COLUMBIANA COUNTY GRAND JURY

LISBON — A Defiance man accused of walking into a Salem residence uninvited on April 11 claiming a woman owed him money was indicted on multiple charges, including burglary, a second-degree felony.

Salah Edwards, referred to as Slim in an affidavit, was also indicted for improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and obstructing official business, a misdemeanor, related to when police approached him on April 13 about the earlier incident, allegedly finding a pistol with an extended magazine in a bag beside the gun and a single round within reach in the vehicle. He allegedly started to walk away and was told if he didn’t stop, a K-9 would be released to apprehend him.

The Columbiana County grand jury met for two days last week, issuing 17 open indictments, one superseding indictment and 25 secret indictments. The secret indictments won’t become public until the defendants are served. There were also three no bills, meaning no charges were issued in three cases.

Other open indictments issued included:

— Christopher Wallace, 37, West Main Street, East Palestine, intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness and retaliation, both third-degree felonies, for allegedly threatening to kill East Palestine Police Lt. Don Johnson and his family while being served with a charge of aggravated menacing at the county jail on April 15.

— Stacey Lynn Butcher, 47, West Pershing Street, Salem, tampering with evidence, third-degree felony, for allegedly flushing a baggie containing a ball of an unknown substance as a search warrant was being served on her residence on Nov. 16, 2021.

— John Kelly, 56, state Route 154, Lisbon, two third-degree felony counts of operating a vehicle under the influence and misdemeanor driving under suspension, for a traffic stop April 12 this year on Low Road in Elkrun Township and a previous felony OVI conviction.

— Zachary Vescio, 22, North Beaver Street, Lisbon, burglary, a second-degree felony, grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, breaking and entering and attempted grand theft of a motor vehicle, both fifth-degree felonies and two counts OVI (one for concentration), both misdemeanors, for a May 7 incident on Quay Road in Negley. Vescio allegedly tried to take a truck belonging to Kathy Dyke after trespassing on her land, entered a residence and took a set of keys, stealing a truck belonging to Joshua Hill and crashing into a tree.

— Justin Lamp, 43, Foundry Hill Road, Summitville, breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony, and two counts receiving stolen property, for allegedly breaking into a garage belonging to Eugene Prendergast on Dec. 15, 2021 on Knox School Road, West Township, and on April 30 this year allegedly possessing a Can Am Spyder belonging to Rodney Stone and a Chevy 3500 belonging to Herc Rentals, Raymond Hershberger, in Summitville.

— Stephanie Rae Brown, 45, Clarks Mill Road, Salineville, receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing a stolen pickup belonging to David Randall on June 2, 2021 in Salineville.

— Davon Moats, 19, Aten Avenue, Wellsville, failure to provide notice of change of address, a third-degree felony, for allegedly failing on May 17 this year to notify the sheriff’s office he had moved, as required for registered sex offenders.

— John Diggins, 46, Johnstown, Pa., aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, and misdemeanors for possessing criminal tools, engaging in prostitution, resisting arrest, possessing drug abuse instruments and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. Diggins allegedly arrived in East Palestine on Nov. 6, 2021 after arranging online for sexual conduct with an undercover Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force agent, saying he would bring methamphetamine and $60 or $80 in exchange for sexual activity. When officers attempted to take him into custody, he resisted and was dry stunned with a taser and had in his possession methamphetamine, a cell phone and hypodermic syringes.

— Raymond Tedrow, 43, Youngstown, compelling prostitution, a third-degree felony, possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony, and a misdemeanor of engaging in prostitution. Tedrow allegedly responded to an ad placed on a known escort website by an undercover agent of a 25-year-old female and 15-year-old female, arranging to have sexual conduct with both for $220 and showed up in East Palestine on March 13 with money and a cell phone.

— Raymond Sphaler, 43, New Castle, Pa., compelling prostitution, a third-degree felony, and possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony, for coming to East Palestine on April 10 with a cell phone and money after arranging to meet an undercover agent posing as a 16-year-old female online for sexual conduct in exchange for $180.

— Delbert M.A. Rhoderick Jr., 62, Hadley, Pa., compelling prostitution, a third-degree felony, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony, and possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony. Rhoderick allegedly responded to East Palestine on April 13 with money and a cell phone after arranging to meet an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old female online for sexual conduct in exchange for $280.

— Andrew Shafer, 43, Shady Lane, Lisbon, two counts of violation of a protection order, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly calling the victim four times and sending four text messages on May 10 and 11 in Lisbon in violation of a protection order issued in 2012.

— Keyatta Riley, 36, Youngstown, promoting prostitution, a fourth-degree felony, possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony, and a misdemeanor for soliciting. Riley arrived in East Palestine with her cell phone on May 14 after arranging to have sexual conduct in exchange for money and brought a second woman with her for sexual acts, along with bringing a cell phone.

— John McBride, 57, Solon, domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony, and resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, for attempting to harm Jeffrey McBride on April 14 and resisting arrest in Perry Township.

— Daniel Keller, 31, Richardson Avenue, Negley, failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony, for allegedly fleeing from police at Beaver Creek state campground on May 3, reaching speeds over 90 mph, passing several vehicles and crashing into an embankment.

COLUMBIANA COUNTY GRAND JURY

New Cases

LVNV Funding LLC, Greenville, S.C., vs. Craig Bartlett, Sprucevale Road, St. Clair Township; collection sought of $19052 debt.

Wells Fargo Bank, Des Moines, Iowa, vs. Brittany Dailey, also known as Brittany Sodergreen, North Pleasant Drive, East Palestine; foreclosure sought for $109,741 mortgage debt.

Docket Entries

Amanda Alley vs. Michael Alley; divorce granted.

Jacqueline Horvath vs. Louis Horvath; divorce granted.

Barbara Richmond-Hall vs. Cory Hall; divorce granted.

Matthew Joy and Melissa Joy; dissolution granted.

Heather Lindsley and Kurt Lindsley; dissolution granted.

Mariner Finance vs. Angela Ransom; $5,264 judgment granted to plaintiff.

County Treasurer vs. Joseph Armstrong, et al.; foreclosure ordered for delinquent taxes on Pennsylvania Avenue, East Liverpool property.

County Treasurer vs. Michelle Dellapenna, et al.; foreclosure ordered for delinquent taxes on McKinnon Avenue, East Liverpool property.

County Treasurer vs. Kara Fenton, now known as Kara Weese; taxes paid in full, complaint dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. Nathan Daniels Jr., et al.; case stayed.

County Treasurer vs. unknown heirs of Marilyn Greathouse, et al.; foreclosure ordered for delinquent taxes on Benton Road, Salem property.

Marriage Licenses

Bradley Peter Eberly, 35, Leetonia, farming, and Jeannette Renae Steiner, 21, Columbiana, farm market.

Anthony Richard Maroni, 51, Salem, director of operations, and Lori Lynn Kerchofer, 51, Salem, RN director of operations.

Christopher Andrew Polack, 47, Columbiana, general manager, roofing co., and Christine Elaine Powell, 36, Columbiana, caseworker.

Roland D. Shafer, 78, Wellsville, retired, and Darlene Kay Bunfill, 69, Leetonia, retired.

Kristopher Fernandez, 33, Beaver Falls, Pa., truck driver, and Melinda Sue Belkowski, 31, waitress.

John Raymond Walsh Jr., 29, Salem, press operator, and Krista Jade Yorty, 26, Salem, crew.

Joshua R. Wickersham, 35, Salem, robotics technician, and Tiffany Rae Ardeno, 32, Salem, resident care giver.

Michael P.C. McMaster, 31, Columbiana, farm worker, and Kaitlin Elizabeth Smith, 22, Columbiana, unemployed.

Nickolas John Anderson, 26, Salem, field engineer, and Alexandra Paige Shondrick, 25, Salem, speech-language pathologist.

COLUMBIANA COUNTY MUNICIPAL

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, Clayton Whitman, 26, Adams Avenue, Salem, was bound over to the county grand jury for felonious assault, a second-degree felony, for allegedly attacking Robert Irey, causing physical harm to his head and torso, knocking him down, kicking him, breaking his ribs and causing minor head injuries on Jan. 29 at the Flying Pig Saloon on North Ellsworth Avenue in Salem.

A preliminary hearing was set June 21 for Jeffrey Pressler, 46, Columbus, charged with compelling prostitution, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, possessing criminal tools and importuning, all felonies. He allegedly requested sexual conduct from a Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force agent posing as a 15-year-old female online in exchange for $160 and wanted the teen’s mother to watch and verbally degrade him for another $20. Pressler traveled to Salem on June 12 with cash and his cell phone for the arranged meeting.

A preliminary hearing was set Aug. 25 for Andrew Busby, 21, New Castle, Pa., charged with felonies of compelling prostitution and importuning for allegedly arranging to meet in Salem with a Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force undercover agent he believed to be a 15-year-old girl for requested sexual conduct in exchange for $100.

A preliminary hearing was set June 21 for Joshua Simpkins, 37, New Castle, Pa., charged with compelling prostitution and possessing criminal tools, both felonies, for allegedly responding to East Palestine with money and his cell phone on June 11 after soliciting sexual activity in exchange for $70 from an undercover Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force agent posing as a female online.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set June 21 for Curtis Laughlin, 31, state Route 154, Rogers, charged with improper handling of a firearm, a felony, and expired license plates, for allegedly having a firearm in his vehicle during a traffic stop on June 11 in Columbiana.

A pretrial was set Sept. 13 for Alexander Thomas Morlan, 24, West Wilson Street, Salem, charged with engaging in prostitution, possessing criminal tools, traffic control devices and two counts of driving under suspension for allegedly soliciting sexual activity with a female in exchange for $70 after answering an online undercover ad placed by a MVHTTF agent and showing up for an arranged meeting in East Palestine on June 11 with money and his phone. The traffic charges stem from earlier citations.

A pretrial was set Sept. 1 for Sheila McGath, 41, Union Avenue, Columbiana, charged with violation of a protection order for allegedly texting the male victim, who has a protection order against her, on June 12 in Lisbon.

A pretrial was set June 28 for Zachary Lamadanie, 27, Hartville, charged with open container in a motor vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for allegedly arranging to have sexual activity with a female in exchange for $70 after answering an ad placed by an MVHTTF agent on a known escort website and showing up in Salem with the money and his cell phone on June 12. He also allegedly had an open container of beer and some marijuana.

A preliminary hearing was set June 21 for Christopher Laux, 33, New Castle, Pa., charged with a felony for possession of criminal tools for allegedly using his phone to arrange for a criminal activity in East Palestine on June 12.

A competency hearing for competency to stand trial and plead not guilty by reason of insanity has been set July 18 for James Stoner, 58, East Fourth Street, Salem, charged with domestic violence and resisting arrest for a May 30 domestic on East Fourth Street. Officers allegedly entered the apartment and found a female on the floor and the male taking her walker away from her. She told officers the male allegedly hit her several times before pushing her to the ground. After several attempts to place him under arrest, he started resisting and was ultimately tased.

A pretrial was set July 14 for Christopher Watson, 33, Continental Drive, Salem, charged with assault for allegedly assaulting William Wilson on April 12 on Cunningham Road.

Travis Gottschalk, 32, Padgett Road, East Palestine, was fined $750 for engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools and had already completed an online course ordered by the court related to preventing prostitution. Gottschalk arranged to have sexual activity with a female in exchange for $50 after answering an ad placed by an MVHTTF agent on a known escort website and showing up in East Palestine with the money and his cell phone on Jan. 29.

Ralph Reaser, 61, Ravenna, was fined $750 and ordered to complete a preventing prostitution online course for charges of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for soliciting sexual conduct from an undercover MVHTTF agent online in exchange for $75 and coming to Salem on March 31 with a cell phone and cash. He was ordered to forfeit the $75 to MVHTTF.

A pretrial was set July 21 for Ariel Durham, 33, East Eighth Street, Salem, charged with obstructing official business and disorderly conduct for allegedly failing to give officers her address after being asked multiple times and failing to cooperate with officers during her arrest after an incident outside the Foundry in Salem on May 28.

A pretrial was set July 21 for Maggie Mabry, 27, Alliance, charged with theft for allegedly failing to pay for an $11 bag of dog food at Dollar General on U.S. Route 62, Salem, on June 1.

Andrew Bolyard, 32, East Third Street, Salem, was fined $500 and sentenced to 20 days in jail with credit for eight days served for obstructing official business and driving under suspension. Bolyard had an active warrant and hid from officers in a basement on West Pershing Street on Dec. 14, 2021, refusing to come out or give his name and date of birth.

A pretrial was set Aug. 8 for Jason Ramsey, 40, South Lincoln Avenue, Salem, charged with theft for allegedly failing to scan 26 items valued at $235 from the Salem Walmart on June 11 and leaving the store.

Dakota Lee Powell, 26, state Route 39, Wellsville, was dishonorably terminated from probation on a charge of operating a vehicle under the influence and received credit for seven days already served in jail.

A probation violation hearing was set June 23 for Joey Bedenbough, 41, Akron, on a charge of criminal damaging for failing to complete the terms of probation.

A pretrial was set July 12 for Anne Graff, 68, Pancake Clarkson Road, Rogers, charged with traffic control devices.

A pretrial was set Aug. 1 for Bradley Baxter, 47, Scio, charged with driving under suspension, speeding and use of unauthorized plates.

Ruth White, 62, state Route 164, Salineville, was fined $60 for a seat belt violation and turn signal.

Zachary Baird, 30, Duck Creek Road, Salem, was fined $200 for driving under suspension.

Dominic Haines, 20, North Market Street, Lisbon, was fined $175 for driving under suspension and speeding.

Erin Atkinson, 42, North Howard Avenue, Salem, was fined $105 for driving under suspension and no seat belt.

Randy Bugara, 44, North Canton, was fined $100 for possession of marijuana.