Common Pleas

New Cases

Amanda Asher, Market Street, Salineville, and Christopher Asher, Hill Street, Lisbon; dissolution sought.

John Petrich, Carbon Hill Road, East Palestine, vs. Santana Petrich, Enon Valley, Pa.; divorce sought.

Maryann N. McMahon, Pine Lake Road, Salem, vs. Austin L. McMahon, Niles; divorce sought.

Servis One, Inc., doing business as BSI Financial Services, Bethesda, Md., vs. Jeremiah F. Reeves, Buzzard Road, Wellsville, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought.

Docket Entries

Shannon Thrasher vs. Samuel F. Masters Jr.; divorce granted.

Court News

LISBON — An East Palestine woman accused of using fraud to get money from Norfolk Southern in 2023 must serve a term at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center for violating her probation.

Lauren Dilworth, 31, Park Avenue, appeared recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court for a probation violation hearing for violating the terms of her probation again. Dilworth previously had her treatment plan revoked for violating the terms of her community control.

She must remain at the EOCC in Lisbon until the program is successfully completed.

Dilworth had entered guilty pleas in February 2025 to fourth-degree felonies of grand theft and falsification in a theft offense. She had been accused of submitting fictitious receipts to Norfolk Southern for reimbursement for lodging, food and fuel when she was not displaced by the train derailment. The amount allegedly received by fraudulent means totaled $18,840 from March 21, 2023 through May 6, 2023.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Christopher J. Tarter, 32, Akron, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree felonies of attempted compelling prostitution and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and fifth-degree felonies of importuning and possessing criminal tools, with sentencing set for April 9. He was originally charged with third-degree felony compelling prostitution. A misdemeanor charge of engaging in prostitution will be dismissed. Tarter was accused of allegedly requesting sexual conduct for an agreed upon price of $220 from an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old female and her mother, then driving to Salem on June 2, 2025 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

— Ayden Elijah Keith Moore, 19, Brooklyn Avenue, Salem, was ordered to serve 180 days in the county jail, with credit for 82 days already served, leaving a balance left to serve of 98 days in jail after pleading guilty to a lesser-included offense of burglary, a fourth-degree felony. The charge was originally first-degree felony aggravated burglary. Misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and telecommunications harassment are being dismissed. Moore was also placed under community control for three years. He was accused of 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, 2025. He would not stop contacting the victim and kept texting her after she asked him to stop.

— Rickey L. Smith, 70, Warren, was ordered to serve 60 days in jail, with credit for two days served, leaving a balance of 58 days still to serve in the county jail for violating the terms of probation for possession of cocaine and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, both fifth-degree felonies. Smith’s community control was dishonorably terminated. Smith possessed cocaine and fentanyl on Jan. 18, 2023.

— Dustin James Brooks, 39, Ephriam Street, East Liverpool, was ordered to serve 305 days in the county jail, with credit for 238 days served, leaving a balance of 67 days still to serve in jail for violating the terms of his probation for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. His community control was dishonorably terminated. He possessed methamphetamine on Nov. 15, 2023.

— Andrew S. Brown, 42, Elmwood Drive, Lisbon, was placed into the drug court program for an amount of time not to exceed five years after pleading guilty to possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing fentanyl on June 7, 2024.

— Michael E. Berry Jr., 43, Campbell, was placed under community control for three years for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing methamphetamine on May 3, 2023. He received credit for one day served in jail.

— Ashley R. McGuire, 37, North Ellsworth Avenue, Salem, was placed on an intervention plan for two years after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing methamphetamine on Nov. 16, 2024.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, Judge Danielle Menning ordered a competency evaluation by the Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio for Britania B. Brown, 44, Toronto, in four separate cases, including for having a knife out at the Utica Shale Academy.

Brown had been scheduled for a preliminary/pretrial hearing for fifth-degree felony illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon in a school safety zone and misdemeanor criminal trespass, but her defense attorney, Eric Kibler, requested the evaluation after telling the court she reported having multiple personality and other issues.

Kibler asked for a lower bond and mentioned home confinement and always appearing for hearings, but county Chief Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Weikart said he had some concerns about that considering she had a weapon on school grounds. Kibler also mentioned that Brown’s mother is terminally ill, with Brown saying her mom was all she had.

Menning continued the $20,000 cash or surety bond.

Salineville police officers were called to the Utica Shale school on East Main Street, Salineville on Jan. 14 for a report of a woman with a knife and found Brown a few blocks away at BK Beverage. A police affidavit said she admitted to having a knife open while in the presence of a school teacher while at the school and had the knife in her possession.

For the criminal trespass charge, she was accused of trespassing at the Salineville Laundry Mat on June 4, 2025 in Salineville. The competency evaluation also involves alleged probation violations for two cases involving criminal trespass in 2025.

Menning also issued an order for a competency evaluation of Taylor Allen Holzer, 31, Neely Manor, East Palestine, by the Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio at the request of his defense attorney. Holzer was charged with fourth-degree felony assault and misdemeanors of domestic violence and resisting arrest for allegedly punching a police officer in the face while resisting arrest on Jan. 14 in East Palestine. Holzer was being placed in custody for allegedly punching a person in the face during an argument.

Homer E. Williams, 65, First Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $100 and sentenced to eight days in jail, with credit for five days served, leaving three days still to serve in jail for domestic violence. A charge of aggravated menacing was dismissed. Williams was accused of threatening a woman and making her fear him on July 28, 2025. According to a police affidavit, police responded to the East Liverpool residence after the victim’s daughter reported she was on the phone with her mother and allegedly heard the defendant say he was going to knock her mother’s eyes out of her head. When police made contact, Williams said nothing was going on at all, while the victim reported they had gotten into an argument and he said “he has killed her before (prior domestic violence) and he was not afraid of prison.”

Williams was previously convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 1999 for the death of his wife and felony domestic violence in 2019 against the woman from this recent offense, with him serving prison time for both offenses.

A pretrial was set April 8 for Hunter T. Congrove, 22, state Route 45, Lisbon, charged with assault for allegedly punching another inmate in the face at the Columbiana County jail on Jan. 9, which was captured on jail security cameras.

Timothy Peitro Bell, 48, Dewey Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $350 and given a suspended 180-day jail term for assault amended from domestic violence for biting a woman’s hand and throwing her against the dishwasher where she hit her face on June 13, 2025 in East Liverpool. He had followed her to allegedly attack her after she accused him of allegedly not going to work and cheating on her and took his lunchbox to her car.

Joseph R. Abram, 31, listed as homeless, was fined $100 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 150 days suspended and credit for 12 days served, leaving a balance of 18 days to serve in jail for domestic violence. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to stay away from the victim and the Hanoverton residence. He was accused of punching another man multiple times in the face on Jan. 9 in Hanoverton.

Joseph W. McMasters, 33, Canton, was fined $200 and sentenced to 30 days in jail for telecommunications harassment for sending text messages of guns to a relative and asking her to come over so he could shoot her on Oct. 21, 2023 in Beloit, an affidavit said. He appeared via video from prison, with the jail time ordered served at the same time as the prison term he’s serving.

A pretrial was set March 2 for Brooke A. Potts, 24, East Lincoln Way, Lisbon, charged with menacing for allegedly shoving another woman, who was pregnant, during an altercation on Oct. 13 in Lisbon. She was originally charged with fifth-degree felony domestic violence, but then the county grand jury issued an indictment for the misdemeanor menacing charge, sending the case back to Municipal Court. A sentencing hearing was also set March 2 for endangering children. Potts entered a no contest plea and was found guilty. Her child was found walking by herself in only a diaper and a long sleeve T-shirt on April 11, 2025 in Rogers, with no adult around.

A fourth-degree felony burglary charge against Mary E. Kiehl, 41, state Route 558, Leetonia, was dismissed due to a recently-issued indictment for the incident for trespass in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present, a fourth-degree felony, for allegedly trespassing in a property on Oct. 17, 2025 in Salem.

Kshawn Ma’Lique Dixon, 27, Youngstown, was fined $750 and given a suspended 180-day jail term for two counts of possessing criminal tools, with one amended from engaging in prostitution. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and a prostitution prevention course online. Dixon was accused of requesting sexual conduct from an undercover agent for an agreed upon price of $120 and driving to Salem on Oct. 2 for the meeting, with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

A pretrial was set Feb. 4 for Allen S. Vancooney, 30, last known address Franklin Avenue, Salem, charged with theft for allegedly pushed a cart full of merchandise valued at $351 out of the Salem Giant Eagle without paying on Oct. 3, 2025.

Dan M. Belich, 26, South Lincoln Avenue, Salem, was fined $400 and sentenced to three days in jail for criminal damaging and disorderly conduct for breaking a window out of a Leetonia residence while intoxicated on July 23, 2025. The jail term was ordered served at the same time as the 10-day jail term he received for violating his probation for a 2024 OVI case.

James T. Sturgell, 20, East Fourth Street, Salem, was fined $50 and sentenced to 14 days in jail, with credit for 14 days served, for disorderly conduct amended from domestic violence. He was accused of punching a woman in the face and pushing her head against a car pillar on Jan. 8 in Salem.

Bud Nelson Hull, 46, West Ninth Street, East Liverpool, was fined $250 and sentenced to three days in jail, with credit for three days already served in jail, for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damaging were dismissed. Hull was yelling and making threats to another man in East Liverpool on Jan. 6. Officers were able to detain Hull and found a large knife in his rear right pants pocket and noted he continued his allegedly erratic behavior while being interviewed. The charge for resisting arrest stemmed from an incident at East Liverpool City Hospital on Nov. 25, 2025 when he was damaging a bed and then resisted when police placed him in custody.

Cale Justin Chaisson, 19, Toronto, was fined $565 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 87 days suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program, for operating a vehicle impaired. Charges of endangering children and invalid sticker were dismissed. Chaisson’s driver’s license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted and he was ordered to complete 20 hours community service. He was accused of having a child in the vehicle when he was driving impaired on July 5, 2025 in Yellow Creek Township.

Karen Sue Culp, 40, St. Clair Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $250 and sentenced to seven days in jail for drug paraphernalia for possessing two crack pipes when she was a passenger during a traffic stop in St. Clair Township on June 18, 2025.

Cory Jay Blankenship, 39, Ambrose Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $1,925 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 165 days suspended, leaving a balance of 15 days still to serve for OVI, improper/expired registration, expired license, loud exhaust, two counts driving under suspension and two counts drug paraphernalia. Another OVI charge was dismissed. He possessed a glass smoking device with burn marks during traffic stops on July 2, 2025 and on July 9, 2025 in East Liverpool.

Ramel Hassan Shephard, 30, Cleveland, was fined $500 and sentenced to 10 days in jail, with credit for one day served, leaving nine days to serve in jail, for failure to comply. A charge of tinted glass was dismissed. Shephard fled from East Liverpool Police attempting a traffic stop on July 17, 2025.

Cameron Warmouth, 19, Austintown, was fined $1,050 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 27 days suspended, with $250 of the fine suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program for physical control amended from OVI, underage consumption and marked lanes. His driver’s license was suspended for one year and he was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

Hector Manuel Vargas Cabo, 25, Canton, was fined $565 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 73 days suspended and credit for 17 days served, for OVI. Another OVI and charges of driving under suspension and failure to control were dismissed. His driver’s license was suspended for one year.

A pretrial was set April 7 for Brandon Scott Bolton, 33, Market Street, Columbiana, charged with OVI first offense.