open container of alcohol.

A pretrial was set Nov. 20 for Tyler Warner, 34, East Oregon Avenue, Sebring, charged with illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing a glass pipe and a straw with residue during a traffic stop on Aug. 9 in Perry Township.

A pretrial was set Nov. 10 for Anthony Martino, 19, Bethel Park, Pa., charged with underage consumption for alleged underage drinking after a traffic stop on a golf cart on state Route 14, Columbiana on Aug. 9.

Jayden Huddleston, 20, West 16th Street, Salem, was fined $320 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for underage operating a vehicle impaired and driving while texting. His driver’s license was suspended for one year and he was ordered to complete 30 hours community service. He was also fined $150 for possessing marijuana.

Christopher Ramirez, 21, Broad Street, East Liverpool, was fined $1,180 and given a suspended 180-day jail term for physical control amended from OVI, no seat belt and a headlights violation. Another count of OVI was dismissed.

Kevin Sayers, 66, Fairview Court, Salem, was fined $1,000 and given a suspended 180-day jail term for physical control amended from OVI. He was ordered to complete 35 hours community service.

A pretrial was set Nov. 4 for David Nonamaker, 48, Yeager Drive, East Liverpool, charged with OVI first offense, no valid license and marked lanes.

A pretrial was set Nov. 10 for Daureell Miller, 30, Youngstown, charged with driving under suspension and marked lanes.

A pretrial was set Nov. 24 for Marquez Buckenheimer, 26, Industry, Pa., charged with driving under suspension and speeding.

A pretrial was set Oct. 30 for Alexa Garr, 32, Youngstown, charged with wrongful entrustment.

A pretrial was set Nov. 3 for James Zimmerman, 31, state Route 7, Columbiana, charged with driving under suspension.

Joshua Simmons, 20, West Pennsylvania Avenue, Sebring, was fined $300 for failure to comply with underage alcohol laws.

Luke Maola, 40, Lisbon Street, East Liverpool, was fined $230 for driving under suspension and failure to display valid sticker. A probation violation hearing was set Sept. 23 for OVI and marked lanes.

Christian Maher, 37, Louisville, was fined $75 for an equipment violation amended from speeding.

Chester Glista, 18, Vienna, was fined $45 for speeding.

Court News

LISBON –A Wellsville woman who entered a guilty plea to drug charges was sentenced to seven months in prison, but to be served at the same time as the three to four and a half years she’s already serving in prison for another case.

Indya Spann, 24, Commerce Street, appeared recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court for the drug case, pleading guilty to possession of cocaine, possession of a fentanyl-related compound and possession of heroin, all fifth-degree felonies. A misdemeanor charge of possession of drugs was dismissed.

Spann possessed cocaine, fentanyl and heroin on Nov. 1, 2024.

At the end of July, she was sentenced to the indefinite term of three to four and a half years in prison for violating the terms of her probation for charges of complicity and driving under suspension.

The indefinite term was issued for the second-degree felony of complicity in the commission of an offense, meaning she must serve a minimum of three years, then the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections can determine whether she stays longer, up to another year and a half, bringing the maximum to four and a half years.

She was sentenced to 180 days in the county jail for driving under suspension, but the term was ordered served at the same time as the prison term. She received credit for 261 days already served.

Spann was accused of being the driver for two others accused of breaking into a woman’s garage in East Liverpool and taking several items on Nov. 11, 2024.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Larry Maglicco, 47, Dayton, was placed under community control for three years for two counts third-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and misdemeanors of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. Charges of improperly handling firearms in a vehicle and drug paraphernalia were dismissed. He received credit for eight days served in jail. Maglicco was accused of responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a female in exchange for methamphetamine, arriving in East Palestine on April 29, 2024 for the meeting. He had in his possession methamphetamine, two meth pipes and a cell phone used to make the arrangements, along with a loaded gun he failed to disclose to officers. He also possessed psilocyn.

— Edward Erhardt, 43, Poland, was fined $250 after pleading guilty to a lesser offense of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia for possessing drug paraphernalia on April, 20, 2024. He was originally charge with aggravated possession of drugs.

— Bryan Gipson, 41, Youngstown, was placed under community control for three years for fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine and two counts misdemeanor engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. On Jan. 10, 2024 in East Palestine, Gipson showed up for an arranged meeting for alleged sexual activity with a female in exchange for cocaine after responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and had cocaine in his possession.

Grand Jury

LISBON — A man and a woman caught during a drug raid in February near Franklin Square are now facing multiple drug charges, including first-degree felonies of aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs

Matthew Bays, 38, South Lincoln Avenue, Salem, and Ashley Rhodes, 38, state Route 344, Leetonia, were each served recently with secret indictments issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury, with each of them charged with the two first-degree felonies for aggravated trafficking and aggravated possession of drugs, fifth-degree felonies of two counts aggravated possession of drugs and possession of a fentanyl-related compound and two counts of misdemeanor possession of drugs, all with specifications for forfeiture of money from a drug case.

Bays and Rhodes allegedly possessed methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than 50 times bulk but less than 100 times bulk, $376, amphetamine, fentanyl, psilocyn, xylazine and alprazolam. The trafficking charges dealt with the methamphetamine.

All of the charges stem from Feb. 28 when the Columbiana County Drug Task Force and county Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at an old state Route 344, Leetonia property. Units were assisted by police officers from Salem and Lisbon.

According to the press release posted on the Sheriff’s Office social media page, the search yielded 282 grams of methamphetamine, miscellaneous pills, paraphernalia indicative of drug trafficking and $376 in cash. The DTF thanked the sheriff’s office, county prosecutor’s office, and the Salem, East Liverpool, Lisbon and Columbiana police departments for their assistance in the investigation.

Also served recently with secret indictments were:

— Frank Bursick, 63, East Liverpool Road, East Liverpool, second-degree felonies of aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs, with specifications for forfeiture of money from a drug case and misdemeanors of engaging in prostitution, possessing criminal tools and dealing in drug paraphernalia, for allegedly trafficking and possessing methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than five times bulk but less than 50 times bulk, possessing $183, arranging for a sex of hire meeting and possessing drug paraphernalia and a cell phone used to make the arrangements for the sex for hire meeting on Dec. 6, 2024.

— Adam Douglass, 39, Cain Street, East Liverpool, fourth-degree felony domestic violence for allegedly attempting to harm a woman on March 25.

— Macey Blair, 29, Union Street, Columbiana, fifth-degree felonies of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of a fentanyl-related compound for allegedly possessing fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl on Sept. 26, 2024.

— Donavin Hanna, 34, Pine Street, Leetonia, possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing cocaine on Feb. 6.

— Bradley Reeder, 43, McAllister Road, Lisbon, aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on April 1, 2024.

— Aaron Hook, 44, McDonald, fourth-degree felony theft for allegedly depriving someone of services or property on Nov. 19, 2024.

— Jason McBroom, 43, Mogadore, fourth-degree felony counterfeiting for allegedly counterfeiting on Nov. 16, 2024.

— Lisa Johnson, 46, Toronto, possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing cocaine on Jan. 18, 2023.