Trending
LISBON -- An East Liverpool man accused of making threats against a St. Clair Township police officer and his K-9 partner last summer pleaded guilty to retaliation.
James Lewis, 52, Dairy Lane, recently entered the plea in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, with sentencing set for June 16.
The charge was the result of an investigation by St. Clair Township Detective Keith Hilderbrand, who was contacted on Aug. 2, 2022 by a bail bondsman regarding a threat made toward an officer who works for the township, an affidavit said. The bail bondsman reported receiving a call from James Lewis who was allegedly trying to get a bond for a crime he had not committed yet.
In an affidavit, Hilderbrand said he listened to the recorded phone conversation of Lewis allegedly making threats of getting even by inflicting physical harm to the officer who arrested him for a 2017 traffic case in St. Clair Township. Additionally, Lewis allegedly stated that since the officer had a K-9 partner, he would have to break the K-9's neck, too.
Also in Common Pleas Court:
-- Thomas Engle Jr., 53, Sharon, Pa., pleaded guilty to third-degree felony compelling prostitution and fourth-degree felonies of attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and importuning, with sentencing set for June 12. Charges of possession of criminal tools and engaging in prostitution. Engle made arrangements for sex for hire with an undercover agent posing as a juvenile on Aug. 25, 2022.
-- Melissa Dalessio, 45, Stagecoach Road, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and possessing drug abuse instruments, a misdemeanor, with sentencing set for May 4. Dalessio possessed methamphetamine on Dec. 15, 2019.
-- Daniel Canterbury, 33, Steubenville, was ordered to serve a term at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center for violating his treatment plan for charges of aggravated possession of drugs and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. The charges stemmed from Canterbury possessing methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia on May 3, 2021.
-- The court ordered a psychological evaluation by the Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio for Rachel Garnes, 44, East Taggart Street, East Palestine, who's charged with domestic violence for an incident Dec. 9, 2022. The court granted the motion filed by the defense for the evaluation on whether Garnes can plead not guilty by reason of insanity and determine competency to stand trial.
-- Chad Ratliff, 51, Chester, W.Va., pleaded guilty to two counts nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, for failing to pay child support for two children from May 3, 2020 to May 8, 2022. Sentencing was set for June 23.
-- Sentencing was set April 11 for Jeffrey L. Harper, 51, whose address was listed as Belmont Correctional Institution. After a trial to the court, Harper was found guilty of driving under suspension and two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs a third-degree felony.
-- Tyquon Myers, 23, Youngstown, pleaded guilty to trafficking in fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, with a specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case, with sentencing set for May 5. Myers possessed fentanyl-related compound on Feb. 10, 2019, along with $1,495.
-- David J. Sisco Jr., 32, Pancake Clarkson Road, Rogers, pleaded guilty to illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specific government facility, a third-degree felony, with sentencing set for May 5. The illegal conveyance at the jail occurred Oct. 3, 2021.
-- Norman Shields, 52, Huston Avenue, East Liverpool, was sentenced to six months in jail, to be served at the same time as a sentence in another case, with credit for 180 days served, for possession of cocaine, a fourth-degree felony. The court entry said he was to remain in the county jail until April 24 to complete the sentence. Shields possessed cocaine on April 14, 2021 in an amount in excess of 5 grams, but less than 10 grams.
-- Sentencing was set April 13 for Justin Barrett, 38, Sophia Street, East Liverpool, who pleaded guilty to having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony, and fifth-degree felonies of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of drugs. On Jan. 11, 2022, Barrett possessed methamphetamine and pregabalin and had a firearm which he was prohibited from having due to a previous felony conviction.
-- A former corrections officer at the Columbiana County jail will face sentencing June 9 for charges related to bringing drugs into the lockup for inmates in 2021.
Keith McCoy, 54, Padgett Road, East Palestine, pleaded guilty recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court to illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specified government facility, a third-degree felony, possession of fentanyl-related compound and two counts aggravated possession of drugs, all fifth-degree felonies, and misdemeanor possession of drugs.
McCoy was caught Oct. 7, 2021 attempting to bring drugs into the jail, including methamphetamine, buprenorphine, fentanyl-related compound, and a drug known as anilino-Nphenethyl-4-piperidine.
Also in Common Pleas Court,
-- Samson Anderson, 37, Youngstown, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree felony importuning, fourth-degree felony attempted compelling prostitution and fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, with sentencing set for May 26. Charges of soliciting and possession of criminal tools will be dismissed. Anderson used his cell phone June 1-June 2, 2022 to solicit sexual acts from an undercover police officer posing as a 15-year-old female and 45-year-old female and traveling to East Palestine for the encounter on June 2, 2022.
-- Matthew Jennings, 43, Sharpsville, Pa., pleaded guilty to attempted compelling prostitution, a fourth-degree felony amended from a third-degree felony compelling prostitution, along with pleading guilty to fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and misdemeanor operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, with sentencing set for June 2. Charges of possessing criminal tools and engaging in prostitution will be dismissed. Jennings solicited sexual conduct with a Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force agent posing as an adult female and 15-year-old girl in exchange for $240, in addition to $35 extra for drinking with him first, and then arrived for the meeting Oct. 2, 2022 in East Palestine.
-- Raymond G. Crow, 31, Duke Vodrey Road, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, a fourth-degree felony, amended from aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, with sentencing set for June 8. Crow entered a property and assaulted or threatened to assault an occupant on March 1, 2021.
-- Gregory Steven Cordy, 54, Hubbard, pleaded guilty to attempted engaging in prostitution, a fourth-degree felony, with sentencing set for June 12. He was originally indicted for promoting prostitution for offering to facilitate a sex for hire enterprise on Dec. 6, 2021 by agreeing to drive a woman to East Palestine who arranged sexual conduct in exchange for $300 with an undercover officer. The woman reportedly agreed to pay Cordy $100 for the ride.
-- Ronnie McCauley Jr., 40, Lincoln Avenue, Wellsville, pleaded guilty to nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for April 14. McCauley failed to provide child support for a child from May 14, 2020 to May 12, 2022.
-- William Dejesus, 27, Harrisburg, Pa., pleaded guilty to improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and a misdemeanor of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, with sentencing set for May 25. Dejesus possessed a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle and drug paraphernalia during a stop May 4, 2022.
-- Trey Hargrove, 28, West Pidgeon Road, Salem pleaded guilty to an amended charge of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony, with sentencing set for June 1. He was originally charged with two counts endangering children. Hargrove caused harm to a child victim from July 1, 2022 to July 24, 2022 and had a previous conviction for assault.