Court News

LISBON — An East Liverpool man facing multiple counts related to his alleged possession of multiple images of child pornography was again found not currently competent to stand trial and ordered hospitalized.

Aiden C. Booth, 22, Center Street, had been evaluated again for competency, but was not transported for the recent hearing in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court from Heartland Behavioral Health Care. Judge Scott Washam based his ruling on a new evaluation, finding that he was unable to understand the nature and objective of the legal proceedings or assist in his defense, but this time finding was possibility of restoring competency with the six months allowed by law.

Washam found that the least restrictive treatment alternative consistent with public safety and the defendant’s treatment needs related to restoration was inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, with Booth to remain at Heartland Behavioral Health Care.

Booth was indicted last year for 41 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, a fourth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing images of child pornography on May 6, 2025.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Johnathon R. Easterday, 36, Aten Avenue, Wellsville, pleaded guilty to third-degree felony domestic violence for pushing a woman in the chest, which caused her to fall into a glass box in Wellsville on Jan, 29, with three or more domestic violence convictions on his record. Sentencing was set for June 5.

— Tina Gardner, 36, Granite Avenue, Salem, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for charges from two separate indictments. She recently appeared for sentencing for third-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs, fourth-degree felony improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia. She was also fined $5,000 and received credit for four days served in jail. Those charges stemmed from July 1, 2025 and involved a loaded firearm, drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk. She also pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated possession of drugs for possessing methamphetamine on Aug. 5, 2025 and oxycodone on Aug. 21, 2025, with the 12-month sentence to be served at the same time as the 12-month term for the other case.

— Melissa R. Brink, 46, Warren, was placed under community control for three years, received a mandatory fine of $5,000 and credit for 85 days served in jail for third-degree felonies of tampering with evidence and aggravated possession of drugs and a specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case. Charges of trafficking in drugs and drug paraphernalia were dismissed. She was ordered to forfeit $120. Brink possessed methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk, along with the $120 and tampered with evidence on March 4, 2025.

— Hallie J. Delposen, 26, state Route 518, Lisbon, was placed on an intervention plan for three years after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and possession of LSD for possessing amphetamine and LSD on Nov. 13, 2025.

— Van Evans, 20, East Cleveland, was placed under community control for two years and ordered to serve 10 days in jail, with credit for one day served, leaving nine days still to serve for third-degree felony tampering with evidence. Evans admitted to flushing two bags of drugs down the toilet when the Columbiana County Drug Task Force was executing a search warrant at a West Fourth Street apartment in East Liverpool on June 10, 2025.

— Jackie Barker, 31, Saline Street, Irondale, had community control extended by an additional six months for violating the terms of a treatment plan for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing amphetamine on April 18, 2023.

— Justin C. Davis, 41, West Pine Lake Road, Salem, was sentenced to 45 days in the county jail, with credit for one day served, leaving 44 days still to serve in jail for violating the terms of his probation for endangering children and aggravated trespassing, both misdemeanors. Davis was accused of putting a child at risk on June 17, 2025 and trespassing on Jan. 5, 2024.

— Rickey L. Smith, 70, Warren, was placed under community control for 18 months after pleading guilty to illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility, a third-degree felony, and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing fentanyl and trying to take drugs into a detention facility on Jan. 18, 2023.

— Adam H. Watkins, 41, Fox Chase Road, East Liverpool, was placed under community control for five years and ordered to pay $15,174 restitution for theft, a fifth-degree felony, for stealing building materials and tools from East End Lumber in East Liverpool from March 17, 2025 to Nov. 29, 2025.

— Kerry Frasier, 24, Wellsville, was placed under community control for three years, with credit for 28 days served in jail, after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing bromazolam on April 29, 2023.

— Christopher E. Byers, 32, 16th Street, Wellsville, was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with credit for 49 days served, leaving a balance of 41 days still to serve for violating the terms of his probation for attempted strangulation, a fifth-degree felony. His community control was dishonorably terminated. Byers tried to harm a woman on Nov. 18, 2023.

— Matthew Bays, 38, East Perry Street, Salem, pleaded guilty to third-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs, fifth-degree felonies of two counts aggravated possession of drugs and one count possession of a fentanyl-related compound, two counts of misdemeanor possession of drugs and a specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case. A charge of aggravated trafficking in drugs was dismissed.

Bays possessed methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk, $376, amphetamine, fentanyl, psilocyn, xylazine and alprazolam. All of the charges stemmed from Feb. 28, 2025 when the Columbiana County Drug Task Force and county Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at an old state Route 344, Leetonia property. Units were assisted by police officers from Salem and Lisbon.

— Diego D. Galicia, 30, Johnson City, Tenn., pleaded guilty to third-degree felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanors of engaging in prostitution, possessing criminal tools, and resisting arrest, with sentencing set for July 10. Charges of obstructing official business and failure to disclose one’s personal information will be dismissed. Galicia responded to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranged for sexual activity with a woman in exchange for $200 to be paid via the Cash App, then arrived in East Palestine on Jan. 19, 2025 for the meeting. Galicia refused to exit his vehicle and had to be forcefully removed and continued to resist. While being taken into custody, he smashed his phone and destroyed it. He had refused to provide officers his name or identifying information when requested.

— Sidni R. Livolsi, 37, Maplewood Avenue, East Liverpool, was placed under community control for three years,with credit for 17 days served in jail, for bribery, a third-degree felony, and misdemeanor criminal trespass. Livolsi was being transported to the county jail by a Wellsville police officer on Dec. 17, 2024 when she offered him $12,000 to $14,000 to dismiss the charges and drop her off in East Liverpool, a police affidavit in county Municipal Court said. He denied any offers of money and told her that’s a charge. The officer had recorded the drive, so there was a recording of her trying to bribe the officer. She had been taken into custody for criminal trespass for being on the porch of a home in Wellsville on Dec. 17, 2024.

— Zachary Edward Perry, 31, Midland, Pa., was ordered to serve a term at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center until the program is complete for third-degree felony domestic violence. He was also placed under community control for three years and received credit for 65 days served in jail. Perry was accused of throwing chicken wings at the wall, grabbing a steak knife and pointing it at another man and making a lunging motion towards him on Jan. 3 in East Liverpool. The police affidavit said the victim grabbed the knife in self-defense, then the defendant allegedly grabbed a solid glass world globe and threw it at the victim, striking his right ankle.

— Alan Heddleston, 20, Independence Square, Wellsville, was ordered to spend 14 days in the county jail, with credit for three days already served in jail, for third-degree felony failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer. He was placed under community control for three years and his driver’s license was suspended for three years. He was accused of fleeing from Salem police officers attempting a traffic stop on Oct. 4, 2024.

— Walter Morgan, 37, Cleveland, pleaded guilty to third-degree felony failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer and misdemeanor obstructing official business, with sentencing set for June 25. Charges of tampering with evidence and possession of cocaine will be dismissed. Morgan fled from an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper attempting a traffic stop on May 12 on state Route 11 in Elkrun Township. When the vehicle was initially stopped, Morgan put the vehicle in drive and fled, with speeds reaching 100-plus miles per hour. At one point, he threw a plastic bag out the window, which was later recovered containing a white powdery substance. The pursuit was terminated when he crossed the bridge into West Virginia, but there was a positive identification which matched the Ohio ID he provided before fleeing.

— Tiffany M. Sattler, 34, Sherwood Road, Wellsville, pleaded guilty to theft, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for July 13. Sattler stole miscellaneous merchandise from Walmart on Nov. 12, 2025.

— Todd O. Dean, 46, Aetna Street, Salem, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for May 29, for possessing methamphetamine on June 7, 2024.

Common Pleas

New Cases

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Bye & Bye LLC, West Lincoln Way, Lisbon, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for South Market Street, Lisbon, East Park Avenue, Lisbon property.

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Rhonda Phillips, Kensington, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for state Route 644, Kensington property.

New Cases

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Mark A. Smith,, Camelot Drive, Columbiana, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for Camelot Drive, Columbiana property.

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Earl A. Schory II, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for South Lincoln Avenue, Salem property.

Abigail R. Grove, North Canton, vs. Devin C. Grove, North 12th Street, Sebring; divorce sought.

New Cases

Arley James Yerkey, Oak Street, Leetonia, vs. Karalee Yerkey, also known as Montague, Lorain; divorce sought.

Devinne Marie Dietz, North Yuma Trail, Negley, vs. Akshay Gohil, Atlanta, Ga.; divorce sought.

Shawn P. Hartman, State Line Road, East Palestine, vs. Kayla B. Hartman, Roanoke Rapids, N.C.; divorce sought.

Dynamic Structures, Inc., doing business as Clearcreek Oilfield Solutions, state Route 7, New Waterford and Dynamic Leasing, Ltd., state Route 7, New Waterford, vs. EmilyAnn Paige Dustman, North Price Road, Salem; damages sought for alleged negligence from 2026 traffic crash in Columbiana County.

Oakmont Capital Holdings, LLC, West Chester, Pa., vs. Sharon Kay Pidgeon, Western Reserve Road, Salem; collection sought of alleged $278,201 debt for breach of guaranty claim.

Rocket Mortgage, LLC, Coppell, Texas, vs. James Thomas Groom, Buck Road, Alliance, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for Columbiana County property.

Lori A. Faulk, Enon Valley, Pa., et al. vs. Rite Aid, West Main Street, East Palestine, et al.; damages sought for alleged negligence and loss of consortium related to alleged incorrect medication given in 2024.

Docket Entries

County Treasurer vs. Black Pearl Investments LLC, et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

JPMorgan Chase Bank vs. Richard A. Crosfield, et al.; foreclosure judgment partially vacated, case dismissed with exception of reformation count.

Jamie Altomare vs. Colin David Bues, et al.; case settled and dismissed.

Huntington National Bank vs. Annette M. Salvino, also known as Annette Kukuk, et al.; case dismissed.

Sierra Gump, et al. vs. Larry L. Tice, et al.; case settled and dismissed.

Huntington National Bank vs. Shurl C. Stover III, et al.; mortgage foreclosure ordered for Lisbon property.

Rocket Mortgage, LLC vs. Jordan Spencer, et al; case stayed.

Capital One, N.A. vs. Kenneth R. Foster; $2,610 judgment granted to plaintiff.

County Treasurer vs. John D. Fisher, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Miller Road, Lisbon property.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a preliminary/pretrial hearing was set May 26 for Hayden M. Wright, 36, St. George Street, East Liverpool, charged with first-degree felony aggravated burglary and misdemeanors of assault and obstructing official business for allegedly being one of the suspects who showed up at a man’s house in Wellsville on May 7 and sawed through his door to break in to evict him from his home, then once inside, they were allegedly punching him and holding a power saw around his head and neck. On Nov. 27, 2025, he allegedly refused to unlock the door and allow officers to gain entry to a home in St. Clair Township being raided by St. Clair Township police and the Columbiana County Drug Task Force.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set May 27 for Hayden J. Hunt, 21, Laurelville, charged with fourth-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and misdemeanors of operating a vehicle impaired first offense and reckless operation for allegedly fleeing from police in Salem on May 4 until he was stopped on a dead end road.

A preliminary hearing was set May 20 for D’Anthony Chaundel Brown, 32, Youngstown, charged with fifth-degree felonies of OVI fourth offense and OVI breath fourth offense and misdemeanor left of center for allegedly driving impaired with three prior OVI arrests within 10 years on his record on May 2 in Fairfield Township.

A pretrial was set May 27 for Molly Genau Brown, 19, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with assault for allegedly throwing a cordless phone at a health care worker at a doctor’s office in East Liverpool on Jan. 29 and using profanities and a racial slur.

Victoria Rakel Redman, 20, West Sixth Street, East Liverpool, was fined $250 and sentenced to 15 days in jail, with credit for seven days served, leaving eight days still to serve in jail for misdemeanor theft amended from fourth-degree felony burglary for trespassing in an apartment in East Liverpool on April 29 and taking items not belonging to her.

A pretrial was set July 28 for Kenneth Paul Bach, 50, Market Street, Salineville, charged with theft for allegedly stealing seven items totaling $155 from the Calcutta Walmart on Jan. 2.

Jawna R. Stokes, 44, North Lima, was ordered to pay costs only for disorderly conduct amended from obstructing official business, with a charge of resisting arrest dismissed, for a traffic stop on April 24 in Columbiana when she physically resisted when an officer tried to detain her.

A status conference hearing was set July 29 and a court trial was set Aug. 5 for John B. Weaver, 51, Waterloo Street, East Liverpool, charged with attempt for allegedly attempting to steal two items totaling $59 at the Calcutta Walmart on March 4.

Raymond Masters, 57, Chester, W.Va., was fined $750 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and an education course. Masters was accused of responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and soliciting sex from an undercover officer, traveling to St. Clair Township for the meeting on Oct. 9, 2024.

A charge of failure to file tax return against Maria Greier, 33, Whitacre Road, Salem, was dismissed at the request of the prosecutor. She had been accused of allegedly failing to file a sales tax return for Mindful Aesthetics & Wellness in Salem.

A pretrial was set Aug. 5 for Chelsea Rose Baker, 35, Laura Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with animals running at large for her alleged dog running loose on April 26 in East Liverpool.

Jose Avila Jaime, 30, Hilliard, was fined $765 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 87 days suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program, for physical control amended from OVI, no license and left of center. His driver’s license was suspended for one year and he must complete 20 hours community service.

A pretrial was set Aug. 4 for Travis Lee Lutz, 52, U.S. Route 30, Lisbon, charged with driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set Aug. 5 for Nyzier Demele Humphries, 20, New Brighton, Pa,, charged with failure to move left for public safety vehicle and no seat belt.

A pretrial was set July 14 for Thomas Eugene Powell, 30, St. Clair Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with driving under suspension and improper/expired registration.

Curtis E. Jackson, 43, Washington Street, Lisbon, was fined $150 for driving under suspension.

Anthony Carmen Blancato, 29, High Street, Leetonia, was fined $50 for assured clear distance.

Dray Reese Bailey, 34, Inez Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $50 for lighted lights amended from driving under suspension.

Chandler S. Davis, 26, Bye Road, East Palestine, was fined $150 for expired plate, lighted lights amended from driving under suspension, with charges of no valid license and expired tag dismissed.

Ronald A. Mayhew Jr., 40, Newell, W.Va., was fined $150 for no license and loud exhaust.

Shaun Brickfield, 30, Boyd Road, Wellsville, was fined $150 for an equipment violation amended from speeding.

A pretrial was set June 13 for Aaron M. Mzyk, 22, Hookstown, Pa., charged with speeding.

A pretrial was set July 21 for Ethan F. Romito, 23, Pueblo Lane, Columbiana, charged with driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set July 21 for Riley Steven Fish, 19, Grove City, Pa., charged with driving under suspension and traffic control devices.

A pretrial was set July 29 for Christopher Jon Berie, 60, New Castle, Pa., charged with speeding.