Breaking News

Former chaplain appeals plea, sentence for child porn possession

LISBON — The former hospital chaplain sentenced to 25 to 27 years in prison for downloading, printing and possessing 12,000-plus images of children engaged in sex acts is appealing his plea and sentence. Sabella, 38, formerly of Beloit with a current address in Youngstown, entered a guilty plea in May and was sentenced in July for six counts of second-degree felony pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person and 50 counts of fourth-degree felony pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person. During his sentencing, he apologized to the many unknown child ...

New pretrial set for man accused of causing child's death

LISBON — A new pretrial hearing is set at 10:20 a.m. Sept. 4 in the case against a former Negley man involving the death of a child in 2024. Seth T. Hildebrand, 20, whose address in court records is now listed as Birch Road, East Liverpool, was originally set to appear for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 14, but was changed due to a scheduling conflict for his defense attorney. Hildebrand last week entered a not guilty plea during arraignment for involuntary manslaughter and endangering children for allegedly causing the death of a 2-year-old child in December 2024. He’s out of jail ...

THE COURTS

Grand Jury LISBON - The Columbiana County Grand Jury issued open indictments Wednesday, including: — Robert J. Davis, 41 Lacroft Avenue, East Liverpool, fifth-degree felony theft for allegedly stealing a Stihl saw from Vernon Dell Tractor, East Liverpool on May 27. — Norman W. Bender, 52, Aten Avenue, Wellsville, fourth-degree felony grand theft of a motor vehicle and misdemeanors of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them-OVI, driving under suspension and drug paraphernalia for allegedly driving away in a woman’s vehicle ...

Illinois man caught in sex sting pleads guilty to child porn possession

LISBON — An Illinois man charged for allegedly possessing images of child pornography after being caught in a sex-for-hire sting in 2024 entered a guilty plea Wednesday. Vincent John Bianconi, 36, last known address Chicago Heights, Ill., appeared in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court before Judge Scott Washam and was supposed to be facing a trial, but instead opted for a plea. He was accompanied by his attorney, Lawrence Stacey II. According to county Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Weeda, Bianconi pleaded guilty to three counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor or ...

New status hearing set in 2021 murder case

LISBON — A new status hearing has been set at 1:15 p.m. Sept. 14 in the aggravated murder case against Curtis D. Holland, the man accused in the 2021 murder of Brycen Douglas. Holland, 30, Dewey Avenue, East Liverpool, appeared in the custody of deputies during a brief status hearing Thursday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court before Judge Scott Washam. Holland was accompanied by defense attorneys, Rhys Cartwright Jones and Zachary Miller. The state was represented by county Assistant Prosecutors Steve Yacovone and Christopher Weeda. The judge spoke briefly with the ...

Driver learns sentence for crash that killed elderly couple

LISBON — A man who caused the deaths of an elderly Salem couple in a 2024 crash after falling asleep at the wheel sobbed as he was led away in handcuffs for a six-month jail term, twice saying “I am so sorry.” Kaylan Latrae Jones, 26, Cleveland, formerly Georgetown Road, Salem, faced ...