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COLUMBIANA COUNTY GRAND JURY

LISBON – Derek Craig, 50, formerly of East Palestine, whose address was listed as Petersburg, was charged with two counts of cruelty to companion animals, one a fifth-degree felony and one a misdemeanor, third-degree felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanor obstructing official business.

County sheriff deputies responded Sept. 11, 2022 to Lotze Drive, East Palestine for a report of animal abuse, talking to a woman who said she was informed that Craig shot her chihuahua with a shotgun and that the dog was possibly located on Hadley Road. She pointed out the area and deputies found a pink tote containing a deceased dog matching the description given by the victim. On the indictment, the dog was identified as a chihuahua/miniature pinscher puppy.

The defendant allegedly admitted to shooting the dog with a 20-gauge shotgun and tossing the shotgun off of the road in an undisclosed location, an affidavit said.

The grand jury met for two days on Tuesday and Wednesday and issued 12 open indictments and 26 secret indictments. Secret indictments aren’t made public until the defendant is served.

Other open indictments issued included:

— Joshua Goebeler, 34, Buffalo Road, East Rochester, second-degree felony felonious assault for allegedly attempting to strike a woman with a vehicle in a bean field in East Rochester off of Buffalo Road while she was looking for a cell phone he threw there on Sept. 5, 2022.

— Kaiden Nagel, 19, Brenda Lane, Columbiana, Aydn Hillier, 18, New England Square, New Waterford, and Tyler Kolesar, 20, Crestview Road, Columbiana, each charged with third-degree felony burglary for allegedly breaking into a vacant residence and being found inside on South Market Street in East Palestine on Jan. 22 after it was discovered barricaded from the inside with a back door open. There had been complaints about people breaking into the structure and stealing items, according to an affidavit.

— Daniel Hess, 63, Mineral Ridge, third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools, and misdemeanor engaging in prostitution for allegedly making arrangements with an undercover Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force agent to meet an adult female and 15-year-old girl for sexual conduct in exchange for $130, arriving in East Palestine on Nov. 9, 2022 with his cell phone, the money and two Frosty’s from Wendy’s he was asked to pick up for the females.

— James E. Artrup, 34, Hubbard, fifth-degree felony escape and misdemeanors of obstructing official business and resisting arrest for an incident Oct. 13, 2021 in East Palestine when he allegedly had a warrant for his arrest and fled on foot from a scene while another person was being arrested.

— Gage Gough, 28, Ambrose Avenue, East Liverpool, second-degree felony burglary, third-degree felony grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance and fifth-degree felony theft for allegedly forcefully entering an East Liverpool residence on Oct. 28, 2022 and stealing a safe which contained money, two loaded handguns and personal papers. The indictment described the guns as a Denali cobra .380 and a Ruger LCP and the cash totaling $1,100.

— Joshua Vishak, 48, Y Camp Road, Lisbon, third-degree felonies of violating a protection order and having weapons while under disability and fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property for allegedly violating a protection order while committing a felony offense on Feb. 2 at a Faulk Avenue, East Liverpool property where a search warrant was being executed. Vishak allegedly had in his possession a stolen Taurus 62C 9 mm semi-automatic pistol and was barred from having any weapons due to previous felony convictions.

— Donald Fiore, 56, Robin Avenue, Salem, third-degree felony domestic violence for allegedly attempting or causing serious physical harm to a woman on Feb. 8-9 in Salem, with two previous domestic violence convictions on his record. He allegedly punched the woman in the face, causing injury and causing her glasses to break.

— Tony J. Blendenbacher, 38, East Michigan Avenue, Sebring, third-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer for allegedly fleeing from a sheriff’s deputy attempting a traffic stop on Hartley Road while responding to a domestic disturbance on Nov. 16, 2022. Blendenbacher was allegedly at the end of the driveway of the property in question and accelerated onto the road upon seeing the cruiser with overhead lights activated. The pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns because of the high rate of speed between 80 to 100 mph.

— Phillip E. Steele, 59, Highland Drive, East Liverpool, fourth-degree felony domestic violence for allegedly causing physical harm to a woman at a residence on Duke Vodrey Road in St. Clair Township on Jan. 19-20, with a previous domestic violence conviction on his record.

— An East Liverpool woman accused of causing physical harm to a man earlier this year was served Thursday with a secret indictment issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury.

Tanika Smith, 43, Spring Grove Avenue, was charged with third-degree felony domestic violence for allegedly attempting or causing physical harm to a man on Jan 17, 2023, with the charge a felony due to two previous domestic violence convictions against her.

Also served recently with secret indictments were:

— John Hester, 63, Aven Road NE, Salineville, fifth-degree felony theft, for allegedly stealing a 2017 Diamond Dump Trailer belonging to Andy Cline on Oct. 25, 2021.

— Joseph Jackson, 25, Campbell, fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine for allegedly possessing cocaine on Sept. 23, 2021, along with a forfeiture specification for money in a drug case totaling $1,383.

— Kira Jackson, 34, Vale Street, Lisbon, fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine for allegedly possessing cocaine on March 12, 2022.

— Tia Miller, 33, Martin Avenue, East Liverpool, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on April 30, 2022.

— A man accused of shooting a woman’s dog to death and tossing away the shotgun he used was one of a dozen defendants charged in open indictments issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury this week.

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