A Stark County man’s criminal adjudication across the state line is not concluded and could not be for some time.

Van Keith Jones II, of Canton, appeared Tuesday morning before Hancock County Magistrate Steve Svokas without any legal counsel Tuesday via Zoom from Stark County Jail.

Herman Lantz was representing the Hancock County prosecutor’s office and witness Chester Ptl. Kyle Swan, the arresting officer, also was present.

After some brief housekeeping issues to update the record, Svokas continued the hearing due to Jones’ lack of counsel.

Swan was the arresting officer when Jones, who was on U.S. Route 30, crossed the Jennings-Randolph Bridge with a Columbiana County deputy and East Liverpool police officer in pursuit into Chester.

However, it is unknown how long the wait may be with his other West Virginia case currently set for November.

Jones told the court via video technology that he is being represented on his Ohio charges by attorney Spencer Geraghty.

Attempts to verify Geraghty’s credentials to practice law in West Virginia courts, where Jones currently has four pending cases, were unsuccessful. His website didn’t provide insight either nor was his phone voice mail able to take messages.

Jones was before Svokas for his felony and two misdemeanor charges, stemming from his driving a stolen vehicle across state lines on Aug. 31, fleeing a police officer and driving while license suspended.

Jones missed his initial preliminary hearing after he managed to post bond and get extradited back to Stark County on those charges on charges ranging from kidnapping and strangulation to violation of a protection order and domestic violence before he headed south toward East Liverpool.

When asked Tuesday morning if he wanted to waive time, Jones said that he already did that before being extradited to Stark County. The court was able to verify this by examining Jones’ court file.

He also drew additional charges in West Virginia while incarcerated –violating a protection order by calling his ex-wife/victim 28 times while in Marshall County.

Magistrate Svokas is going to attempt to reach Geraghty before scheduling the next hearing date.

The Hancock County grand jury next convenes in January, which is potentially when they could hear Jones’ felony case.