Common Pleas

New Cases

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Gary Barnes, U.S. Route 30, Lisbon, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for Main Street, Washingtonville property.

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Ruth P. Green, Vine Street, East Liverpool, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for Vine Street, East Liverpool property.

County Treasurer, vs. Tamara Mae Drotleff, state Route 7, New Waterford, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for state Route 7, New Waterford property.

Warren H. Garwood, Hill Street, Lisbon, vs. Luz Garwood, Youngstown; divorce sought.

Mark and Loretta Haustman, both Winston Drive, East Liverpool, vs. Jose L. Garcia III and Jose L. Garcia Ramirez Jr., both Ambrose Avenue, East Liverpool; damages sought for negligence claims from 2024 traffic crash.

Saia Motor Freight Line, LLC, Johns Creek, Ga., vs. Envelope 1, Inc. doing business as Mission Envelope, Envelope 1 Manufacturing Inc., state Route 344, Columbiana; damages sought for breach of contract and other claims related to freight transportation.

Tre Turner and Gerald Thomas, both Canton, vs. Jennifer Lynn Drake, Mountoursville, Pa., et al.; damages sought for personal injury claims from 2025 traffic crash.

Docket Entries

Dustin Beadnell vs. Ashley Beadnell; divorce granted.

Frankie P. Thomas and Brandon C. Thomas; dissolution granted.

U.S. Bank National Association vs. Gayle Martin, et al.; case returned to active docket.

County Treasurer vs. Robert J. Woodworth, et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

Court News

LISBON –An East Liverpool man indicted on multiple drug charges earlier this year entered a guilty plea to four drug possession charges during a recent hearing in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, with sentencing set for Dec. 15.

Richard M.J. Tittle, 34, Harvey Avenue, pleaded guilty to first-degree felony possession of a fentanyl-related compound, fourth-degree felony possession of cocaine (a lesser included charge which was originally a first-degree felony), and fifth-degree felonies of two counts of possession of drugs, along with specifications for forfeiture of money from a drug case.

All of the offenses occurred on July 19, 2024 when he possessed fentanyl in an amount equal or greater than 20 grams, but less than 50 grams, an amount of cocaine equal or greater than 5 grams but less than 10 grams, and possessed alprazolam, and buprenorphine. The amount of money seized for forfeiture was $120.

Charges of first-degree felony trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, first-degree felony trafficking in cocaine and fifth-degree felony trafficking in drugs will be dismissed as part of the pleas deal.

Grand Jury

LISBON — Logan T. Blake, 27, Lincoln Avenue, East Liverpool, was served Wednesday with a secret indictment issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Aug. 27, 2024.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, cases against Ayden Elijah Keith Moore, 19, Franklin Street, Salem, were bound over to the county grand jury for second-degree felony burglary and misdemeanors of domestic violence, telecommunications harassment and resisting arrest for allegedly entering a residence in Salem uninvited and slapping a woman multiple times across the face, wrapping his hands around her neck and shoving her to the ground on Oct. 25. He would not stop contacting the victim and kept texting her after she asked him to stop. When Salem police officers attempted to take him into custody, he pulled away and continued to fight.

A case against James Allen Smith, 53, Brunswick, was bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony compelling prostitution and fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website of an adult woman trafficking a minor female and arranging to have sexual activity with them for $220, traveling to East Palestine on Oct. 30 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession. The agent noted in the affidavit that it was believed the defendant deleted the texting application from his mobile device before being stopped.

A preliminary hearing was set Nov. 13 for Randy James Reynolds, 25, Prospect Street, East Liverpool, charged with strangulation and domestic violence, both fourth-degree felonies, for allegedly tackling a woman to the ground and strangling her on Nov. 5 in East Liverpool.

Daniel William Tunnat, 60, Woodsdale Road, Salem, was fined $350 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 173 days suspended and credit for two days served, leaving a balance of five days to serve in jail, plus 30 days in electronically monitored house arrest, for weapon while intoxicated. A charge of aggravated menacing was dismissed. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to have no contact with the victim. Tunnat allegedly discharged a firearm in the air while intoxicated when a man was outside his own residence in Butler Township on Sept. 24, 2024.

John Carl Reinhart, 53, East Clark Street, East Palestine, was fined $500 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 140 days suspended and credit for 20 days served, leaving a balance of 20 days still to serve for domestic violence. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service. He was accused of punching a woman, shoving her into a night stand and pulling her hair on Oct. 17 in East Palestine.

Wayne Eugene Reed, 61, Northside Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $250 and sentenced to 180 days in jail,with 175 days suspended and credit for two days served, leaving a balance of three days still to serve in jail for assault. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to have no contact with the victim. He was accused of hitting another man in the face at Thompson Park in East Liverpool on Sept. 13.

A pretrial was set Jan. 27 for Lisa A. Felekey, 58, Macrum Street, East Liverpool, charged with assault for allegedly choking another woman, pulling her hair and trying to throw her to the ground on Oct. 31 in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set Nov. 17 for Bobbi Sue McLaughlin, 36, East Clark Street, East Palestine, charged with domestic violence for allegedly physically attacking a man and damaging a television on Nov. 4 in East Palestine.

A pretrial was set Nov. 17 for Cheryl A. Heitzenrater, 65, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, charged with domestic violence for allegedly punching a man with a closed fist on Nov. 4 in Salem, causing visible injury to the man’s eye.

A status conference hearing was set Feb. 2 and a court trial was set Feb. 10 for Russell Lewis Craig, 43, Rimersbrug, Pa., charged with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with women in exchange for $260, then driving to East Palestine on Aug. 3 for the meeting.

Edward Alan Michaels, 55, Stoneboro, Pa., was fined $750 for two counts of possessing criminal tools, with one amended from engaging in prostitution. Michaels responded to an undercover familial ad on a known prostitution website and arranged for sexual activity with women for $200, driving to East Palestine on Sept. 5 for the meeting.

Jarold Mark Silver, 67, Youngstown, was fined $500 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for engaging in prostitution. A charge of possessing criminal tools was dismissed and he was ordered to complete 20 hours community service. A prostitution prevention course was already completed. Silver responded to a familial ad on a known prostitution website and arranged for sexual activity with the women in exchange for $260, then drove to East Palestine for the meeting on Aug. 8.

Johnathan David Messenger, 31, West Street, Salineville, was fined $350 and sentenced to 14 days in jail, with credit for 14 days served, for assault. He assaulted another inmate at the Columbiana County jail by punching him in the face on Oct. 17.

Damondtreas D. Hubbert, 24, Niles, was fined $500 and sentenced to 10 days in jail for violation of a protection order. He was accused of yelling at a protected woman who had a protection order and who felt he was going to get her on Aug. 15.

Zachary Edward Perry, 30, Cadmus Street, East Liverpool, was fined $200 for criminal trespass for trespassing at an East Liverpool property on Oct. 13. He was also sentenced to 10 days in jail, but received 10 days credit, leaving no time to serve for violating his probation for a 2024 domestic violence case.

Joshua C. Kersey, 43, Main Street, Wellsville, was ordered to serve 75 days in jail for violating his probation for a 2024 case of endangering children and drug paraphernalia.

Shawn M. Ramsey, 38, Canton, was fined $400 and sentenced to five days in jail, with credit for one day served, leaving a balance of four days still to serve in jail for resisting arrest and obstructing official business. Ramsey fled out the back door of a West Township property when deputies arrived to serve an arrest warrant, with a short foot race ensuing before he was caught on Nov. 5.

A pretrial was set Jan. 28 for Dalton Michael McKinnon, 21, Lacroft Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with theft for allegedly stealing three items valued at $9 from Dollar General in East Liverpool on Nov. 5, including donuts, milk and ice cream.

Daniel W. Burpo, 52, Southeast Boulevard, Salem, was fined $150 and sentenced to two days in jail, with credit for one day served, leaving one day to still serve in jail for disorderly conduct. Burpo was highly intoxicated at Boneshakers in Salem and after several attempts to get him to his hotel room, he threw a glass of water at a restaurant employee on Nov. 5.

Kimberly A. Dowdy, 31, Canton, was fined $400 and sentenced to five days in jail, with credit for one day served, leaving a balance of four days to serve in jail for resisting arrest and obstructing official business. Dowdy was at an East Rochester residence when deputies arrived to serve a warrant on a man and she locked herself in the basement after deputies discovered she also had a warrant. A deputy forced his way through the door to take her into custody on Nov. 5.

Virgina Lee Mills, 58, Minerva Street, East Liverpool, was fined $300 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 170 days suspended and credit for 10 days served, for possessing criminal tools and two counts of theft. She was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and to have contact with the Calcutta Walmart and the East Liverpool Dollar Tree. Mills stole nine items valued at $83 from the Calcutta Walmart on July 30, with the items in her purse, and stole $14 worth of items from the Dollar Tree in East Liverpool on Oct. 30, 2024.

Elizabeth Mary Schultz, 35, Main Street, Wellsville, was fined $250 and given a suspended 180-day jail term for theft. She was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and to have no contact with the Calcutta Walmart where she failed to scan and pay for 21 items valued at $179 on July 10.

Cynthia May Kinest, 69, Staunton Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $300 and given a suspended 180-day jail term for theft. She was ordered to complete 25 hours community service and to stay out of the Calcutta Walmart where she failed to scan and pay for eight items valued at $40 on July 4.

David W. Lotze, 55, Yates Road, Salem, was fined $350 for a wildlife violation and a general wildlife violation amended from interference with wildlife officer for two hunting violations on Dec. 7, 2024.

A pretrial was set Feb. 2 for Debra L. Stewart, 62, Dunn Street, East Liverpool, charged with failure to file tax returns for allegedly failing to file sales tax returns on April 23, 2025 and May 23, 2025 for Bermuda Tanning Salon in East Liverpool.

Marla A. Zema, last known address Mounds Street, Salem, was fined $150 for disorderly conduct amended from endangering children for having a child in a vehicle while allegedly driving impaired on June 13, 2025 on state Route 45, Lisbon.

Wayne Michael Woolley, 33, Penn Avenue Extension, East Liverpool, was fined $180 for drug paraphernalia, speeding and expired registration for possessing a cut straw and rolled dollar bill both with residue during a traffic stop on Oct. 27.

A pretrial was set Jan. 20 for Eric Lee Davis, 50, Riverside Avenue, Wellsville, charged with operating a vehicle impaired first offense, OVI refusal with prior within 20 years and driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set Feb. 3 for Michael Krug, 64, Fifth Street, Beloit, charged with one way traffic.

Zachary Joseph Nicholson, 22, Township Road 289, Salineville, was fined $925 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for physical control amended from OVI, and traffic control devices. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

John Bowman, 78, Vine Street, East Liverpool, was fined $300 for hit skip/leaving scene. His driver’s license was suspended for 180 days, with driving privileges granted.

Patricia L. Carnes, 66, Maplewood Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $150 for unsafe vehicle amended from failure to stay after an accident.

Ribeiro Gil Cleverson, 53, Maitland, Fla., was fined $75 for an equipment violation amended from speeding.

Bryon D. Potter, 40, East Perry Street, Salem, was fined $125 for a tail light violation, with a suspension charge dismissed.

Caitlin O. Lewis, 20, Wheeling, W.Va., was fined $75 for an equipment violation amended from speeding.

Joseph A. Kelly, 68, Williams Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $130 for driving under suspension and expired registration.