Common Pleas for 11-25

A Columbiana man found responsible for the disappearance of "The Readers" bronze sculpture from outside the Columbiana Public Library in January 2008 was sentenced to 13 months in prison.

Matthew Stouffer, 23, of 33 N. Cross St., appeared for sentencing Friday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court for receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony charge, and for a probation violation on a previous drug charge.

Stouffer and a co-defendant, Michael Nagel Jr., 24, also of Columbiana, were each indicted last year for their part in the Jan. 27, 2008 sculpture theft which ended on a good note for the library with the sculpture's recovery from a Youngstown scrap yard on Jan. 28, 2008.

The sculpture depicting two children reading on a bench was sold to the scrap yard for $331, but court documents said it was valued at $14,485. Stouffer was the one who sold the sculpture, while Nagel hauled the stolen sculpture in the back of his mother's SUV, according to court documents. Nagel was sentenced to prison for 10 months after entering a guilty plea last year.

Judge C. Ashley Pike also issued a 10-month sentence against Stouffer for permitting drug abuse, a fifth-degree felony, after it was determined he violated his probation for the 2006 charge. The sentences were ordered served at the same time, with credit given for 131 days served at the county jail. Stouffer's license was suspended for one year.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

Mark Felton, 35, whose last known address was Salineville, pleaded guilty to non-support of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, and failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony, with sentencing Jan. 22. Documents said Felton failed to appear for a court hearing on Aug. 15, 2008 regarding the non-support case. He was accused of failing to pay child support from November 2001 through 2007.

Cathy Jo Pappas, 35, of 1701 Main St., Wellsville, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, a first-degree misdemeanor, with sentencing Feb. 11. The charge was originally a fifth-degree felony. Documents said Pappas and a co-defendant attempted to use a stolen credit card at the Calcutta Walmart.

Elisha Stump, of Fairmont, W.Va., formerly of East Palestine, was placed on probation under community control for five years for receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony, with credit for two days served in jail. She was ordered to pay 50 percent of the restitution to the victim. Documents said on Dec. 4, 2008 at the Boardman Giant Eagle, Stump and a co-defendant cashed in $1,775 in U.S. coins belonging to Ronald Miller . A charge of complicity to burglary against Stump was dismissed. The coins were removed from a Metz Road property in Columbiana.

New Cases

Wells Fargo Bank vs. Broc Doran and Anna Doran, both East Palestine; foreclosure sought for property on East North Avenue, East Palestine.

J. Gregory Roof, East Liverpool, vs. Dana Channels, East Liverpool, and Home Savings & Loan, etc.; partition sought of St. Clair Avenue, East Liverpool property.

HSBC Mortgage Corp. vs. Donald McGrath and Nachelle McGrath, both Lisbon; foreclosure sought for property on Endley Road, Lisbon.

Tim Cush, Kersey, Pa., vs. Simakas Co. Inc., Mars, Pa. and Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Columbiana; appeal sought over claim from 2006 work injury.

Everhome Mortgage Company vs. Michael Nieschwitz and Farah Nieschwitz, both Alliance; foreclosure sought against property on South Mahoning Avenue, Alliance.

Docket Entries

Nextier Bank vs. Jeffrey McCurdy, etc.; foreclosure ordered for property on Hamilton and Adams roads, with commercial sale results of property confirmed.

U.S. Bank vs. Wendy Baker, etc.; foreclosure vacated, sheriff sale cancelled, but case to remain active.

Beneficial Ohio Inc. vs. William Mucklo, etc.; case stayed due to Mucklo filing bankruptcy.

CitiMortgage Inc. vs. James Purrington, etc.; foreclosure ordered for property on West 12th Street, Salem.

Amanda Cox vs. Morgan Cox; divorce granted.

Marcie Fawley vs. Christopher Fawley; divorce granted.

Cheryl Roush vs. Robert Roush; divorce granted.

Raymond Wilson Jr. vs. Christine Wilson; divorce granted.

Melinda Calhoun vs. Darwin Calhoun Jr.; divorce granted.

Timothy Hippely vs. Angela Hippely; divorce granted.