LISBON — The founder of River Valley Organizing, who’s facing multiple felonies in Common Pleas Court for allegedly stealing charitable donations, is now facing a domestic violence charge in Columbiana County Municipal Court.

Amanda M. Kiger, 52, last known address Westfield Road, East Liverpool, pleaded not guilty during arraignment via video from the county jail Monday in county Municipal Court to misdemeanor domestic violence, with a pretrial set for June 3. She was ordered released from jail on a $5,000 recognizance bond and told to have no contact with the victim.

An East Liverpool police affidavit alleged that the evening of April 4, an officer was advised of an open 911 line pinging at a Center Street residence and a woman could be heard screaming. Officers were advised multiple calls were made.

Once on the scene, officers spoke to a man who alleged Kiger struck him in the face with her knee and that he regularly stays with her, the affidavit said.

Kiger was arraigned last week in Common Pleas Court, along with River Valley Organizing, for allegedly stealing at least $150,000 or more in charitable donations for personal use over a four-year period. A $100,000 recognizance bond in that case was continued for Kiger.

A scheduling conference is now set before Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam at 1:45 p.m. May 8.

Kiger, 52, Westfield Road, East Liverpool, and River Valley Organizing were each criminally charged, with defense attorney T. Robert Bricker appointed to represent both. Kiger’s recognizance bond of $100,000 was continued.

Kiger was indicted recently for multiple charges related to theft as executive director of the organization and related to her alleged theft of unemployment benefits and failure to file state income tax returns during that same period.

The charges against Kiger in that case include third-degree felony aggravated theft, second-degree felony telecommunications fraud, four counts of fifth-degree felony filing incomplete, false and fraudulent returns, fourth-degree felonies of grand theft and falsification in a theft offense and third-degree felony telecommunications fraud.

The indictment against River Valley Organizing, in care of Kiger, Walnut Street, East Liverpool, included one count of aggravated theft, a third-degree felony, and one count of telecommunications fraud, a second-degree felony.

According to the indictments, the thefts occurred from Feb. 1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2024, and Kiger solicited and accepted contributions of funds from various donors to River Valley Organizing for charitable purposes and “misused such funds for personal purposes and her own financial benefit.” The amount was listed from $150,000 to less than $750,000.

The charge for telecommunications fraud said she misused the funds for personal purposes and her own financial benefit “through a series of financial transactions and transfers completed via telecommunications networks.” The value of the benefit obtained was listed as $150,000 or more but less than $1 million.

Regarding the other charges against Kiger, she allegedly obtained $17,346 in unemployment benefits from the state by making false statements to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services in her application and claims for unemployment benefits from April 2, 2021 through May 12, 2022. She allegedly failed to file annual state income tax returns in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Associate Assistant Attorney General H. Lee Crumrine from the Ohio Attorney General’s office is prosecuting the case.

A review of Common Pleas Court records showed a previous case against Kiger in 2008 for theft and forgery, with the forgery charge dismissed.