Grand Jury

LISBON — Three drug defendants were served by the sheriff’s office Tuesday with secret indictments issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury.

Loren Webb, also known as Cleve, 46, Cleveland, was charged with third-degree felonies of illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility and possession of a fentanyl-related compound and fourth-degree felony possession of cocaine for allegedly possessing both fentanyl and cocaine in amounts equal or greater than 5 grams but less than 10 grams and trying to take drugs into a detention facility on June 1, 2023.

Amanda Ryan, 32, Mentor, was charged with aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Aug. 11, 2024.

Jonathan Rudder, 40, Merkel, Texas, was charged with possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, with a specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case, for allegedly possessing cocaine and $623 on Dec. 6, 2024.

Court News

LISBON — A Lisbon man sentenced to 18 months in prison last year for charges related to child porn and sex for hire won’t be coming home early.

Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton denied a motion for early release filed by Randy Lee Newberry, 66, Morris Road, for the sentence in this case, plus the concurrent sentences for two cases involving drugs.

Bickerton wrote that Newberry was not amenable to rehabilitation through probation and that early release would demean the seriousness of the offenses.

On Aug. 12, 2024, she issued the 18-month prison term for two counts of fifth-degree felony illegal use of minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance and misdemeanors of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. He received credit for eight days already served. During a trial to the court, she found him guilty of the charges.

Newberry was accused of contacting an undercover social media account maintained by an undercover agent and arranging for sexual conduct with what he thought was going to be a female in exchange for methamphetamine, arriving in East Palestine on March 20, 2023 for the meeting with the cell phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

A search of his phone revealed two images depicting a female juvenile in a state of nudity. He was also designated a Tier I sex offender required to register his address with the county sheriff’s office.

He had also been sentenced to prison for two drug cases, but with the terms to be served at the same time as the 18 months.

The charges included fifth-degree felonies of two counts aggravated possession of drugs, possession of cocaine, and misdemeanor operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of both of them-OVI. He possessed methamphetamine and committed the traffic offenses on June 28, 2023. He was also accused of possessing methamphetamine and cocaine on March 6, 2023.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Bobbie J. Doss, 46, Park Avenue, Salem, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for Oct. 17. Doss possessed cocaine on Dec. 23, 2023.