Municipal Court

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, cases against Walter Morgan, 35, Cleveland, were bound over to the county grand jury for 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 preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Jan. 6 for Chad Fowler, 39, Salem Grange Road, Salem, charged with fourth-degree felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault for allegedly assaulting a woman in Salem on Dec. 9, grabbing her, taking her to the ground and choking her from behind

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Dec. 19 for Megan Behnke, 36, last known address Follansbee, W.Va., charged with third-degree felony escape, fifth-degree felony vandalism and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia. On Feb. 16, Behnke was under detention at the Columbiana County jail for a drug charge and was taken to Salem Regional Medical Center for a medical condition. According to an affidavit, an electronic ankle monitor was placed on her ankle and she was told she’s still in custody and not free to leave. The hospital contacted a deputy later to report she left. A deputy had received a tampering alert from the monitoring company and was allegedly told by the defendant that she intentionally cut the monitoring device. She allegedly possessed drug abuse instruments, a needle, syringe and tie off, in Lisbon on Sept. 26

A preliminary hearing was set Dec. 19 for Joseph Weyand, 48, McKinnon Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with fourth-degree felony domestic violence for allegedly placing his thumb in a woman’s mouth causing a cut during a domestic on Dec. 9 in St. Clair Township. The charge was a felony due to a previous conviction for domestic violence.

A pretrial was set Dec. 30 for Emma Rose Weyand, 44, McKinnon Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with domestic violence and criminal trespass for allegedly striking a man with a plate causing a small cut on his head, then throwing a plate at him which struck him and another person and began attacking him on Dec. 9 in St. Clair Township. For the criminal trespass charge, she allegedly trespassed inside a condemned property in East Liverpool on Sept. 12. A probation violation hearing was also set Dec. 30 for a 2023 theft case.

A sentencing hearing was set Dec. 30 for Jorge Luis Flores, 70, Grandview Street, East Liverpool, who pleaded no contest and was found guilty of misdemeanor domestic violence for threatening to kill a woman, pulling her from her wheelchair and putting her in a headlock on Dec. 1 in East Liverpool. Flores had originally been charged with fifth-degree felony strangulation and fourth-degree felonies of strangulation and domestic violence related to the incident, with those cases dismissed.

A pretrial was set Dec. 30 for Craige Beaver, 34, Rubicon Street, East Liverpool, charged with domestic violence for allegedly striking a woman, stomping on her chest and pulling her hair out of her head while shoving her face into the carpet and dragging her around the home by her hair on Dec. 9 in East Liverpool.

A status conference hearing was set March 13 and a jury trial was set March 19 for John Muschweck, 66, Stagecoach Road, East Liverpool, charged with domestic violence for allegedly grabbing a child by the chin and throat area, then throwing him to the ground from a stool on July 7 in St. Clair Township, a police affidavit said.

A pretrial was set Feb. 18 for Nicholas J. Kringeta, 63, Clinton, charged with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for allegedly requesting sexual conduct from an undercover agent for an agreed upon price of $180, then traveling to Salem on Dec. 9 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

A pretrial was set March 17 for Madelyn Hairston, 38, North Street, Beloit, charged with theft for allegedly failing to properly scan and pay for several items totaling $107 at Walmart in Salem on Nov. 26.

Dallas Meadows, 36, Valley Drive, East Liverpool, was fined $300 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for theft. He was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and to stay out of Calcutta Walmart. Meadows was accused of skip scanning at the Calcutta Walmart on Aug. 30, failing to scan and pay for 12 items valued at $46.

Raegan Loy, 21, Washington Street, Lisbon, was fined $150 for disorderly conduct amended from criminal mischief for yelling and banging on the door of a residence on Aug. 17 in Columbiana, then entering a vehicle in the driveway and honking the horn and yelling trying to provoke the residents asking them to fight and then attempting to gain entry.

A littering charge was dismissed against Santasia Graham, 27, Auburn Street, East Liverpool, who had been accused of having excessive trash and debris on the Auburn Street property in January. She was ordered to pay court costs.

Robert Ricks, 45, Youngstown, was fined $1,045 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 first offense, open container and marked lanes. Another OVI charge and a charge of possession of drugs were dismissed. His driver’s license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted, and he was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

A pretrial was set Feb. 20 for Brian Beach, 49, Alliance, charged with OVI second offense, OVI breath second offense and miscellaneous equipment violation.

A pretrial was set March 20 for Edgar Vidal Paucar, 49, Cortland, charged with OVI first offense, OVI refusal with prior within 20 years and marked lanes.

Justin Hannum, 47, Salem Alliance Road, Salem, was fined $875 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 84 days suspended and credit for six days served in a driver intervention program, for OVI. Another OVI charge was dismissed. His driver’s license was suspended for one year and he was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

Chase Mahon, 28, Williams Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $875 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 27 days suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program, for OVI and a turn signal violation. His driver’s license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted and he was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

Fahd Daniel, 38, Youngstown, was fined $225 for improper/expired registration and no license amended from driving under suspension.

Brandon Toothman, 34, Sharp Street, Salem, was ordered to pay court costs only for driving under suspension.

Tristan McCorkle, 25, Sprucevale Road, Rogers, was fined $180 for driving under suspension, left of center and no seat belt.

A pretrial was set March 17 for George Rock, 61, Crestview Road, Columbiana, charged with speeding.

A charge of expired plates was dismissed against Jeramie Edwards, 49, Taylor Road, Negley.

Bryce Collier, 30, Melissa Lane, Minerva, was fined $75 for an equipment violation amended from speeding.

A pretrial was set March 10 for Joseph Gatelaro, 67, Brenda Lane, Columbiana, charged with stopped school bus.

A pretrial was set Feb. 18 for Elizabeth Schultz, 35, West Ninth Street, East Liverpool, charged with driving under suspension and speeding.

Common Pleas

New Cases

Garry Evans, Hull Road, Salineville, and Regina Evans, Mogadore; dissolution sought.

Christopher Mezerkor, Andover, vs. Kuhnle Brothers Inc., Newbury, and Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, Columbus; appeal of claim denial.

Docket Entries

U.S. Bank National Association vs. Robert D. White Jr., et al.; mortgage foreclosure ordered for Lisbon Street, Columbiana property.

County Treasurer vs. Bonita Faye Welling, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Newgarden Avenue, Salem property.

County Treasurer vs. Jennifer Jarvis; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Maple Hill Drive, Salineville property.

County Treasurer vs. Joseph Kelly, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Etruria Street, East Liverpool property.

County Treasurer vs. John Dear; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Florence Street, East Liverpool property.

County Treasurer vs. Robert McPheron Jr., et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Second Street, Hanoverton property.

County Treasurer vs. Dennis Williams; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. unknown heirs, etc. of Julie Ann Ingledue, et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. Imagine Your Image LLC, et al.; payment plan entered, case stayed.

County Treasurer vs. Betty Dorris; payment plan entered, case stayed.

County Treasurer vs. William Kusior Jr., et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. Jennifer Barborak Angle, et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. Donald Jones; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Dresden Avenue, East Liverpool property.

County Treasurer vs. unknown heirs, etc. of Norma Serafy, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for state Route 45, Wellsville property.

County Treasurer vs. Donn Corban, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Manor Drive, Columbiana property.

Kylee Wilson and Zachary Wilson; dissolution granted.

Lakeview Loan Servicing vs. Jennafer Bailey, et al.; stay vacated, case reactivated.

JPMorgan Chase Bank vs. Sidney Wolfe, et al.; case stayed.

County Treasurer vs. James Conrad, et al.; property forfeited to state of Ohio, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. William Kennedy Collins, et al.; property forfeited to state of Ohio, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. unknown heirs, etc. of John T. Tucker, et al.; property forfeited to state of Ohio, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. Chris McHenry, et al.; property forfeited to state of Ohio, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. Hazel Kendall, now known as Harris, et al.; property forfeited to state of Ohio, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. unknown heirs, etc. of Hobart M. Ring, et al.; property forfeited to state of Ohio, case dismissed.

Grand Jury

LISBON — James Lamp, 49, Foundry Hill Road, Salineville, was served Monday with a secret indictment issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on April 15.

Court News

LISBON — A Salineville man accused of injuring a woman during an incident this summer at the Frola Motel appeared for sentencing recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court for aggravated assault.

Russell Lightner, 45, Foundry Hill Road, was sentenced to 180 days in the county jail, with credit for 135 days served, leaving a balance of 45 days still to serve in jail for the fourth-degree felony lesser included offense. He was originally charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony. A misdemeanor assault charge was dismissed.

Lightner was accused of injuring a woman during an incident at the Frola Motel on July 26 on state Route 45 in Center Township where the woman reported being cut by Lightner, who entered her apartment and began to yell at her.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— William Hebron, 31, Pine Hollow Road, Rogers, was sentenced to eight months in prison for attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony. He was designated a Tier II sex offender, required to register his address with the sheriff’s office. Charges of importuning and possessing criminal tools, both fifth-degree felonies, were dismissed. Beginning on June 25, 2021 and continuing through June 26, 2021, Hebron allegedly used his phone in an attempt to solicit someone he believed to be a 15-year-old girl to have sex with him, arriving at the meeting location to pick the girl up on June 26, 2021.

— Henry Mills, 55, Duquesne Street, Columbiana, pleaded guilty to charges from two separate indictments, including third-degree felony illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a special governmental facility, fourth-degree felony attempted tampering with evidence, fifth-degree felonies of two counts aggravated possession of drugs and two counts possession of fentanyl-related compound and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia. Sentencing was set for Feb. 10. On Sept. 2, 2022, he possessed methamphetamine and fentanyl and attempted to take drugs into a detention facility. On Jan. 3, 2022, he possessed fentanyl, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and attempted to tamper with evidence.

— Rusty Boyer, 24, Oak Street, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to aggravated trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony, for preparing for sale methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk on Oct. 11, 2023. Sentencing was set for Dec. 12.

— Crystal Hoskinson, 33, North Lundy Avenue, Salem, was sentenced to six months in prison, with credit for 62 days served in jail, after pleading guilty to charges from two separate indictments, including fifth-degree felonies of receiving stolen property, theft, passing bad checks and possession of drugs. Hoskinson was accused of stealing, possessing and attempting to cash two stolen checks on March 9 totaling $1,114. She possessed clonazepam on May 21, 2023.

— Christopher Ewing, 40, state Route 644, Kensington, was placed under community control for three years and ordered to spend up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center in Wintersville for charges from three separate indictments, including fifth-degree felonies of two counts aggravated possession of drugs and two counts nonsupport of dependents, with a specification for forfeiture of money in a drug case. He was ordered to forfeit $71 that he possessed on Sept. 10, 2021 when he also possessed methamphetamine. From May 8, 2022 to May 5, 2024, he failed to provide child support for two children and on Oct. 30, 2023, he possessed methamphetamine.

— Destiny Cline, 23, Gardendale Street, East Liverpool, was placed on an intervention plan for 18 months after pleading guilty to attempted illegal conveyance of drugs onto the grounds of a detention facility. She was originally charged with a third-degree felony of illegal conveyance. A charge of complicity in the commission of an offense was dismissed. She was accused of picking up a package of alleged narcotics allegedly dropped off by another woman to deliver into the jail and possessing the package. Cline was a corrections officer at the jail at the time.

— Joseph Giralico, 40, Quay Road, Negley, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for Jan. 17 for possessing methamphetamine on Nov. 4, 2021.

— Jamar Sklenchar, 26, Youngstown, was placed under community control for 24 months after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, and possession of drugs, a misdemeanor, for possessing cocaine and tramadol on Oct. 14, 2021.

— Orlando D. Walker, 33, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Liverpool, was placed under community control for three years for third-degree felony having weapons while under disability. He received credit for one day served in jail. He was accused of having a gun on Feb. 4 while prohibited from having weapons due to a previous drug conviction.