LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, five people who were at a Benton Road, Salem residence when the county Drug Task Force executed a search warrant Monday were arraigned on charges of obstructing official business, a misdemeanor.

A pretrial was set March 21 for the property owner, James Merino, 65, Benton Road, Salem, charged with obstructing official business for not coming to the door when ordered during the execution of the warrant.

Pretrials were set March 20 on the charge for the other four defendants: Sara Myers, 30, U.S. Route 62, Salem; Cacandra Seddon, 42, East Third Street, Salem; Steven McGrew, 37, Pine Lake Road, Beloit; and James Peck, 41, Olive Street, Salem.

Cases against Nikki Koffel, 33, West Fourth Street, East Liverpool, were bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony tampering with evidence, two counts of fifth-degree felony assault, fifth-degree felony obstructing official business and two counts of misdemeanor assault. The charges all stem from incidents on Feb. 25 when she allegedly assaulted a nurse at East Liverpool City Hospital by biting her and kicking her while being treated for a possible overdose that occurred while she was being transported to jail. Koffel had been at the hospital earlier and taken into custody on a warrant. Once she was returned to the county jail, Koffel allegedly shoved a baggie in her mouth and refused to spit it out. When a correctional officer tried to remove the bag, she allegedly kicked the officer in the chest and bit the officer when the officer attempted to pry her mouth open. The tampering charge stemmed from Koffel attempting to swallow the alleged drugs she had placed in her mouth.

A preliminary hearing was set March 16 for Donald Fiore, 56, North Ellsworth Avenue, Salem, charged with fourth-degree felony domestic violence for allegedly throwing a woman to the ground and hitting her in the face on March 7 in Salem. Bond was set at $75,000 cash or surety and he was ordered to have no contact with the female victim.

A pretrial was set May 22 for Gregg Balint, 47, U.S. Route 30, Hanoverton, charged with four counts of cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor, for allegedly failing to provide proper food or shelter for two bulls from Dec. 1 through Dec. 23, 2022 on his property, where they were outside in cold temperatures with no food or water. He was ordered not to own or possess any animal while the case is pending.

A pretrial was set May 18 for Jeri Sommers, 64, Benton Road, Salem, charged with three counts of prohibitions concerning companion animals, a misdemeanor, for allegedly failing to properly care for 13 dogs and seven cats from Sept. 1, 2022 through Oct. 22, 2022 at her property where they were allegedly confined in conditions of extreme filth and an odor of urine, didn’t have proper water, were dehydrated and were infested with fleas. She was ordered not to have any companion animals while the case is pending.

A case against Brian Pugh, 47, Chester, W.Va., was bound over to the county grand jury on a fifth-degree felony charge of theft for allegedly failing to scan and pay for 75 items totaling $1,175 from the Calcutta Walmart on Dec. 20. 2022.

A case against Bryan Dilling, 51, state Route 7, Lisbon, was bound over to the county grand jury on a fourth-degree felony failure to verify change of address for allegedly failing to notify the sheriff’s office of his change of address on Feb. 15 as required for a registered sex offender.

Richard Whitman, 52, East Fifth Street, Salem, was fined $250 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 179 days suspended and credit for one day served, for domestic violence. He was also permitted to buy out 40 hours community service. Whitman punched a woman in the face during a domestic on Dec 15, 2022 in Salem.

Charles Slocum Jr., 31, North Jefferson Street, Lisbon, was fined $250 and sentenced to 20 days in jail, with credit for four days served, leaving 16 days to serve, for domestic violence, a misdemeanor amended from a felony. Slocum shoved a woman to the floor during an altercation Feb. 26 in Lisbon.

A charge of criminal trespass was dismissed against Dale Polya, 28, formerly Lisbon, now of Orient, who had been accused of entering a woman’s apartment in Lisbon on July 8, 2022.

Canyon Colson, 25, Annesley Road, East Liverpool, was fined $250 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 29 days suspended and credit for one day served, for disorderly conduct, amended from domestic violence, for a fighting incident at a St. Clair Township property on Aug. 21, 2022.

Sue LeClerc, 41, East Fifth Street, Salem, was fined $150 and given a suspended 180-day jail term for assault, amended from domestic violence, for punching a man in the face on Dec. 15, 2022 in Salem. She was permitted to buy out 40 hours community service.

Kevin Dopp, 32, East Chestnut Street, Lisbon, was fined $250 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 179 days suspended and credit for one day served, for domestic violence. Dopp was permitted to buy out 40 hours community service. Dopp slapped a woman in the face on Dec. 21, 2022 in Lisbon.

Audrey Weddle, 32, Dutchtown School Road, Rogers, was fined $300 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for disorderly conduct and reckless operation. She was also ordered to complete 20 hours community service. Weddle positioned her vehicle in front of a Beaver Local school bus on Dutchtown School Road, Rogers on Sept. 14, 2022, got out of her vehicle and started yelling at the bus driver and attempted to enter the bus and also threw a cup at the school bus, with the liquid covering the front of the bus. According to a report, she was a parent and claimed the bus didn’t stop for her kids.

Michael Earl, 63, Goshen Road, Salem, was fined $565 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 157 days suspended, leaving five days to serve and credit for 18 days electronically monitored house arrest, for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs second offense and traffic control devices. His driver’s license was suspended for two years, with driving privileges granted. He was permitted to buy out 40 hours of community service.

Michael Julian, 42, Chester, W.Va., was fined $375 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 87 days suspended and three days imposed, for OVI. His driver’s license was suspended for a year, with driving privileges granted.

Breontez Young, 29, Hawley Avenue, Salem, was fined $2,210 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 165 days suspended, credit for five days served, leaving 15 days imposed, for two counts OVI, two counts driving under suspension, headlights required and park on highway. His driver’s license was suspended for two years and he was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

A pretrial was set May 16 for Seth Mora, 29, New Brighton, Pa., charged with OVI first offense and failure to control.

James Cheeks, 45, Fairview Court, Columbiana, was fined $180 for no license and expired registration.

Lexi Kate Wright, 18, Tomahawk Drive, Negley, was fined $75 for lighted lights, amended from left of center, and a charge of distracted driving was dismissed.

A pretrial was set May 18 for Alan Murphy, 30, Creek Road, New Waterford, charged with speeding-school zone, no seat belt, and no driver’s license.

Amber Beckwith, 39, Main Street, Wellsville, was fined $100 for possessing marijuana.