Court News

LISBON –A man caught during a drug raid in February 2025 near Franklin Square entered a guilty plea recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court to multiple drug counts, with sentencing set for July 9.

Matthew Bays, 38, East Perry Street, Salem, pleaded guilty to third-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs, fifth-degree felonies of two counts aggravated possession of drugs and one count possession of a fentanyl-related compound, two counts of misdemeanor possession of drugs and a specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case. A charge of aggravated trafficking in drugs was dismissed.

Bays possessed methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk, $376, amphetamine, fentanyl, psilocyn, xylazine and alprazolam. All of the charges stemmed from Feb. 28, 2025 when the Columbiana County Drug Task Force and county Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at an old state Route 344, Leetonia property. Units were assisted by police officers from Salem and Lisbon.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Diego D. Galicia, 30, Johnson City, Tenn., pleaded guilty to third-degree felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanors of engaging in prostitution, possessing criminal tools, and resisting arrest, with sentencing set for July 10. Charges of obstructing official business and failure to disclose one’s personal information will be dismissed. Galicia responded to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranged for sexual activity with a woman in exchange for $200 to be paid via the Cash App, then arrived in East Palestine on Jan. 19, 2025 for the meeting. Galicia refused to exit his vehicle and had to be forcefully removed and continued to resist. While being taken into custody, he smashed his phone and destroyed it. He had refused to provide officers his name or identifying information when requested.

— Sidni R. Livolsi, 37, Maplewood Avenue, East Liverpool, was placed under community control for three years,with credit for 17 days served in jail, for bribery, a third-degree felony, and misdemeanor criminal trespass. Livolsi was being transported to the county jail by a Wellsville police officer on Dec. 17, 2024 when she offered him $12,000 to $14,000 to dismiss the charges and drop her off in East Liverpool, a police affidavit in county Municipal Court said. He denied any offers of money and told her that’s a charge. The officer had recorded the drive, so there was a recording of her trying to bribe the officer. She had been taken into custody for criminal trespass for being on the porch of a home in Wellsville on Dec. 17, 2024.

— Zachary Edward Perry, 31, Midland, Pa., was ordered to serve a term at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center until the program is complete for third-degree felony domestic violence. He was also placed under community control for three years and received credit for 65 days served in jail. Perry was accused of throwing chicken wings at the wall, grabbing a steak knife and pointing it at another man and making a lunging motion towards him on Jan. 3 in East Liverpool. The police affidavit said the victim grabbed the knife in self-defense, then the defendant allegedly grabbed a solid glass world globe and threw it at the victim, striking his right ankle.

— Alan Heddleston, 20, Independence Square, Wellsville, was ordered to spend 14 days in the county jail, with credit for three days already served in jail, for third-degree felony failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer. He was placed under community control for three years and his driver’s license was suspended for three years. He was accused of fleeing from Salem police officers attempting a traffic stop on Oct. 4, 2024.

— Walter Morgan, 37, Cleveland, pleaded guilty to third-degree felony failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer and misdemeanor obstructing official business, with sentencing set for June 25. Charges of tampering with evidence and possession of cocaine will be dismissed. Morgan fled 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 put the vehicle in drive and fled, with speeds reaching 100-plus miles per hour. At one point, he 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.

— Tiffany M. Sattler, 34, Sherwood Road, Wellsville, pleaded guilty to theft, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for July 13. Sattler stole miscellaneous merchandise from Walmart on Nov. 12, 2025.

— Todd O. Dean, 46, Aetna Street, Salem, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for May 29, for possessing methamphetamine on June 7, 2024.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, Jerrett Lee Carroll, 19, Idaho Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $100 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 29 days suspended and credit for one day served, for disorderly conduct amended from assault.

He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to have no contact with the victim. He threatened to hold the victim down before he then grabbed him around the neck and threw him down on Nov. 6 in St. Clair Township.

A status conference hearing was set July 14 and a court trial was set July 21 for Joseph P. DeSalvo Jr., 49, East Third Street, Salem, charged with operating a vehicle impaired second offense and speeding.

Cory A. Thurston, 21, East Woodland Avenue, Columbiana, was fined $875 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 175 days suspended, leaving a balance of 5 days still to serve in jail, for OVI second offense. He was also ordered to serve 30 days of electronically monitored house arrest. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and his driver’s license was suspended for two years.

A pretrial was set July 20 for Abigail Summer Witherow, 26, Alderlick Road, Wellsville, charged with OVI first offense and marked lanes.

A pretrial was set July 28 for Payton Carter Robey, 20, Lincoln Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with OVI first offense and no valid license.

A pretrial was set July 28 for Michael James Grimm, 53, Globe Street, East Liverpool, charged with failure to signal before turning/stopping.

Heather Lynn Quinn, 41, Dresden Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $50 for driving while texting. The fine will be suspended and no points assessed upon completion of a distracted driving course.

David Row, 41, Steubenville, was fined $225 for driving under suspension and speeding.

Lacey Jo Jones, 26, West Lincoln Way, Lisbon, was fined $100 for speeding.

Jarrod Blake Starkey, 33, Township Line Road, Wellsville, was fined $630 for three counts driving under suspension, two counts speeding and single counts of no seat belt and expired plate.

Common Pleas

New Cases

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Bye & Bye LLC, West Lincoln Way, Lisbon, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for South Market Street, Lisbon, East Park Avenue, Lisbon property.

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Rhonda Phillips, Kensington, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for state Route 644, Kensington property.

Docket Entries

County Treasurer vs. Black Pearl Investments LLC, et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

JPMorgan Chase Bank vs. Richard A. Crosfield, et al.; foreclosure judgment partially vacated, case dismissed with exception of reformation count.

Jamie Altomare vs. Colin David Bues, et al.; case settled and dismissed.

Huntington National Bank vs. Annette M. Salvino, also known as Annette Kukuk, et al.; case dismissed.

Sierra Gump, et al. vs. Larry L. Tice, et al.; case settled and dismissed.

Grand Jury

LISBON — An East Liverpool man was served Monday with a secret indictment for multiple drug counts.

Shane Lee Potts, 36, Avondale Street, East Liverpool, was charged with third-degree felony having weapons while under disability, second-degree felonies of aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs, fourth-degree felony possession of a fentanyl-related compound, fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine and misdemeanor possession of drugs for an incident Oct. 10, 2025.

Potts allegedly possessed a firearm when he was prohibited from having one due to a prior felony conviction, prepared for sale and possessed methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than five times bulk but less than 50 times bulk, and possessed fentanyl in an amount equal or greater than 1 gram but less than 5 grams, and cocaine and xylazine.