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LISBON -- A Pennsylvania man was sentenced last week in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court to four years in prison for charges related to a sex-for-hire sting that happened in 2021 in East Palestine.
A jury found Adam Saunders, 35, Mercer, Pa., guilty of all charges against him, including third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, fifth-degree felony possession of criminal tools and misdemeanor engaging in prostitution.
The jury trial started June 20 and ended June 21 after closing arguments, with jurors taking just an hour to issue a verdict. Sentencing was immediate.
Saunders received a 48-month prison term, with 30 months for compelling prostitution, 12 months for attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and six months for possessing criminal tools, all to be served consecutively. A 180-day sentence for the engaging in prostitution charge was ordered served at the same time as the other terms.
Saunders received credit for three days already served in prison and was deemed a Tier II sex offender, requiring him to register his address in the county where he resides after his release from prison.
He had been accused of answering an undercover ad placed by a Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force agent on a known escort website and arranging for sexual conduct with an adult female and a 14-year-old female in exchange for $400. He traveled to East Palestine for the meeting on Sept. 24, 2021 with his cell phone that was used to make the arrangements.
Also in Common Pleas Court:
-- Robert Herberger, 33, Canfield, who had been employed as a pharmacist at the Salem Rite Aid pharmacy, was placed on a treatment plan for three years after pleading guilty to four counts of theft of drugs, a fourth-degree felony, for stealing oxycodone and acetaminophen from the Rite Aid pharmacy on June 23, 2022, July 1, 2022, July 15, 2022, and July 16, 2022.
-- Robert A. Deiss, 70, Bessemer, Pa., was sentenced to nine months in prison for attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and a lesser offense of attempted compelling prostitution, both fourth-degree felonies, and importuning, a fifth-degree felony. A charge of possessing criminal tools was dismissed. He was deemed a Tier II sex offender, requiring him to register his address with the county where he resides once he's released from prison. Deiss was accused of arranging sexual conduct with someone he believed to be a 15-year-old in exchange for money and beer on Oct. 5, 2021.
-- Collinna Bonner, 39, North Shore Drive, Beloit, was placed on probation for four years for third-degree felony illegal conveyance of a drug of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility and fifth-degree felonies of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of fentanyl-related compound. All the charges stemmed from Jan. 19, 2021 when she brought drugs into a facility and possessed methamphetamine and fentanyl-related compound.
-- David Evans, 33, Hillcrest Road, Wellsville, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony. Sentencing was set for Sept. 7. Evans possessed methamphetamine and possessed a firearm at the time of the offense on July 15, 2021. He was prohibited from having a firearm due to being under indictment at the time for another case.
-- Kevan Tice, 56, Aten Avenue, Wellsville, pleaded guilty to prosecutor's information for a misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business. He was placed on probation for 12 months. A 90-day jail sentence was suspended and a charge of aggravated possession of drugs was dismissed. The charges stemmed from an incident March 2, 2021.
-- Izaac Devon-Joseph Chalmers, 24, Pittsburg Street, Columbiana, was ordered to serve up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center after violating his probation in a case from 2018. He had been originally sentenced to a year in prison and placed on four years community control after pleading guilty to receiving stolen property, failure to comply with the order of a police officer, endangering children and criminal damaging. Chalmers drove at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour with two small children in the stolen vehicle he was driving at the time of the incident.