LISBON –A former Leetonia man accused of attacking a Leetonia police officer with a steel rod and trying to take his service weapon last fall was recently found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Randy A. May, 47, who’s in the Columbiana County Jail in Lisbon, was charged with two counts of felonious assault and one count of aggravated robbery, all first-degree felonies, for the attack that left Patrolman John Hancock injured.

May was accused of using a 2-foot-long solid steel rod to beat Hancock about the head and face on Oct. 21, 2024 on Pearl Street in Leetonia. The felonious assault charges alleged that he caused harm to the officer and used a deadly weapon to cause the harm. The robbery charge stemmed from May grabbing for Hancock’s service weapon during the assault.

Based on a report from the Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio, Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton found what she called a preponderance of evidence that at the time of the offense, May was suffering from a several mental illness, specifically schizophrenia paranoid type.

“As a result of that illness, the defendant did not know the wrongfulness of his acts. Therefore, the court finds the defendant not guilty by reason of insanity,” Bickerton wrote.

She ordered that he be evaluated by the Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio “to determine if he is a mentally ill person subject to court order, and if so, to determine the least restrictive commitment alternative consistent with the treatment needs of the defendant and public safety.”

A commitment hearing was set for 9 a.m. Oct. 1.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Adam J. Hileman, 44, Brackenridge, Pa., pleaded not guilty during arraignment for felonious assault, a first-degree felony, third-degree felonies of compelling prostitution and failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and misdemeanor engaging in prostitution. He also waived his right to a speedy trial. A jury trial was set for 9 a.m. Feb. 24, with a final status hearing at 9:40 a.m. Feb. 9 and and an interim status hearing at 10 a.m. Dec. 8. On Feb. 1, 2024 in East Palestine, Hileman allegedly responded to an undercover ad posted on a known prostitution website of an adult female and a 15-year-old female and arranged for sexual conduct with both females in exchange for money. When Hileman arrived in East Palestine for the meeting, he fled, purposely striking a police officer with his vehicle in an attempt to get away. He allegedly fled into Pennsylvania at speeds reaching 120 mph and was boxed in by Pennsylvania authorities, then engaged in a standoff with authorities until surrendering.

mgreier@mojonews.com