Common Pleas

New Cases

Dennis A. Kyser, Columbiana Lisbon Road, Columbiana, vs. Tess M. Kyser, Columbiana Lisbon Road, Columbiana; divorce sought.

Taylor Shupp, Sherwood Avenue, East Liverpool, and Keith Shupp Jr., Clark Avenue, Wellsville; dissolution sought.

Maria Anne Stoffel, Wayne Bridge Road, Lisbon, and Charles Richard Stoffel II, Spillway Road, Lisbon; dissolution sought.

Huntington National Bank, Columbus, vs. Zachary S. Hicks, Creek Road, New Waterford, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought.

Docket Entries

KCS Transportation LLC, et al.; vs. estate of Robert D. Rea; defense motion for summary judgment granted in defendant’s favor.

Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC vs. Raistlin L. Curtis, et al.; mortgage foreclosure ordered for Prospect Street, Salem property.

U.S. Bank National Association vs. Gerald L. Lease, et al.; plaintiff’s claims dismissed.

Marriage Licenses

Joseph Dominic DeFilippo, 29, East Liverpool, mill forge operator, and Molly Ann Starkey, 29, East Liverpool, unemployed.

Ricky E. Wright Jr., 46, East Liverpool, unemployed, and Tiffiany Lyn Franklin, also known as Tiffany Lyn Franklin, 34, East Liverpool, unemployed.

Lane Michael Sfakis, 34, Lisbon, unemployed, and Vanessa Sue Noel, 42, Lisbon, dispatcher.

Court News

LISBON — A Youngstown man who broke into an East Liverpool property, stole several items and removed bricks from a walkway of the East Liverpool Alumni Association entered guilty pleas to burglary, theft and criminal mischief.

David Todd Gamble, 36, pleaded guilty to third-degree felony burglary and misdemeanors of theft and criminal mischief, with sentencing set for March 13 in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court. The burglary charge was originally a second-degree felony.

Gamble was accused of breaking into another man’s house in East Liverpool and stealing several items on Aug. 27, 2025. Police responded to a report of a man with a sword acting suspicious and found Gamble with the sword lying on the ground with clothing and toys spread out in the parking lots surrounding the building, according to a police affidavit. He told police he removed bricks from the walkway of the alumni association buildings, broke an electrical outlet cover and removed a surveillance camera from the property.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Jesse M. Jackson, 46, state Route 154, Lisbon, who’s charged with fifth-degree felony assault, was ordered evaluated by the Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio for competency and sanity, with a status hearing set for March 13. Jackson was accused of allegedly attempting to harm a corrections officer at the county jail on Aug. 11, 2028.

— Joseph A. Long, 48, West Seventh Street, Salem, was sentenced to nine months in prison after pleading guilty to charges from two separate cases, including aggravated possession of drugs and possession of drugs, both fifth-degree felonies, and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia with a forfeiture specification for money from a drug a case. He received credit for 161 days served in jail and was ordered to forfeit $32. Long possessed methamphetamine on Dec. 27, 2024 and July 19, 2023, plus $32.

— Michael I. Earich, 25, Seventh Avenue, East Liverpool, was placed under community control for three years, with credit for 76 days served in jail, for domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony, for attempting to harm a woman on Aug. 27, 2025.

— Jacob C. Simmons, 25, Old state Route 558 Extension, Salem, was placed under community control for three years for domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony, and misdemeanor criminal trespass. He was ordered to serve 21 days in jail, with credit for 21 days served, leaving no time to serve. He was told to have no contact with the victim. Simmons attempted to harm a woman and trespassed at a property March 24, 2025 to March 25, 2025.

— Caleb A. Hoggard, 23, St. Clair Avenue, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for March 19. He possessed fentanyl on Feb. 14, 2025.

— Joseph M. Walters, 42, Third Street, Wellsville, was placed under community control for two years after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing cocaine on Aug. 6, 2023.

— Christopher J. Thomas, 40, Toronto, was placed under community control for four years after pleading guilty to nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, for failing to pay child support from April 2, 2023 to March 30, 2025.

— Justin L. Burr, 32, 12th Street, Wellsville, was placed under community control for four years after pleading guilty to third-degree felony domestic violence and misdemeanor aggravated menacing. He was ordered to serve 33 days in jail, with credit for 33 days served, leaving no time to serve. A strangulation charge was dismissed. Burr was accused of harming a woman and making threats on Aug. 21, 2025.

— Marie S. Heninger, 56, Wayne Bridge Road, Lisbon, was ordered to participate in drug court for up to five years after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, both fifth-degree felonies, and misdemeanor possession of drugs. Heninger possessed methamphetamine, a loaded 9mm pistol and clonazepam on May 1, 2020.

— Cody Lee Jones, 36, Mill Street, Salineville, was placed under community control for three years and ordered to serve up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center for charges from two separate cases, including fifth-degree felonies of breaking and entering and aggravated possession of drugs, and misdemeanor theft. A charge of criminal trespass was dismissed. He possessed methamphetamine on June 4, 2024 and broke into a Dollar General on Oct. 26, 2024 and took tables and chairs.

Grand Jury

LISBON — A woman accused of illegally using benefits issued through the Columbiana County Department of Job and Family Services was recently served with a secret indictment issued by the county grand jury for a criminal charge.

Cora Louis Davis, 33, Main Street, Wellsville, was charged with illegal use of supplemental nutrition assistance benefits (SNAP) or WIC program benefits, a third-degree felony, for allegedly illegally using the funds from March 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025.

Also served with a secret indictment was Jessica L. Cross, 44, Wilbert Street, East Liverpool, charged with aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on April 10, 2025.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Jan. 26 for George S. Feezle III, 50, Enon Valley, Pa., charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony, fourth-degree felony burglary and misdemeanors of criminal trespass and violate a protection order for an incident that occurred Jan. 18 in Salem.

Feezle was accused of joining in the assault of a man by another man who used a pair of channel locks to assault the victim. The defendant had allegedly fled the scene, then officers were called back to the East Third Street, Salem property where they found the defendant hiding under a large bean bag chair in the basement, resulting in the burglary charge due to a witness seeing him making entry through an unlocked window. The homeowner also reported the defendant had come to the residence earlier in the day and was yelling at her when she told him to leave and he refused. He claimed he told her he couldn’t leave until his ride arrived later in the evening. She had a protection order against him and he was at her residence.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Jan. 26 for James L. Ingledue, 58, Teegarden Road, Lisbon, charged with fourth-degree felony assault on a police officer and misdemeanors of domestic violence and resisting arrest for allegedly hitting a woman in the face during an argument and throwing her to the ground by her hair, then kicking a deputy after being told he was being placed under arrest and resisting while deputies were trying to stand him up and handcuff him on Jan. 16 in Salem Township.

Charges against Preston Lamar English, 32, Densmore Avenue, East Liverpool, were dismissed at the request of the state, with costs taxed to the state related to a Dec. 9, 2025 incident in East Liverpool. The charges included first-degree felonies of three counts aggravated burglary and one count aggravated robbery, and two counts of having weapons while under disability, one a third-degree felony and one a fifth-degree felony. English was accused of allegedly climbing through the window of an East Liverpool residence on Dec. 9, 2025, brandishing a firearm toward a man and woman, making several threats while pointing the firearm towards them and taking the man’s personal firearm from him. According to the police affidavit, English allegedly chased the man out of the residence down the street and pushed the woman down while going after the man. Officers were able to locate one spent round outside of the address. He was allegedly prohibited from having a firearm due to a previous drug conviction.

A case against Donald Nelson Blevins, 46, Warren, 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 depicting a minor female and upon learning the age of the minor, advising her “you never told me that,” then arranging for sexual activity with the female in exchange for money. Then on Jan. 10, Blevins allegedly arrived at the meeting location in East Palestine with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession along with pink lemonade alcohol he was told to bring.

A pretrial was set Jan. 26 for Justin L. Vasquez, 34, East Liverpool Road, Lisbon, charged with domestic violence and aggravated menacing for allegedly saying he was going to kill people and made hand gestures as if he had a firearm in his hand after an argument over him smoking inside the Madison Township residence on Jan. 17, with the victim saying she was scared.

A pretrial was set March 25 for Gregory Paul Williams, 62, West South Range Road, Columbiana, 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 a woman in exchange for $140, then traveling to East Palestine on Jan. 14 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

A pretrial was set March 30 for Eileen M. Newland, 36, Poland, charged with theft for allegedly having $20 per pay taken from a man’s bank account and transferred to her account between Aug. 22, 2024 and Sept. 18, 2025.

A pretrial was set April 8 for Kerry Y. Englert, 55, Pembrooke Drive, Salem, charged with theft for allegedly stealing $258 worth of merchandise, including tools, that she placed in her purse and failed to pay for at the Salem Walmart on Dec. 24, 2025.

A pretrial was set Jan. 27 for Brook Hunter, 34, Berlin Center, charged with receiving stolen property for allegedly having four stolen hubcaps in her possession on Jan. 16 in Salem.

A pretrial was set March 25 for Fredrick J. Webb, 48, Van Buren Avenue, Salem, charged with criminal trespass for allegedly trespassing at a West State Street, Salem business on Oct. 21, 2025 after being formally trespassed from the property on Oct. 5, 2025 and being seen by a security guard.

Eric Davis, 50, Micanopy, Fla., was fined $100 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 29 days suspended and credit for one day served, for disorderly conduct amended from domestic violence. He was ordered to stay away from the victim. Davis was accused of throwing a woman to the ground and punching her in the head and kicking her in the ribs during an argument Oct. 21, 2025 in Wellsville.

Cagney A. Springer, 36, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $200 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for attempted aggravated menacing amended from aggravated menacing. A charge of disorderly conduct was dismissed. Springer was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to have no contact with the victim. Springer threatened a woman on June 12, 2025 in East Liverpool, claiming she wouldn’t be alive to see her kids graduate and he was going to burn her house down. He was playing loud music.

A pretrial was set April 7 for Sean Nicholas Barrett, 32, Weirton, W.Va., charged with theft for allegedly failing to scan and pay for 13 items totaling $312 at the Calcutta Walmart on June 27, 2025. He was also fined $150 for no license and speeding.

Killian P. McHenry, 21, North Market Street, Lisbon, was fined $350 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 68 days suspended and credit for 22 days served, for theft and criminal trespass for jumping the fence to gain access to the Lisbon pool building, entering the locked pool office and stealing $47 on June 15, 2025 in Lisbon. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to make restitution of $47 to the Lisbon pool. He was also ordered to have no contact with the Lisbon pool.

Caralee L. Blystone, 35, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $500 each for six counts of return and payment of tax, with all but $50 of the fines suspended. Blystone was accused of failing to file an East Liverpool city income tax return from 2019 through 2024.

A pretrial was set April 6 for Edward D. Fisher, 73, state Route 517, Lisbon, charged with failure to file tax return for allegedly failing to file and remit sales tax from May 2025 through November 2025 for the business Corner Auto Repair in Lisbon.

A pretrial was set April 1 for Alex J. Blosser, 37, Fife Coal Road, Wellsville, charged with failure to file tax return for allegedly filing to file and remit sales tax from May 2025 through November 2025 for the business Route 39 Auto Repair in Wellsville.

A pretrial was set March 30 for Ronnie William White, 67, West Street, Salineville, charged with operating a vehicle impaired first offense and a turn signal violation.

Isac Edward Williamson, 20, Bandy Road, Alliance, was fined $1,075 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 27 days suspended and credit for three days served, with $500 of the fine suspended, attending a driver intervention program for OVI. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and his driver’s license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted.

A pretrial was set March 25 for Martin J. Munn, 44, West Newton, Pa., charged with following too close.

A pretrial was set March 24 for Daniel Edward Elliott, 51, state Route 558, Leetonia, charged with driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set March 23 for Beth Ellen Carter, 50, South Union Avenue, Salem, charged with no seat belt.

Caroline d. Constantinovich, 29, Youngstown, was fined $150 for stopped school bus.

Cory Lane Wallace, 31, South Lincoln Avenue, Salem, was fined $350 for speeding and driving under suspension.

John Vincent Edward Williams, 29, Youngstown, was fined $150 for speeding.

Patricia Ann McEldowney, 45, Avondale Street, East Liverpool, was fined $250 and ordered to serve three days in jail for driving under suspension.

Nicholas Scott Rice, 27, Etruria Street, East Liverpool, was fined $75 for no license.

Angela Marie Thomas, 31, Harding Avenue, Salem, was fined $225 for no license and wrongful entrustment.

Bonnie Lancaster, 69, West Pine Lake Road, Salem, was fined $250 for hit skip/leave scene.

Keelie Wright, 27, Alliance, was fined $100 for driving under suspension.

Paula D. Parks, 42, Y & O Road, East Liverpool, was fined $100 for two counts of driving under suspension. Another charge of driving under suspension was dismissed.

Wilson A. Tum Pu, 28, West Fourth Street, Salem, was fined $150 for no license.