Common Pleas

New Cases

Capital One, N.A., Independence, vs. Lori Cascio, West Martin Street, East Palestine; collection sought of alleged $6,129 debt.

Capital One, N.A., Independence, vs. Anthony J. Rhodes, state Route 517, Lisbon; collection sought of alleged $3,170 debt.

PNC Bank, Independence, vs. James D. Snyder, Lisbon Street, East Liverpool; collection sought of alleged $10,950 debt.

Docket Entries

County Treasurer vs. Crystal D. Beadnell, also known as Crystal D. Grubbs, et al.; Dale Pennsylvania Royalty, LP and TotalEnergies E & P USA Inc. both dismissed as defendants.

County Treasurer vs. Twenty-six 3 Properties Inc., et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. Evergreen Living LLC, et al.; payment plan entered, case stayed, taxes for one parcel paid in full, with that parcel dismissed from complaint.

Grand Jury

LISBON — Brandee Jo Vallera, 51, Wood Street, Wellsville, was served Tuesday with a secret indictment issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury for illegal use of supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) or WIC program benefits, a third-degree felony, for allegedly illegally using benefits from April 2020 to Nov. 30, 2022.

Court News

LISBON — An East Liverpool man accused of soliciting others to bring drugs into the Columbiana County jail was sentenced to 12 months in prison after entering a guilty plea in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.

Joseph J. DeSarro, 32, Cannons Mill Road, pleaded guilty to complicity in the commission of an offense, a third-degree felony, with the sentence ordered served at the same time as the 19-year prison term he’s already serving for multiple drug counts.

Another count of complicity in the commission of an offense was dismissed.

The soliciting or procuring of others to bring drugs into the jail occurred April 22 to April 24 this year.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— John P. Dunlap, 41, Oakland Avenue, East Liverpool, was sentenced to 210 days in jail, with credit for 144 days served, leaving a balance of 66 days still to serve for attempted having weapons while under disability, a fourth-degree felony. He recently entered a guilty plea to the amended charge. He was originally charged with third-degree felony having weapons while under disability. Charges of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and fourth-degree felony domestic violence were dismissed. Dunlap was charged for an incident Feb. 6 in East Liverpool when he allegedly pistol whipped a woman causing injury that required medical treatment. He was prohibited from having a weapon due to a previous conviction.

— Christopher D. Price, 42, Mogadore, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, and complicity in the commission of an offense, a third-degree felony, with credit for 120 days served in jail. Price was accused of failing to pay child support from May 3, 2020 to May 1, 2022 and making calls from the county jail on Nov. 21, 2021 soliciting and procuring others to bring drugs to the jail.

— Timothy Wilson, 47, listed as homeless in Salem, was sentenced to 24 months in prison and given a mandatory fine of $5,000 after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs and tampering with evidence, both third-degree felonies, for possessing methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk and tampering with evidence on June 20, 2024. The prison term was ordered served at the same time as a 30-month prison term he received in January for other drug charges.

— Alan P. Jakes Jr., 44, Main Street, Wellsville, was placed under community control for two years for attempted having weapons while under disability, a lesser-included fourth-degree felony offense. He was originally charged with third-degree felony having weapons while under disability. Jakes was accused of possessing a weapon on April 2, 2022 while prohibited from having one due to a felony conviction.

— Michael J. Landon, 40, Pickerington, was ordered to serve a term at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center until the program is complete after pleading guilty to theft and passing bad checks, both fifth-degree felonies. He received credit for 70 days served in jail and was placed under community control for five years. Charges of forgery and criminal simulations will be dismissed. He was ordered to pay restitution of $1,986. Landon was accused of forging a check made payable to himself for $1,986 and stealing the money from William Lowry and Lowry Tool & Dye on May 30, 2023.

— Erikka Wentzel, 35, Canton, pleaded guilty to counterfeiting, a fourth-degree felony, with sentencing set for Dec. 12. Wentzel was accused of a counterfeiting incident on Nov. 16, 2024.

— Zachary Vescio, 25, Youngstown, was recently granted limited driving privileges after a previous sentencing entry for a 2022 case was corrected to show that his license was suspended for three years effective Dec. 16, 2022, not five years. Judge Scott Washam said the five-year suspension he issued originally was erroneous. Vescio served the two and a half years of prison he received for burglary, a second-degree felony, grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, breaking and entering and attempted grand theft of a motor vehicle, both fifth-degree felonies and misdemeanor operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs for a May 7, 2022 incident in Negley.

— Amos M. Wallace, 49, Youngstown, pleaded guilty to obstructing official business, a fifth-degree felony amended from fourth-degree felony assault, and misdemeanors operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them-OVI and driving under suspension, with sentencing set for Dec. 8. Charges of resisting arrest and an additional OVI will be dismissed. Wallace was accused of elbowing a trooper in the mouth while the trooper was double locking the handcuffs after taking him into custody for being impaired during a traffic stop on March 2 in Middleton Township.

— Durell J. Beauford, 37, Clarks Mill Road, Hammondsville, pleaded guilty to having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony, and receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony, with sentencing set for Jan. 5. A charge of abduction will be dismissed. Beauford had a stolen 9mm in his possession on June 2, 2000 and was prohibited from possessing a weapon due to a previous conviction.