Common Pleas

New Cases

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. David Perry Potts Jr., West Ninth Street, East Liverpool; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for Dresden Avenue, East Liverpool property.

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Erla Jean Hall, Post Falls, Idaho; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for Dodge Street and Fair Street, East Liverpool property.

Huntington National Bank, Columbus, vs. David M. Thompson, 15th Street, Wellsville, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought.

Credit Acceptance Corporation, Southfield, Mich. vs. Christopher M. Smith Sr.; collection sought of alleged $13,378 debt.

Mary F. Judy, Blakely Street, East Palestine, vs. Cameron Lee Beverly, Tomahawk Drive, Negley, et al.; damages sought for alleged personal injury claim from 2024 traffic crash.

Rocket Mortgage, LLC, Detroit, Mich., vs. Randall L. Moore, Church Street, East Liverpool, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for Church Street, East Liverpool property.

Freedom Mortgage Corporation, Fishers, Ind., vs. Denise A. Biller, executor and devisee of estate of Larry D. Evans, New Middletown, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought.

Docket Entries

Hancock County Savings Bank vs. Jodee K. Kessler, et al.; case returned to active docket.

National Direct Mortgage, LLC vs. Justin Madison, et al.; case dismissed.

First Technology Federal Credit Union vs. Ahmad Mourra; $50,075 judgment granted to plaintiff, with agreement for defendant to pay just $32,000.

Vicki Lynn Ritterspach and Jeffrey M. Ritterspach; dissolution granted.

Grand Jury

LISBON — Several defendants were served Thursday with secret indictments issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury, including three drug defendants.

William D. Barrett, 65, whose last known address was listed as Sophia Street, East Liverpool, was charged with possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, and misdemeanor possession of drugs for allegedly possessing fentanyl and xylazine on April 1, 2024.

Thomas L. Peterson, 61, Medina, was charged with aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Nov. 25, 2024.

Jerry L. Malone II, 45, West Fifth Street, Salem, was charged with third-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and two counts of fifth-degree felony possession of drugs for allegedly possessing methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk and possessing alprazolam and clonazepam on July 23, 2024.

Justine M. Bowley, 35, Youngstown, was charged with three counts of nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly failing to pay child support from Feb. 26, 2023 to Feb. 23, 2025.

Court News

LISBON — A Columbiana man accused of possessing images of child pornography was found competent and without serious mental issues during a recent hearing in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.

Richard Braham, 27, West Park Avenue, was charged earlier this year with one count of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, a fourth-degree felony, and four counts of illegal use of minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, a fifth-degree felony. All the charges stemmed from his alleged possession of the images on Nov. 10, 2023.

Judge Scott Washem found him competent and found that he did not present with symptoms of a severe mental defect, based on competency and sanity evaluations provided to the court.

A status hearing is now set for Feb. 12, with a jury trial set for Feb. 23.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Vickie L. Greenfield, 60, Smith Goshen Road, Beloit, had her motion to terminate her 99-year license suspension denied. Judge Megan Bickerton did say, however, in her ruling that she would expand her driving privileges, but needed more information on the locations. Greenfield had been sentenced to a prison term of 18 months and received the lengthy license suspension in June 2008 for a charge of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a fourth-degree felony. At the time of the indictment, she had been previously convicted or pleaded guilty to five or more OVI violations. In the motion to terminate the license suspension, her attorney said she had been successfully in recovery for 18 years now and was the sole caregiver for her mother.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, cases against Frederick E. Kruger, 34, last known addresses Shelby Road, Lisbon, and Wampum, Pa., were bound over to the county grand jury for felonious assault, a second-degree felony, third-degree felony strangulation and misdemeanors of aggravated menacing and two counts of domestic violence for an incident that occurred Oct. 4 in Center Township.

He was accused of threatening to kill a woman and putting both hands around her neck and choking her and putting his fingers in her mouth as she gasped for air. He also was accused of punching her multiple times in the face. He was found laying on his belly in a wooded area of the property trying to hide from deputies. The victim was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown by Hanover Township EMS due to her injuries.

Cases against Philip M. Kelly, 38, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, were bound over to the county grand jury for second-degree felony burglary and misdemeanors of obstructing official business and resisting arrest for allegedly breaking into a home on North Lincoln Avenue, Salem on Nov. 3, breaking the front door window, reaching inside to unlock the door and continuing through the entryway and kitchen. After being confronted by the homeowner, he fled southbound on North Lincoln Avenue and was seen by police walking on Superior Avenue. Officers attempted contact and told him to stop multiple times, but a small foot chase took place and he was taken into custody.

A case against Randy James Reynolds, 25, Prospect Street, East Liverpool, was bound over to the county grand jury for fourth-degree felonies of strangulation and domestic violence for allegedly tackling a woman to the ground and strangling her on Nov. 5 in East Liverpool. A probation violation hearing was set for Reynolds for a 2024 case of domestic violence.

Cases against Brandon Allen Green, 33, Lisbon Street, East Liverpool, were bound over to the county grand jury for fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property and misdemeanors of operating a vehicle impaired second offense, driving under suspension and reasonable control for allegedly being in possession of a stolen vehicle after crashing it on state Route 154, Elkrun Township on Aug 24. A status conference hearing was set Feb. 2 for Green for criminal trespass for allegedly trespassing in an East Liverpool property on Sept. 7 after being trespassed from the property in June.

Cases against Brian D. Tinker, 43, North Jefferson, Lisbon, were bound over to the county grand jury for fourth-degree felony failure to comply with an order and misdemeanor obstructing official business. He was accused of allegedly running a stop sign at East Pine and North Jefferson in Lisbon, then fleeing when police attempted a traffic stop, crashing into a house on Jefferson and fleeing from officers on foot on Nov. 3. He was ordered to stop running and refused, then stopped at the cemetery and was taken into custody. Also, a pretrial was set Feb. 10 for charges of headlights required and a stop sign violation.

A pretrial was set Nov. 24 for Ethan M. Hill, 22, state Route 154, Lisbon, charged with menacing, two counts of domestic violence and two counts of aggravated menacing for allegedly threatening to kill a woman while collecting his things from his former residence in Salineville on Nov. 3. On Sept. 4 in Lisbon, he was accused of placing his hands around a woman’s neck and choking her, then placing her in a headlock and biting her back. He also had threatened to kill her and her children, the affidavit said.

A pretrial was set Feb. 18 for Cassandra L. Goddard, 39, Southeast Boulevard, Salem, charged with sexual imposition for allegedly grabbing the breasts of a fellow female worker at a Salem restaurant on Oct. 8.

Cara Jean Crabtree, 41, Steubenville, was fined $400 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 159 days suspended and credit for 21 days served, for possessing criminal tools and soliciting. She was ordered to complete 40 hours community service. Crabtree was accused of posting an ad on a known prostitution website and soliciting to perform sexual activity for an undercover agent posing as a purchaser of sex for $400, then traveling to Salem on Aug. 14, 2024 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in her possession.

A court trial was set Nov. 20 for Shane Edward McCutcheon, 37, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with domestic violence for allegedly throwing an electronic tool at a woman in an attempt to hit her. She ducked and the tool struck the wall and bounced back and struck her in the shoulder.

A status conference hearing was set Nov. 20 and a court trial was set Dec. 4 for Grant Michael Goodballet, 27, Bank Street, East Liverpool, charged with two counts of domestic violence for allegedly pulling a woman’s hair while she was driving and also pulling the hair of another man while placing his hand over his neck in a strangle motion. He also allegedly threw a lit cigarette at the woman which struck her leg, all during a domestic on July 21 in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set Nov. 24 for Joshua W. Francis, 44, Park Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with domestic violence for allegedly hitting a woman in the forehead during an altercation on Nov. 13 in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set Nov. 24 for Matthew E. Berger, 48, King Road, Salem, charged with two counts of violation of a protection order for allegedly violating a protection order a woman has against him. On Nov. 4, he allegedly was on her property gathering belongings and on Nov. 11, he was at the property again parked in the driveway and then backed out and made eye contact with her.

A pretrial was set Feb. 18 for Charles L. Bailey, 47, Clarks Mill Road, Hammondsville, charged with illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing a glass pipe and baggie of powdery substance suspected to be methamphetamine during a traffic stop on Nov. 13 in Salineville.

A pretrial was set Dec. 4 for Zachary Richard Mumford, 40, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with three counts of possession of drug abuse instrument and two counts of theft for allegedly hiding three items valued at $17 in his hoodie at Dollar General in East Liverpool on Sept. 5 and also possessing a used syringe. On March 14, 2022, he allegedly possessed a used syringe in East Liverpool in the pocket of his hoodie and also allegedly possessed three used syringes in his right sock in plain view in East Liverpool on March 30, 2021. On Aug. 8, 2020, Mumford allegedly stole a large bin of merchandise and ran out the back door of the Dollar General in Wellsville.

Alvin Stanley Pugh, 45, Etruria Street, East Liverpool, was fined $150 for disorderly conduct amended from domestic violence. There was a notation on the judgment entry that the victim’s whereabouts were unknown. Pugh was accused of punching a woman on Oct. 8 in East Liverpool.

Casey P. Huffman, 49, Sue Drive, Lisbon, was fined $200 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 25 days suspended and credit for one day served, leaving a balance of four days to serve in jail for menacing. Huffman was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to have no contact with the victims. Huffman was accused of threatening neighbors and using several derogatory names on March 7 in Center Township.

Brian Digman, 39, Steubenville, was fined $500 and sentenced to 60 days in jail, with 30 days suspended and credit for 18 days served, leaving a balance of 12 days still to serve in jail for obstructing official business and drug paraphernalia. Digman was a suspect in a Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force case and when stopped by officers in Salem, he tried to walk away and claimed he did not come from the vehicle in question on Aug. 14, 2024. He was also found in possession of a pipe for use with dangerous drugs.

A pretrial was set Feb. 18 for Jason K. Gorby, 40, Heacock Road, Sebring, charged with improper/expired registration, failure to display valid sticker and drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing a smoking pipe with residue during a traffic stop on Nov. 10 in Knox Township.

A pretrial was set Nov. 20 for Tanya Elizabeth Powell, 36, Orchard Street, East Liverpool, charged with operating a vehicle impaired first offense, driving under suspension and traffic control devices.

A pretrial was set Dec. 9 for Eric Curtis Travis, 43, state Route 14, Columbiana, charged with driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set Jan. 28 for Edmund Halstead, 76, Steubenville Pike Road, Salineville, charged with reasonable control.

A pretrial was set Feb. 18 for Chastity K. Toothman, 36, East Fourth Street, East Liverpool, charged with speeding.

Vincent Anthony Rosati, 34, Canton, was fined $100 for driving under suspension.

Sheldon Moore Noland, 31, Samuel Street, East Liverpool, was fined $100 for invalid sticker and failure to control.