Municipal Court

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Dec. 12 for Aaron Tucker, 49, Guy Road, Lisbon, charged with first-degree felony aggravated burglary and fourth-degree felony felonious assault and misdemeanors of aggravated trespass and criminal damaging. Tucker allegedly broke the front driver window of a woman’s vehicle in Washington Township on Oct. 26 before breaking through the main door of the residence, shattering the glass and causing injury to the woman.

Cases against Melanie Watkins, 43, Canton, were bound over to the county grand jury for fourth-degree felony promote prostitution-transport across state lines for sex for hire and misdemeanor soliciting for allegedly soliciting sexual conduct for an agreed upon price of $100 from an undercover agent and transporting another woman for a sex for hire arrangement, then driving the other woman and herself to Salem for the meeting on Sept. 14.

A case against Kaila DiMaggio, 27, Bradshaw Avenue Rear, East Liverpool, were bound over to the county grand jury for fourth-degree felony theft for allegedly taking control of another woman’s vehicle on Nov. 16 in East Liverpool.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Dec. 10 for Walter Morgan, 35, Cleveland, charged with third-degree felonies of failure to comply and tampering with evidence and misdemeanor obstructing official business for allegedly fleeing from an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper attempting a traffic stop on May 12 on state Route 11 in Elkrun Township. When the vehicle was initially stopped, Morgan allegedly put the vehicle in drive and fled, with speeds reaching 100-plus miles per hour. At one point, he allegedly threw a plastic bag out the window, which was later recovered containing a white powdery substance. The pursuit was terminated when he crossed the bridge into West Virginia, but there was a positive identification which matched the Ohio ID he provided before fleeing.

A fourth-degree felony charge of menacing by stalking was dismissed at the request of the prosecutor against Jimmy Anderson, 34, Pine Hollow Road, Lisbon, who had been recently accused of sending a letter from jail to someone in Leetonia in violation of a protection order.

Keith Peterson, 62, Glenn Street, East Liverpool, was fined $150 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 28 days suspended and credit for two days served, for domestic violence. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and to have no contact with the victim. On Oct. 2 in St. Clair Township, he made a closed fist and threatened to strike a woman.

A pretrial was set Feb. 18 for Stephen Moon, 32, Midland, Pa., charged with assault, criminal damaging, and two counts criminal trespass for allegedly spitting in a woman’s face after she asked him to leave a property on Waterford Road, New Waterford on Sept. 9 where he had been advised on Sept. 7 that he was no longer welcome there. On Sept 7, he showed up and did not leave after being told several times to leave and left several large ruts in the front and side yards by doing “doughnuts” in his pickup.

A pretrial was set March 4 for Nathaniel Lee Turner, 23, Walnut Street, Rogers, charged with domestic violence for allegedly punching anther man in the nose on Aug. 9 in Rogers.

A pretrial was set March 13 for Joshua Burke, 40, West Wilson Street, Salem, charged with domestic violence for allegedly threatening to beat a woman to death and kill her dog, then squeezing her hand and taking her cell phone before she left on Aug. 15 in Salem.

A pretrial was set Dec. 16 for Nathaniel Hodgson, 40, Benton Road, Salem, charged with domestic violence for allegedly slapping a woman, poking her in the eye and throwing her on the bed while in a headlock on Dec. 3 in Salem.

Charges of domestic violence and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle were dismissed against Trevor Lodge, 30, Orlando, Fla., who was ordered to pay costs. Lodge had been accused of allegedly striking a woman in the face and taking her vehicle without permission on March 31, 2022. He was fined $100 for no license, with a charge of turn signal violation dismissed.

A status conference hearing was set Feb. 3 and a jury trial was set Feb. 12 for John Lee Tafe, 30, Bayard Road, Homeworth, charged with domestic violence for allegedly brandishing a firearm, loading it, and telling a woman they were going to play Russian Roulette on Oct. 13 in Homeworth, making her believe he was going to cause physical harm to her, himself or both.

James Robert Aggas, 57, New Castle, Pa., was fined $900 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for engaging in prostitution, possessing criminal tools and drug paraphernalia. He already completed a required course for probation. Aggas was accused of responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a female in exchange for cocaine, traveling to East Palestine on Sept. 4 for the meeting. In his alleged possession were multiple crack cocaine pipes and other paraphernalia, cocaine and the phone used to make the arrangements.

A pretrial was set March 13 for Mark Kireta, 56, Chester Avenue, Wellsville, charged with theft for allegedly attempting to conceal items in the back of his pants area covered with a coat at the Calcutta Walmart on Nov. 27. A police officer stopped him and a two-pack of Raid cans and a pork butt began falling to the ground from behind him when his hands were moved. The two items were valued at $26.

A pretrial was set Feb. 25 for James Lippiatt, 35, Newgarden Avenue, Salem, charged with obstructing official business and possess instruments to ingest for allegedly not making his presence known to Columbiana County Drug Task Force agents who executed a search warrant at a Minerva Street, East Liverpool property on Dec. 3. Lippiatt was found in the basement after several announcements were given and other occupants came out of the house, with Lippiatt allegedly not making his presence known until K-9 Jimmy was deployed and K-9 announcements were given. He also allegedly possessed drug instruments.

A pretrial was set March 3 for Chase McDonald, 18, Wooster, charged with obstructing official business and possess instruments to ingest for allegedly not making his presence known to Columbiana County Drug Task Force agents who executed a search warrant at a Minerva Street, East Liverpool property on Dec. 3. McDonald was found in the basement after several announcements were given and other occupants came out of the house, with McDonald allegedly not making his presence known until K-9 Jimmy was deployed and K-9 announcements were given. He also allegedly possessed drug instruments.

Laurie Harmon, 49, East Martin Street, East Palestine, was fined $350 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 89 days suspended and credit for one day served, for obstructing official business and disorderly conduct amended from endangering children for refusing to allow EMS to transport a child for mental health treatment on March 10 in East Palestine and then leaving, delaying him getting proper medical treatment.

Bud Hull Sr., 45, last known address Avondale Street, East Liverpool, was fined $1,150 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 87 days suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program and one day served in jail, for operating a vehicle impaired, physical control, no valid license, drug paraphernalia and two counts disorderly conduct. His driver’s license was suspended for one year and he was ordered to complete 40 hours community service. On Aug. 27 in East Liverpool, Hull was highly intoxicated, blasting music and yelling obscenities out of his apartment and then from a vehicle, continuing to yell obscenities when arrested. Hull possessed a blue straw with residue in his pocket when found stumbling in the middle of McGuffy Drive in St. Clair Township on Sept. 27.

A pretrial was set Jan. 13 for Donavain Casey, 18, Roller Coaster Road, Lisbon, charged with receiving stolen property for allegedly possessing a black water bong heater with brown paint smeared on top on Nov. 24 that was reported stolen on Nov. 14 in Salem.

Joshua Kersey, 42, Clark Avenue, Wellsville, was fined $600 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 150 days suspended, leaving a balance of 30 days to serve in jail for endangering children and drug paraphernalia. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and to stay away from the victims. On Sept. 1 in Wellsville, Kersey was found at a residence with a needle in his hand while rolling around on the floor. He was suspected to be high on drugs and was taken to the hospital. Juveniles were present in the residence.

Charges of possessing criminal tools and soliciting were dismissed against Mary Ann Marcelli, 44, Canton, who stipulated to probable cause due to the felony charges against her. She was indicted in October for fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine for allegedly possessing cocaine on Dec. 22, 2023, the day she was accused of posting an ad on a known prostitution website offering sex for hire and arranging for sex acts with an undercover agent for $450, then driving to Salem for the meeting.

Sentencing was set Jan. 13 for Roger Bland Jr., 55, Stratton, who pleaded no contest and was found guilty of criminal damaging for removing the lock off of a woman’s storage unit in Center Township on Nov. 12. Documents said he did put a new lock and key back on the unit for her.

A pretrial was set March 11 for Kirk Sandoe, 46, East Washington Street, Lisbon, charged with litter collected for allegedly failing to maintain the condition of his property and keeping it free of littering Nov. 13 in Lisbon.

A pretrial was set Dec. 12 for Timothy Gibbs, 36, College Street, East Liverpool, charged with drug paraphernalia, open container and disorderly conduct for allegedly drinking an alcoholic beverage in an open container on a public sidewalk while walking on St. Clair Avenue, East Liverpool on Oct. 29. He also allegedly possessed a digital scale with white residue and several suspected drugs.

A pretrial was set Dec. 12 for Charlene Martinez, 39, Slippery Rock, Pa., charged with drug paraphernalia for allegedly having a crack pipe in the passenger side door where she had been sitting during a traffic stop on Aug. 18, 2023 in Columbiana.

A pretrial was set March 3 for Miah Kathleen Coviello, 31, Steubenville, charged with operating a vehicle impaired first offense, driving under suspension and a tail lights violation.

A pretrial was set March 20 for Dwayne Donta Walker, 38, Cleveland, charged with OVI second offense, driving under suspension, turn signal violation and no seat belt.

A pretrial was set Feb. 20 for Jada Pack, 38, Erie Street, Wellsville, charged with OVI second offense and slow speed.

Roman Capuano, 26, West Seventh Street, Salem, was fined $500 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 87 days suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program, for physical control. A charge of parking within an intersection was dismissed. His driver’s license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted, and he was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service.

Markeith Shawn Baker, 34, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $100 for traffic control devices and was found not guilty of OVI first offense.

Marshall Morris, 36, Richmond, was fined $250 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for driving under suspension and speeding.

A pretrial was set Feb. 24 for Nichole Chestnut, 30, East Clark Street, East Palestine, charged with driving under suspension.

Brie Buckley, 44, South Park Circle, East Liverpool, was ordered to pay just court costs for a failure to confine dog charge for her dog being loose on Aug. 26 in St. Clair Township.

Emma Kozma, 18, Oak Street, Salem, was fined $50 for no driver’s license, with a charge of driving onto roadway from place other than roadway dismissed.

A charge of failure to display sticker was dismissed against Maurice Wyse, 55, Broadway, Wellsville.

Dusan Lilic, 36, Miami Beach, Fla., was fined $100 for a tail light violation amended from insecure load.

Jennifer Hunt, 31, Westville Lake Road, Beloit, was fined $125 for use of unauthorized plate and speeding.

Korey Koran, 33, Speidel Road, East Rochester, was fined $75 for a tail light violation, with a charge of driving under suspension dismissed.

Michael McClain, 50, Midland, Pa., was fined $25 for speeding.

Common Pleas

New Cases

Patricia Daugherty, Prestwick Court, Columbiana, and James Daugherty, Edgewood Avenue, East Palestine; dissolution sought.

Dale Eastham, Clark Avenue, Wellsville, vs. Roni Eastham, Chester, W.Va.; divorce sought.

Blair Blythe, individually and in his capacity as administrator of the estate of Esther Blythe, deceased, vs. Lavern E. Orlang, M.D., Jefferson Street, East Liverpool; damages sought for alleged personal injury claim from fall outside medical practice office.

Docket Entries

County Treasurer vs. Nathan Daniels Jr., et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Commerce Street, Wellsville property.

County Treasurer vs. Michael Butler, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Highland Avenue, Wellsville property.

County Treasurer vs. unknown heirs, etc. of Michael Ashby Sr., et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

PennyMac Loan Services, LLC vs. Felicia Marie Morckel, et al.; judgment vacated, case dismissed.

Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC vs. Jennifer Bailey, et al.; case stayed.

Court News

LISBON — A Columbiana man who assaulted a woman in May was sentenced to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty to a lesser offense of aggravated assault, along with domestic violence.

Bruce Smith, 53, Beverly Drive, Columbiana, entered the pleas recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court to the fourth-degree felony aggravated assault charge and misdemeanor domestic violence. He was originally indicted for felonious assault, a second-degree felony, along with the domestic violence charge.

Smith received credit for 192 days already served in jail.

On May 11 in Columbiana, Smith punched a woman several times in the face and abdomen, causing injury.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— A judgment entry for Angela M. Weaver, 36, Cedar Ridge Drive, Salem, was corrected to reflect a nine-month prison sentence instead of just six months, for violating her probation for illegal conveyance of a drug of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility, a third-degree felony. She was also sentenced to six months for violating her probation for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, with the terms to be served concurrently, for a total of nine months in prison. She received credit for 147 days already served in jail. The charges stemmed from an incident Jan. 5, 2021 involving methamphetamine and a detention facility. She also received a concurrent six-month sentence which will be served at the same time as the other terms after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing methamphetamine on July 21, 2021.