Common Pleas

New Cases

Kelly Schultz, Brookdale Avenue, East Palestine, and Brent Schultz, Brookdale Avenue, East Palestine; dissolution sought.

Joshua Danko, Goshen Road, Salem, and Ellen Danko, Goshen Road, Salem; dissolution sought.

Peter Mudrak, trustee of the Mudrak Revocable Living Trust, state Route 172, Minerva, et al. vs. Quality Oil and Gas Corp., Canton, et al.; judgment sought to declare lease of land expired.

Docket Entries

Steven Adams and Melanie Adams; dissolution granted.

Cavalry SPV I LLC vs. Mallory Newlen; case dismissed.

Grand Jury

LISBON — An East Liverpool man accused of sexually assaulting a child 11 to 12 years old over a two-year period was served Wednesday with a secret indictment issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury.

Joseph A. Goss, 41, Hollywood Avenue, was charged with three counts of first-degree felony rape, a single count of second-degree felony sexual battery and two counts of third-degree felony gross sexual imposition.

According to the indictment, Goss allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with the child and had sexual contact with the child from Jan. 1, 2022 to March 6, 2024.

Also served with a secret indictment was Brandon Marchese, 38, Warren, charged with aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing THC on Jan. 13, 2023.

Court News

LISBON — Two drug defendants recently entered pleas during hearings in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.

Dustin Whaley, 29, West Chestnut Street, Lisbon, pleaded guilty to trafficking in cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for Oct. 18. Two additional charges of trafficking in cocaine will be dismissed. Whaley was accused of preparing to sell cocaine on Dec. 19, 2022.

Richard Stoddard, 55, Grove Alley, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for Sept. 23. Stoddard illegally possessed hydrocodone on May 6, 2022.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a preliminary hearing was set July 25 for Malissa Moore, 50, Cornell Street, East Liverpool, charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony, for allegedly trying to hit a man with her vehicle on July 17 in St. Clair Township.

A police affidavit said the victim showed officers skid marks in the driveway where the car was clearly going into the driveway toward him. The defendant said she was backing out of the driveway and hit the gas causing the car to spin out. She admitted to throwing a bottle at the victim. Witnesses claimed she did in fact try to hit the man with her vehicle.

A preliminary hearing was set July 25 for Nicholas Anderson, 30, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with fourth-degree felony domestic violence for allegedly striking a woman below her right eye with his fist after an argument on July 17 in East Liverpool.

Cases against Seth Portwood, 19, Elton Road, Columbiana, were bound over to the county grand jury for two counts of third-degree felony fleeing and failure to comply for a police chase that started in Salem in the Walmart parking lot, traveled into Leetonia and ended outside Columbiana state Route 164 at Renkenberger Road on May 24. A reckless operation charge was dismissed against him.

Charges of impersonating a peace officer or private police officer, speeding and reckless operation were dismissed at the state’s request, with costs taxed to the state, against Terry Dickson, 53, Garfield Street, Lisbon, who was found not competent. Dickson was accused of allegedly claiming to be a federal law enforcement officer during a conversation with a Columbiana police officer after a pursuit on July 2, 2023. Dickson allegedly told the officer he was harassing him and that he was part of the presidential task force, but when asked, failed to produce any credentials or badge.

A preliminary hearing was set July 25 for Rylan Polojac, 25, Youngstown, charged with fifth-degree felony receiving stolen property for allegedly using a stolen credit card at Rich Oil in Wellsville on Dec. 25, 2023.

A pretrial was set Sept. 19 for Gregg Bailey, 44, Center Street, Wellsville, charged with two counts of assault for allegedly grabbing a woman and pulling her hair during an incident Sept. 25, 2023 in Wellsville and also slapping another man in the area of his hands, causing a laceration to the victim’s left hand.

Ariel Durham, 35, state Route 45, Lisbon, was fined $300 and sentenced to 25 days in jail, with credit for 19 days served, leaving a balance of six days still to serve for resisting arrest, obstructing official business and disorderly conduct amended from domestic violence. On June 30 in Lisbon, at the Frola Motel, Durham allegedly began throwing full bottles of pop and some pizza at a man, punched a hole in the wall and knocked the bathroom door off of the hinges, then left. While police were there, she returned and allegedly ignored orders from officers to turn around and place her hands behind her back and then started pulling away from them while being handcuffed.

A status conference was set July 29 and a jury trial was set July 31 for Andrew Culp Jr., 34, West Washington Street, Lisbon, charged with domestic violence for allegedly grabbing a woman by her arms, pulling her away from the door and shoving her on July 4 in Columbiana.

A pretrial was set Oct. 17 for Robert E. Hupp Jr., 50, West Park Avenue, Columbiana, charged with domestic violence for allegedly smacking a woman across the left side of her face with a open hand smack, causing her to fall to the ground on July 16 in Columbiana.

A pretrial was set Oct. 17 for Melissa Hupp, 51, West Park Avenue, Columbiana, charged with domestic violence for allegedly slapping a man across the left side of his face with an open hand slap on July 16 in Columbiana.

A pretrial was set Oct. 1 for Major Boston, 25, Youngstown, charged with domestic violence for allegedly grabbing a woman’s arms and pushing her down during a domestic on July 5 in Salem.

A status conference was set Oct. 22 and a jury trial was set Nov. 27 for Ammar Omar Zayed, 32, Youngstown, charged with engaging in prostitution, possessing criminal tools, drug paraphernalia and possession of drugs for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with females in exchange for $140 and marijuana. When he arrived in East Palestine for the meeting March 1, he allegedly possessed cash, the cell phone used to make the arrangements, a bag of marijuana and a marijuana pipe.

Joseph Crawford, 47, Mercer, Pa., was fined $1,000 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 89 days suspended and credit for one day served, for possessing criminal tools and disorderly conduct amended from engaging in prostitution. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and a 12-hour online prostitution prevention course. Crawford was accused of requesting sexual conduct for an agreed upon price of $180 from an undercover agent, traveling to Salem on May 15 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Erick Meredith, 38, Orchard Knoll Drive, Lisbon, was fined $150 for disorderly conduct amended from aggravated menacing. Meredith was accused of making threats to two people on Oct. 14, 2023 in Perry Township.

A pretrial was set Sept. 19 for Jordyn Riggs, 20, Verona, Pa., charged with domestic violence for allegedly spraying a man with mace during a verbal altercation on July 17 in Salineville.

A pretrial was set Sept. 30 for Danielle Doughty, 32, Ohio Avenue, Salem, charged with endangering children for allegedly being intoxicated all day and sleeping while her three children ages 6, 8 and 10 years old were caring for themselves on June 19 in Salem. One child had special needs. The defendant was taken to the hospital due to her level of intoxication, the police affidavit said.

David Gasior, 51, Walnut Street, East Liverpool, was fined $100 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 120 days suspended and credit for nine days served, leaving a balance of 51 days to serve in jail, for assault. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim. Gasior caused physical harm to another man at the Odd Fellows Apartments in East Liverpool on April 5. He was ordered to pay costs only for an open container charge.

Angelina Pesa, 27, Youngstown, was fined $200 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 173 days suspended and credit for seven days served for assault amended from domestic violence. She was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to stay away from the victim. Pesa was accused of pushing a man, punching him and scratching him during a domestic incident on May 25, 2023 in Elkrun Township.

A pretrial was set Sept. 19 for Sophie Keeper, 23, Daisy Alley, East Liverpool, charged with theft and drug paraphernalia for allegedly stealing three items valued at $3.75 from Dollar Tree in East Liverpool and also possessing multiple used syringes, burnt glass pipes and other drug paraphernalia in her purse on July 12.

A pretrial was set July 25 for Kirk Price, 56, Eighth Avenue Lacroft, East Liverpool, charged with telecommunications harassment for allegedly harassing a woman through phone calls and text messages on July 15 in Columbiana County after being told to stop.

Edward F. Pittman, 41, Granite Street, Salem, was fined $200 and given a suspended 180-day jail term for drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor unauthorized use of a motor vehicle amended from fourth-degree felony theft. He was ordered to have no contact with Mike Fisher Roofing. During an incident on May 21 in Salem, he allegedly possessed a hollow metal pipe with burn marks and residue inside. Police had been called to the scene for a report of a man lying on the ground next to the open door of a truck. The truck was owned by his employer who did not give him permission to take the truck.

A pretrial was set Sept. 24 for Mark Mercer, 58, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, charged with criminal trespass for being at the Frola Motel, state Route 45, Lisbon on July 17 when he was previously trespassed from the premises.

A pretrial was set Sept. 24 for Ashley Bacorn, 30, Globe Street, East Liverpool, charged with criminal trespass for allegedly being at a residence on Lemon Street, East Liverpool on July 18 when she had been told several times not to go to the property.

Sabrina Cline, 21, Gardendale, East Liverpool, was fined $150 for disorderly conduct for yelling at another female and continuing to scream and showing threatening behavior during an incident June 16, 2021 at Quality Inn in East Liverpool.

A charge of public indecency expose private parts was dismissed against David J. Johnson, 64, Sandy Springs Road, Minerva. The incident was allegedly happening over the past few months and reported in July.

A pretrial was set Oct. 22 for Jerrad Rydarowicz, 44, Fork Road, Leetonia, charged with criminal trespass for allegedly trespassing on a Spruce Street, Leetonia property and attempting to forcefully enter the residence.

Wendi Bowersock, 48, College Street, East Liverpool, was fined $250 for obstructing official business for not complying with orders given during an attempt of apprehension of a man driving the stopped vehicle in Columbiana on Dec. 29, 2023.

Lauren Paterson, 45, Beacon Light Road, Lisbon, was fined $875 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 87 days suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program, for operating a vehicle impaired. Her driver’s license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted. Charges of having weapons while intoxicated and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle were both dismissed. Paterson was accused of having a firearm in the vehicle while impaired during a traffic stop on Aug. 10, 2023 in Columbiana.

A pretrial was set Sept. 19 for Nickolas Perez, 33, North Beaver Street, Lisbon, charged with OVI third offense, driving under suspension, reasonable control, improper/expired registration and no seat belt.

Joshua E. Brooks, 32, Vine Street, East Liverpool, was fined $250 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for drug paraphernalia for possessing a rolled up $1 bill with unknown white powder residue on the inside during a traffic stop on July 13 in East Liverpool. He received no fine for a turn signal violation.

A motion hearing was set Sept. 5 for Cassidy Ross, 27, Kirk Road, Columbiana, charged with OVI second offense and OVI breath second offense.

David Birch, 59, Failer Road, East Palestine, was fined $1,050 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 165 days suspended, leaving a balance of 15 days still to serve in jail, for OVI and a signal device violation. His driver’s license was suspended for two years and he was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

A motion hearing was set Aug. 29 for Rebecca Benedict, 58, Lisbon Road, Salem, charged with OVI second offense, operating a vehicle under the influence and reasonable control.

A pretrial was set Oct. 15 for Ryan Dickey, 36, Metz Road, New Waterford, charged with OVI first offense and reasonable control.

A pretrial was set Sept. 26 for Clinton Scott III, 46, Union Street, Columbiana, charged with driving under suspension.

Michelle Lynn Hall, 47 Scroggs Road, Lisbon, was fined $390 for driving under suspension and expired registration.

Shiyan Jordan, 24, Warren, was fined $100 for speeding.

Douglas Barnes, 43, Seventh Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $100 for driving under suspension.

Joshua Quarterman, 34, Pendleton Street, Lisbon, was fined $100 for driving under suspension.

Lindsay Manypenny, 41, Pritchard Avenue, Lisbon, was fined $50 for an equipment violation, amended from driving under suspension.

Daniel Annichenni, 31, Mineral Ridge, was fined $150 for unsafe vehicle amended from speeding.

Sandi Phillips, 36, state Route 644, Kensington, was fined $150 for an equipment violation amended from reckless operation.