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LISBON -- An East Palestine woman accused of domestic violence and found incompetent to stand trial in June has been deemed restored and now competent.
Rachel Garnes, 44, East Taggart Street, pleaded guilty in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court recently to fourth-degree felony domestic violence, with sentencing set for Jan. 8. Bond was set at $10,000 cash or surety.
The return to competency was based on a report from Heartland Behavioral Health.
The charge stemmed from an incident Dec. 9, 2022 when she attempted to cause harm to a man by throwing picture frames and other items at him.
Also in Common Pleas Court:
-- Jamie L. Gump, 38, Independence Square, Wellsville, pleaded guilty to theft from a person in a protected class and telecommunications fraud, both fourth-degree felonies, for allegedly stealing money from an elderly client from Oct. 1, 2021 to Dec. 22, 2021 while working as a residential assisted living worker. Sentencing was set for Jan. 12.
-- Stephanie Igo, 35, Jimtown Road, East Palestine, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree felony domestic violence for assaulting a man on Feb. 14 in East Palestine, Unity Township. She had a previous conviction for domestic violence, elevating the charge to a felony. Sentencing was set for Nov. 2.
-- Timothy Speare, 34, Stow, was granted judicial release from prison for attempted compelling prostitution and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, both fourth-degree felonies, and importuning, a fifth-degree felony. He had been sentenced to nine months in prison in July. Speare solicited sexual conduct in exchange for $200 from an agent posing as a mother and her 15-year-old daughter and drove to East Palestine for the meeting on July 29, 2022. The balance of his prison term was reduced and he was placed on probation for four years.
-- Thomas Peterson, 59, Medina, was sentenced to nine months in prison after pleading guilty to fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property and misdemeanors of criminal damaging and criminal trespass. He received credit for 86 days served in jail. Peterson was caught Nov. 11, 2022 in a truck reported stolen out of Columbiana in October 2022. The truck was stuck in a winter wheat field on land owned by Matthew Hahlen and damaged the field.
-- Hannah Whitacre, 23, North Market Street, Lisbon, pleaded guilty to a lesser included offense fourth-degree felony attempted tampering with evidence and fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine for an alleged incident April 13, 2021 involving cocaine. She was placed on a treatment plan for three years and received credit for one day served.
-- John Soldo, 50, Ellsworth Avenue, Salem, was sentenced to nine months in prison for two counts aggravated possession of drugs, one a third-degree felony and one a fifth-degree felony. He received credit for 108 days already served in jail. He was also ordered to forfeit $73 for money from a drug charge. On Sept. 30, 2021, Soldo possessed $73 and para-fluoro furanyl fentanyl and methamphetamine.
-- Daniel Spencer, 42, Monaca, Pa., pleaded guilty to intimidation of a witness in a criminal case, a third-degree felony, with sentencing set for Jan. 8. He was originally charged with complicity in the commission of an offense. The charge stemmed from a March 25, 2021 incident.
-- Charlene Sias, 46, Lang Street, East Liverpool, was ordered to serve three days in jail for violating her probation for charges of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of fentanyl-related compound, both fifth-degree felonies, for possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl on Aug. 10, 2021. Her probation was ordered continued until Dec. 2, 2025.
-- Sarah Hudson, 34, Poland, was ordered to serve 20 days in jail after violating her probation for trespassing in a habitation, a fourth-degree felony, for trespassing in a Salem residence on June 28, 2019. Her probation was dishonorably terminated.