Trending
COLUMBIANA COUNTY GRAND JURY
LISBON -- A Lisbon man originally charged with domestic violence for allegedly hitting a boy with a belt is now facing three felony counts of endangering children for allegedly abusing the boy repeatedly since 2020.
Joseph Steven Frank, 50, Eric Drive, was indicted by the Columbiana County Grand Jury this week for the charge, with two second-degree felonies and one third-degree felony for the three counts.
According to the indictment, the abuse started when the child was 7 years old, with Frank allegedly abusing, repeatedly administering unwarranted disciplinary measures and causing serious physical harm to the child from Oct. 18, 2020 to April 6, 2023.
An affidavit filed in county municipal court when Frank was first arrested for domestic violence alleged he used a belt that left welts and bruises on the boy's body, arms, head and neck.
Frank was one of 20 defendants issued open indictments by the grand jury, which met for two days, examining 66 witnesses, covering 63 cases and presenting 62 true bills. Besides the open indictments, the grand jury issued three superseding indictments and 39 secret indictments. The secret indictments aren't made public until the defendants are served with the documents. One case was continued.
A superseding indictment was issued against Davante Jackson, 31, Cleveland, with new charges issued for second-degree felonies of trafficking in fentanyl-related compound and possession of fentanyl-related compound and fourth-degree felonies of trafficking in cocaine and possession of cocaine, all with specifications for forfeiture of money in a drug case. The new charges are added to the original charges which included third-degree felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanors of resisting arrest and obstructing official business. Jackson allegedly dropped a bag of alleged narcotics after taking off on foot from officers who responded to an alleged drug deal in East Liverpool on April 3. A patrolman was injured while chasing him down and had to deploy his taser to stop Jackson. According to the indictment, he was attempting to sell and possessed fentanyl in an amount equal to or exceeding 10 grams but less than 20 grams and also cocaine equal to or exceeding five grams but less than 10 grams. He also possessed $863.
A superseding indictment was also issued against James Merino, 66, Benton Road, Salem, charged with fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and third-degree felony having weapons while under disability. The weapons charge was new. Merino was accused of possessing methamphetamine and a firearm on Oct. 13, 2021. He was prohibited from having a firearm due to prior convictions.
Other open indictments issued included:
-- Matthew Hormel, 40, East Martin Street, East Palestine, aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs, both third-degree felonies, alleging he possessed and prepared for sale methamphetamine on July 29.
-- Kharyzma Thompson, 22, Martins Ferry, misdemeanors of obstructing official business, resisting arrest and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. During a traffic stop Sept. 7 in St. Clair Township, she allegedly possessed a suspected glass crack pipe which she grabbed and threw from the packaging. She also refused to place her hands behind her back and had to be taken to the ground during her arrest.
-- Christian Henry, 20, Youngstown, fourth-degree felony improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle for allegedly having a loaded firearm in a vehicle during a traffic stop July 27.
-- Kennith R. Jordan, 50, East Pidgeon Road, Salem, third-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and misdemeanors of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, OVI refusal, driving under suspension, and drug paraphernalia. Jordan allegedly led troopers on a high-speed chase on a motorcycle on Sept. 11 in Elkrun Township, eventually crashing and running on foot before being tased and taken into custody. He also possessed a hypodermic needle and suspected marijuana.
-- Lauren Paterson, 44, Beacon Light Road, Lisbon, two counts misdemeanor OVI, and misdemeanors of improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. Paterson allegedly possessed marijuana paraphernalia, a prescription bottle with a pill and a snort straw, along with a firearm on Aug. 10 during a traffic stop.
-- Curtis Gearhart, 39, Pine Hollow Road, Lisbon, third-degree felony intimidation and misdemeanor charges of aggravated menacing and obstructing official business for allegedly threatening Perry Township police officers during a traffic stop on Sept. 5, calling them pigs and making them believe he wanted to harm their families. He also kept acting belligerent and ripped his minor misdemeanor citation in half.
-- Kristal Keyes, 39, Claibourne Street, East Liverpool, felonious assault, a second-degree felony, for allegedly being one of three people who assaulted a man on July 15 in East Liverpool.
-- Timothy Keyes, 44, Empire, felonious assault, a second-degree felony for allegedly striking a man in the head with a pipe on July 15 in East Liverpool.
-- Robert James Davis III, 38, Maple Street, Lisbon, second-degree felonies of burglary and robbery and misdemeanor theft for allegedly causing harm to a man while committing theft and stealing his wallet, ID card and $190 on Sept. 3.
-- Alexander Aratari, 36, Stocking Street, Washingtonville, second-degree felony felonious assault and misdemeanors of aggravated menacing and violation of a protection order. On Stocking Street in Washingtonville on July 26, Aratari allegedly attempted to run over the victim while the victim was mowing a neighbor's yard by driving up an embankment at a high rate of speed and barely missing him. He had also been giving the victim the middle finger whenever around and violated a protection order.
-- Richard Wright, 28, state Route 39, Wellsville, third-degree felony failure to verify change of address for allegedly failing to notify the sheriff's office on Sept. 14 of his change of address as required since he's a registered sex offender.
-- Thomas Wright, 47, state Route 39, Wellsville, fourth-degree felony failure to verify change of address for allegedly failing to notify the sheriff's office on Sept. 14 of his change of address as required since he's a registered sex offender.
-- Joseph Altenburg, 36, West Main Street, East Palestine, third-degree felony domestic violence for allegedly causing physical harm to a woman by striking her in the face twice and dragging her by the hair on July 9 in East Palestine, with a previous domestic violence conviction on his record.
-- Emilio Quinones, 52, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, charged with fourth-degree felonies of strangulation and domestic violence and misdemeanor obstructing official business for allegedly assaulting a woman on Sept. 19 in Salem, with a previous domestic violence conviction on his record. While police were there, he continued to walk away and not follow their commands.
-- Jason G. Ward, 45, Penn Avenue, Salem, third-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and misdemeanors of assault, OVI and failure to stop after an accident for allegedly pushing a female victim against a shed and then fleeing the scene, failing to stop for officers responding to the incident on June 1.
-- David Muntean, 42, Raley Road, New Waterford, fifth-degree felony violating a protection order for allegedly violating a protection order in place against him on Sept. 1.
-- Wilbert Faulk Jr., 38, Church Street Extension, Salineville, third-degree felony domestic violence and fourth-degree strangulation for allegedly assaulting a woman on Sept. 9 in Salineville.
-- Joseph W. Ward, 32, Poland, fourth-degree felony grand theft for stealing $15,235 from Aug. 25, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2023 from a woman.
-- John Caputa, 43, Medina, third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools for allegedly arranging to have sexual conduct with a female he believed to be a 15-year-old in exchange for money and traveling to East Palestine on July 10 for the meeting.
COLUMBIANA COUNTY COMMON PLEAS
New Cases
JP Morgan Chase Bank, Westerville, vs. Tami Kolodziej, New Castle, Pa., et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought.
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, West Palm Beach, Fla., vs. Tracy Peterson, state Route 14, Columbiana, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought.
North Mill Equipment Finance LLC, Norwalk, Conn., vs. M-D Meeks Trucking LLC, Franklin Avenue, Salem, et al.; collection sought of $25,098 alleged debt, plus interest and $5,019 attorney fees.
PennyMac Loan Services, LLC, Westlake Village, Calif., vs. Amanda Wallen, West Lincoln Way, Lisbon, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for West Lincoln Way, Lisbon property.
Inolex, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., vs. Zircon Industrial Services LLC, Atten: Trevor Reese, state Route 45, Leetonia; collection sought of $42,131 debt.
Docket Entries
County Treasurer vs. Lawrence Clemens, et al.; payment plan entered, case stayed.
Thompson Farms Inc. vs. Estate of James E. Thompson, deceased; judgment satisfied with defendant's payment of $252,684.
County Treasurer vs. unknown heirs Sue Goodlin, et al.; Total E & P dismissed as defendant.
Deanna Benedict vs. Donald Benedict Jr.; divorce granted.
Diana Blystone vs. Jason Blystone; divorce granted.
Amy Emmerling and Steven Emmerling; dissolution granted.
American Express National Bank vs. Christian Cavalier and Cavalier Trucking; $19,740 judgment granted to plaintiff.
County Treasurer vs. Stanley Essick, et al.; delinquent taxes paid, case dismissed.
County Treasurer vs. Joshua Lamp, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Dakota Avenue, East Liverpool property.
County Treasurer vs. PLC Properties LLC; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for West Fifth Street, Salem property.
COLUMBIANA COUNTY COURT NEWS
LISBON -- An East Liverpool woman who violated her probation has been sent to the Columbiana County jail for three days and recommended for drug court.
During an appearance Friday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, Charlene Sias, 46, Lang Street, had her probation for fifth-degree felony charges of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of fentanyl-related compound continued until Dec. 2, 2025.
As part of her probation, besides the jail time, she will be required to participate and complete the drug court program. Her charges date back to Aug. 10, 2021 when she possessed methamphetamine and fentanyl.