Court News
LISBON — A woman found not guilty by reason of insanity earlier this year for third-degree felony burglary was ordered hospitalized at Heartland Behavioral Health in Massillon after a recent hearing.
Holly Maddocks, 25, formerly of East Liverpool, faced a hearing last week in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court regarding a review of her commitment.
After being found not guilty by reason of insanity and determined to be a mentally ill person, she had been conditionally released into the community in June, but that conditional release was rescinded in October after multiple violations of the terms of her release, along with alleged psychological decompensation.
Based on a recent evaluation by the Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio, hospitalization was determined to be the least restrictive commitment alternative. Another review was set for Feb. 12.
Maddocks was charged in 2023 with third-degree felony burglary for allegedly breaking into the home of a family friend in East Liverpool, beginning to tear up the interior and drinking the homeowner’s alcohol on May 14, 2023.
Also in Common Pleas Court:
— Robert R. Smith, 48, last known address Hammond School Road, Wellsville, will face a motions and possible sentencing hearing on Jan. 31 after changing attorneys and filing a motion to withdraw his guilty pleas in two separate indictments. He entered the guilty pleas in September to fifth-degree felony receiving stolen property for possessing an equipment trailer which was the property of Kevin Chronister on Aug. 19, 2023 and a lesser offense of third-degree felony burglary and misdemeanor assault for returning to the Hammond School Road property April 26, 2023 after being evicted, kicking in the door and assaulting a person who was working inside. He had been scheduled for sentencing previously, but it’s been delayed twice after he terminated one attorney and then got another one, then filed the motion to withdraw plea. The state was given 14 days to respond to the motion.
— Douglas Austin, 41, Orchard Street, East Liverpool, was placed under community control for two years after pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault. He was originally charged with fourth-degree felony domestic violence. Austin was also sentenced to 180 days in the county jail, but 179 days were suspended and he was given credit for three days served. Austin was accused of punching a woman in the head and slamming her face off of the car dash before pulling her out of the car onto the street on Oct. 14, 2023 in East Liverpool.
