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LISBON -- An East Liverpool man accused of felonious assault and domestic violence for allegedly beating a woman and choking her into unconsciousness has been ordered evaluated for competency and sanity.
Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton granted a defense motion filed by attorneys for Robert K. Barrett, 39, West Ninth Street, requesting evaluations for competency to stand trial and plead not guilty by reason of insanity. The evaluation will be done by the Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio.
On March 19 through 22 this year, Barrett was accused of allegedly battering the face of a woman in East Liverpool, jumping on her, beating her leg with a laptop battery pack, choking her until she lost consciousness and using her personal mace on her. It was also learned that he made past threats to the victim by allegedly putting a knife to her throat and threatening to kill her with a claw hammer.
Also in Common Pleas Court:
-- Todd Hawthorne, 41, Graner Avenue, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to second-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs with a forfeiture specification for money from a drug case and third-degree felony tampering with evidence. A charge of second-degree felony aggravated trafficking in drugs will be dismissed. Sentencing was set Jan. 5. The charges stem from an alleged incident on Sept. 17, 2022 involving $250 and an amount of methamphetamine equal to or exceeding 5 times the bulk amount, but less than 50 times the bulk amount.
-- Kurtis Jackson, 29, Campbell, was sentenced to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to a lesser offense of engaging in prostitution, a misdemeanor, and possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony. Jackson was originally indicted for two counts promoting prostitution, a fourth-degree felony, and possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony, for making arrangements with his cell phone to transport a prostitute to East Palestine on May 27, 2022 for sexual activity with an undercover agent in exchange for money. One of the promoting prostitution charges was amended and one was dismissed.
-- James E. Artrup, 34, Hubbard, was placed on probation for two years after pleading guilty to fifth-degree felony escape and misdemeanor obstructing official business. A resisting arrest charge was dismissed. He received credit for eight days served in jail. The charges stemmed for an incident Oct. 13, 2021 in East Palestine when he allegedly had a warrant for his arrest and fled on foot from a scene while another person was being arrested.
-- Rick Willis, 33, West Washington Street, Lisbon, was placed on probation for two years after pleading guilty to possession of fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing fentanyl-related compound on Jan. 21, 2023.