Grand Jury

LISBON — An East Liverpool resident was recently served a secret indictment out of the Columbiana County Grand Jury on sex offense charges involving a minor.

Donald D. Buzzard, 53, Dresden Avenue, is charged with two counts of gross sexual imposition, both third-degree felonies, for allegedly having sexual contact with a victim under 13 years old between Sept. 15, 2011, and Sept 14, 2016.

Also served secret indictments:

Craig M. Lower, 44, Ford Street, Louisville, charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony, for causing harm or attempting to cause harm to the victim using a knife July 14, 2024.

Jon P. Proya, 55, Railroad Street, East Palestine, charged with two counts of possessing a weapon under a disability, both third-degree felonies, for allegedly possessing a firearm Jan. 30, 2025, while being a fugitive from justice and under a drug abuse indictment.

Michael A. Howell, 47, South Range Road, Canfield, charged with aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, with a specification for money forfeiture for allegedly possessing methamphetamine with $30 Feb. 25, 2024.

David M. Adams, 47, Graner Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with two counts of aggravated trafficking of drugs, both third-degree felonies, for allegedly possessing a bulk amount of methamphetamine Sept. 7, 2023, and Sept. 14, 2023.

James R. Howell, 59, Ohio Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, and a misdemeanor count of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing cocaine and drug paraphernalia April 30, 2024.

Jordan R. Swain, 37, Mattix Road, Lisbon, charged with aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and a misdemeanor count of possession of drugs for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and Alprazolam July 25, 2023.

Common Pleas

Docket Entries

Columbiana County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Donald A. Pullie et al; delinquent taxes paid, case dismissed.

Rocket Mortgage LLC vs. Jordan Spencer et al; foreclosure dismissed.

James Richard Wittenauer II, Tanglewood Drive, Salem, and Erika Elizabeth Wittenauer, Cascade Drive, Youngstown; dissolution granted.

Municipal

LISBON — A preliminary hearing is set for a man accused of trying to help his brother sneak tacks into the Columbiana County Jail.

In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a preliminary hearing was set May 27 for Justin Barrett, 40, Sophia Street, East Liverpool, charged with third-degree felony illegal conveyance of prohibited items into a detention facility and fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools. Barrett allegedly placed a small white package with tacks on the pavement next to a deputy’s vehicle for his brother, an inmate at the Columbiana County Jail, to pick up and transport it inside the jail at 1:30 p.m. April 24 in Center Township.

A preliminary hearing was set May 22 for Donavain Casey, 19, Roller Coaster Road, Lisbon, charged with assault for allegedly shoving a correction officer while being escorted to his cell causing injury to the left side of their face on April 23 at the Columbiana County Jail.