Common Pleas

New Cases

Heather A. Sawyer-Clapsaddle, Steubenville Pike Road, Hammondsville vs. Ryan S. Clapsaddle, Steubenville Pike Road, Hammondsville; divorce sought.

John T. Shaw, Denver Street, East Liverpool, vs. Randi R. Beagle, Darlington, Pa.; divorce sought.

Docket Entries

Frank G. Rowan vs. Mark Higginbotham and Buckeye Trailer & Fab Company, LLC; Rowan’s appeal regarding unemployment conpensation denied.

Sara M. Raybuck vs. Joshua L. Raybuck; divorce granted.

Court News

LISBON — An East Liverpool man facing three drug cases, including for a charge of drug trafficking, was sentenced recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court to four to six years in prison.

Norman D. Sleper, 58, Ravine Street, pleaded guilty to aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs, both second-degree felonies, and possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, for a case from May 4, 2024 when he was accused of trafficking and possessing methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than five times bulk but less than 50 times bulk and also possessing cocaine. He received credit for three days served in jail and a mandatory fine of $7,500. The two second-degree felonies were merged for sentencing, with the state electing to proceed on the trafficking charge.

Sleper also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, aggravated possession of drugs and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, all fifth-degree felonies, for possessing cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl and $20 on Sept. 4, 2024. He was ordered to forfeit the $20 and the 10-month prison term was ordered served at the same time as the four to six years.

He was sentenced to six months, ordered served at the same time as the four to six years, for aggravated possession of drugs, with credit for 103 days already served. He was ordered to forfeit $405. Sleper was accused of possessing methamphetamine and $405 on March 10, 2024.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Van Evans, 20, East Cleveland, pleaded guilty to third-degree felony tampering with evidence, with sentencing set for April 30. Evans was accused of admitting to flushing two bags of drugs down the toilet when the Columbiana County Drug Task Force was executing a search warrant at a West Fourth Street apartment in East Liverpool on June 10, 2025.

— Sarah Ann Updyke, 45, Canton, was ordered to serve a term at the Eastern Ohio Correction until the program is complete and was placed under community control for three years for aggravated trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony lesser-included offense from the original second-degree felony charge, and aggravated possession of drugs and possessing criminal tools, both fifth-degree felonies, with specifications for forfeiture of money from a drug case. She received credit for one day served in jail and was ordered to forfeit $43. She received a mandatory $5,000 fine. Updyke was accused of trafficking and possessing methphetamine and $43 on Dec. 28, 2023.

— James R. Howell, 60, Ohio Avenue, East Liverpool, was ordered to serve 240 days in the county jail, with credit for 197 days served, leaving a balance of 43 days still to serve in jail for violating the terms of his treatment plan for fifth-degree felonies of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of cocaine and misdemeanor illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. His treatment plan was dishonorably terminated. Howell possessed methamphetamine on July 6, 2024 and cocaine and drug paraphernalia on April 30, 2024.

— Justin C. Davis, 41, West Pine Lake Road, Salem, was placed under community control for six months after pleading guilty to endangering children, a misdemeanor. Charges of fourth-degree felony strangulation and misdemeanor domestic violence were dismissed. Davis was accused of putting a child at risk on June 17, 2025.

— Nicholas Wolfe, 46, Failor Road, East Palestine, was placed into drug court for a period not to exceed five years after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, with credit for one day served in jail. Davis possessed methamphetamine on Oct. 29, 2024.

— Krista M. Gallite, 38, Lexington Avenue, Salem, was placed into drug court for a period not to exceed five years after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs for possessing methamphetamine on March 23, 2025.

— Jessica L. Hilderbrand, 35, Spillway Road, Lisbon, was placed under a treatment plan for three years after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing methamphetamine on March 20, 2024.

— Dylan C. Walsh, 24, Lacroft Avenue, East Liverpool, was placed under community control for three years and ordered to serve six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, and misdemeanor illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. He received a mandatory fine of $5,000. Walsh possessed methphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk, along with paraphernalia, on Jan. 27, 2025.