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LISBON -- A man accused of stealing a firearm, money and a video game system two years ago in East Liverpool was recently sentenced in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court to 24 months in prison.
Christian M. Bell, 30, last known address Youngstown, received credit for 194 days served for a lesser-included offense of third-degree felony burglary (originally second-degree), third-degree felony grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, and fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine.
Charges of felony theft, misdemeanor theft and felony aggravated possession of drugs will be dismissed. On Aug. 30, 2024 in East Liverpool, Bell entered another man's home while he was at work and stole several items, including a video game system, a firearm and $2,000 cash. On Feb. 6, 2025, he possessed cocaine.
Also in Common Pleas Court:
-- Megan N. Stofen, 32, Bloomfield Avenue, East Liverpool, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for violating the terms of her probation for aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, a lesser-included offense, with credit for 182 days served for possessing methamphetamine on July 26, 2024.
-- Bradley M. Cianni, 40, West North Avenue, East Palestine, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for two separate cases for third-degree felony of aggravated possession of drugs and fifth-degree felonies of possession of a fentanyl-related compound, with the time to be served at the same time as other prison terms for several other cases. Charges dismissed included aggravated trafficking in drugs, possession of cocaine and possession of drugs. He was fined $5,000. He was accused of possessing methamphetamine on Jan. 19, 2025 and originally possessing fentanyl, cocaine and xylazine on March 20, 2025.
-- Richard Joseph Sweger, 57, Darlington, Pa., was sentenced to nine months in prison for fourth-degree felony attempted compelling prostitution, originally third-degree felony compelling prostitution. Charges of fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools and misdemeanor engaging in prostitution were dismissed. He was designated a Tier II sex offender, requiring him to register every 180 days for 25 years. According to an affidavit, Sweger responded to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website of an adult female trafficking a minor female and arranged for sexual activity with both females in exchange for $260 an hour for four or five hours, then traveled to East Palestine on Dec. 27, 2025 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession, along with other items and $2,151.
-- Bryan K. Dilling, 54, Rose Drive, Lisbon, was sentenced to 30 days in the county jail after pleading guilty to attempted receiving stolen property, a lesser offense from receiving stolen property, possessing drug abuse instruments and drug paraphernalia. The charges stemmed from Nov. 28, 2025 and involved a registration validation sticker.
-- Dale Kenneth Lefebvre, 56, Wells Hollow Road, Wellsville, was placed under community control for one year, with credit for one day served, after pleading guilty to assault, a misdemeanor. Lefebvre was originally indicted for felonious assault, a second-degree felony, for grabbing a woman and throwing her at a coffee table after an argument, causing a deep cut to her forehead when her head hit the corner of the table on Jan. 1 in Yellow Creek Township.
-- Eric E. McVicker, 46, Warren was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with credit for one day served, for misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and aggravated menacing for threatening and physically harming a woman on Aug. 15, 2025. A third-degree felony of strangulation was dismissed.
-- John C. Reinhart, 54, East Clark Street, East Palestine, was placed under community control for three years and ordered to serve up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center for third-degree felony domestic violence for hitting a woman in the face and putting his hands over her throat on May 27 in East Palestine. He entered a guilty plea on Sept. 4.
-- Melissa R. Brink, 46, McKinley Street, Lisbon, was ordered to serve a term at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center until the program is complete for violating the terms of her probation for third-degree felonies of tampering with evidence and aggravated possession of drugs, a lesser-included offense, and a specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case. Brink possessed methamphetamine and $120 and tampered with evidence on March 4, 2025.
-- Cynthia Renee Williams, 53, last known address Boardman, was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with credit for 54 days served, leaving 36 days to serve for violating the terms of her probation for aggravated trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony from a 2017 case.
-- Chauncey Murray, 44, Midland, Pa., was sentenced to six months in prison for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fourth-degree felony, with specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case. He received credit for 34 days served in jail and must forfeit $334. Murray possessed methamphetamine and fentanyl on Oct. 14, 2020. Charges of trafficking in fentanyl-related compound and trafficking in heroin from Sept. 23, 2020 were dismissed.
-- Alayah Cheylynn Thornton, 26, West Minerva Street, Wellsville, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and was sentenced to 30 days in the county jail, with credit for 30 days served. Thornton possessed methamphetamine on April 4, 2025.
-- Cody Landsberger, 32, Fairfield School Road, Columbiana, was placed on an intervention plan for 24 months after pleading guilty to possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing fentanyl on May 11, 2023.
-- Kevin Lee Caldwell, 26, state Route 46, New Waterford, was sentenced to seven days in jail for violating the terms of his probation for possession of a fentanyl-related compound and possession of cocaine, both fifth-degree felonies, and fourth-degree felony possession of a fentanyl-related compound for possessing fentanyl and cocaine on Aug. 28, 2023 and fentanyl on Sept. 2, 2023.
-- Pershae M. Moreland, 33, Beaver Falls, Pa., was placed on a treatment plan for two years and ordered to forfeit $250 after pleading guilty to possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, with a specification for a forfeiture of money from a drug case for possessing THC on Feb. 1, 2017.
-- David S. Durbin, 52, Duke Road, East Liverpool, was placed under community control for three years and received credit for one day served in jail for fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and third-degree felony having weapons while under disability for possessing methamphetamine on March 8, 2025 and having a weapon on Nov. 19, 2025 while prohibited from having a firearm due to being under indictment for a felony drug charge.
-- Cody Lee Jones, 36, Mill Street, Salineville, was sentenced to 200 days in jail, with credit for 158 days served, leaving a balance of 42 days still to serve for violating the terms of his probation for charges from two separate cases, including fifth-degree felonies of breaking and entering and aggravated possession of drugs, and misdemeanor theft. He possessed methamphetamine on June 4, 2024 and broke into a Dollar General on Oct. 26, 2024 and took tables and chairs.
-- Kelly A. Stoddard, 40, East Eighth Street, East Liverpool, was sentenced to six months in prison for aggravated possession of drugs and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, both fifth-degree felonies, with credit for 60 days served. She possessed methamphetamine and fentanyl on Aug. 7, 2024.
-- Robert J. Douglas, 48, Sophia Street, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated possession of drugs, a fourth-degree felony, with a specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case, with sentencing set for Nov. 30. A charge of aggravated trafficking in drugs will be dismissed. Douglas possessed methamphetamine and $303 on Sept. 25, 2025.
-- Isaac L. Lemasters Jr., 56, Water Street, Salineville, was sentenced to six months in prison for violating the terms of his probation for permitting drug abuse and drug paraphernalia, with credit for 26 days served. The prison term was ordered served at the same time as any sentence in Carroll County. He permitted a vehicle or other property to be used for felony drug abuse and possessed drug paraphernalia on May 22, 2021.
Municipal
LISBON -- In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Sept. 30 for Scott Eric Kopras, 34, Bradshaw Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with third-degree felony strangulation and misdemeanors of assault and unlawful restraint for allegedly assaulting a woman and strangling her in East Liverpool on Sept. 22.
According to the police affidavit, the woman was in the parking lot of East Liverpool City Hospital and afraid to go inside after the defendant allegedly slapped her in the eye and started punching her with his fist, then grabbed her by the throat and began to strangle her. She said she couldn't breathe as she begged him to stop, he let her go briefly and then started punching her in the head until she was covered in blood, the affidavit said.
The document also said he told her he didn't trust her to leave and she felt that she was not allowed to leave.
His bond was set at $150,000 cash or surety and he was ordered to have no contact with the victim and possess no weapons or firearms.