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COLUMBIANA COUNTY COURT NEWS
LISBON -- A Cleveland man charged with multiple drugs counts in one case and for fleeing from police in another was sentenced to five to seven and a half years in prison, along with an additional 12 months, after entering guilty pleas to several charges.
In the drug case from March 2020, Denzel Crowell, 33, pleaded guilty in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court to possession of cocaine, a first-degree felony, with specifications for forfeiture of money in a drug case, second-degree felony aggravated trafficking in drugs, and two counts of first-degree felony trafficking in fentanyl-related compound. Charges of aggravated possession of drugs and trafficking in cocaine were dismissed.
Besides the prison term of five to seven and a half years, Crowell was issued mandatory fines totaling $37,500, and was ordered to forfeit $351.
According to the secret indictment, the possession charges stemmed from March 12, 2020 when Crowell allegedly possessed $351, an amount of cocaine equal to or exceeding 27 grams or less than 100 grams and an amount of methamphetamine equal to or exceeding five times the bulk amount but less than 50 times the bulk amount.
The trafficking charges stemmed from March 15, 2020 when Crowell allegedly prepared for sale or attempted to sell an amount of methamphetamine equal to or exceeding five times the bulk amount but less than 50 times the bulk amount, amounts of fentanyl and fentanyl-related compound equal to or exceeding 20 grams, but less than 50 grams and an amount of cocaine equal to or exceeding 20 grams but less than 27 grams.
The drug sentence was ordered served at the same time as the fleeing case and another sentence out of Harrison County.
Crowell pleaded guilty to third-degree felony failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer and misdemeanor driving under suspension. Charges of tampering with evidence and obstructing official business were dismissed.
The sentence of 12 months was ordered to served consecutive to the drug case and the sentence out of Harrison County, which was four years for two drugs counts and a tampering charge. His driver's license was suspended for five years.
Crowell fled from St. Clair Township police attempting a traffic stop, jumping from the car while it was still moving, grabbing something from the road and fleeing into the woods and getting caught in March 2020.
Also in Common Pleas Court:
-- Thomas Peterson, 59, Medina, was sentenced to nine months in prison after pleading guilty to third-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and fifth-degree felony possession of fentanyl-related compound for possessing methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk and fentanyl on Nov. 11, 2022. The term was ordered served at the same time as the nine-month sentence he already received for fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property and misdemeanors of criminal damaging and criminal trespass.
-- Kaleb Stillwell, 19, Irondale, was placed on probation for three years, but with a requirement to serve up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center in Wintersville for third-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, and fourth-degree felony vehicular assault. Stillwell was accused of fleeing from police attempting a traffic stop on May 12 in Wellsville, leading a pursuit to state Route 7 where the vehicle crashed into a hill. The indictment alleged that Stillwell caused serious physical harm to a minor while driving recklessly. His driver's license was suspended for five years.
-- Theresa Keener, 45, Cadiz, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, after the court determined the defendant was presently competent based on the competency restoration report performed by Heartland Behavioral Health. Keener was sentenced to 180 days in jail, but received credit for 180 days served, with the court noting the defendant had been in custody for more time than the state was recommending. She was ordered released. Two counts of possession of drugs and a single count of possessing drug abuse instruments were dismissed. The charges stemmed from 2020 when Keener possessed methamphetamine, along with buprenorphine and alprazolam.
-- Robert A. Endres, 34, Rose Drive, Lisbon, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree felony domestic violence and misdemeanor endangering children, with sentencing set for April 5. Endres was accused of allegedly assaulting a woman holding a child during a domestic on May 11 at a Rose Drive apartment in Lisbon, pushing and shoving the woman and causing the woman to fall to the ground while holding the child.
-- Lee Givens, 36, East Taggart Street, East Palestine, pleaded guilty fifth-degree felonies of two counts aggravated possession of drugs, single counts of breaking and entering and receiving stolen property and fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property, with sentencing set for April 8. Givens possessed methamphetamine on Jan 14, 2022 and May 5, 2022 and was accused of entering a residence on South Market Street, East Palestine on May 5, 2022 and possessing a stolen checkbook and a drug on June 5, 2022.
-- Brianne Flaherty, 29, Birch Road, East Liverpool, was sentenced to nine months in prison for possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. She possessed cocaine on Oct. 25, 2022.
COLUMBIANA COUNTY GRAND JURY
LISBON -- During a special session of the Columbiana County Grand Jury this week, a few additional open indictments were issued, along with four secret indictments.
Secret indictments don't become public until the indictment is served.
Open indictments issued included:
-- Jonathan Fish, 44, North Sumner Street, East Palestine, charged with fifth-degree felony improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and misdemeanors of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination – OVI and operating a vehicle while under the influence of a listed controlled substance or a listed metabolite of a controlled substance – OVI. Fish allegedly possessed a loaded firearm when troopers responded for a disabled vehicle on Oct. 6 in Unity Township. He also allegedly had a concentration of marijuana metabolite in his urine.
-- Christopher Brink, 43, Franklin Avenue, Salem, charged with having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony, for allegedly having a firearm on Dec. 6 while under indictment for a felony offense of aggravated trafficking in drugs.
-- James C. Craig, 39, Florence Street, East Liverpool, charged with driving under suspension, a misdemeanor, and two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them – OVI, a third-degree felony, with a specification for additional prison term for certain repeat OVI offenders. The offenses stemmed from a Nov. 30 incident when Craig was allegedly driving impaired. He had a previous OVI felony conviction from Sept. 19, 2022 and at least five or more previous OVI misdemeanor convictions.
LISBON -- Secret indictments issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury were served Thursday to two area residents for drug charges.
Eric M. Kibler, 35, Brookdale Avenue, East Palestine, was charged with possession of fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing fentanyl on Feb. 8, 2023.
Randy Newberry, 65, Morris Road, Lisbon, was charged with aggravated possession of drugs and possession of cocaine, both fifth-degree felonies, for allegedly possessing cocaine and methamphetamine on March 6, 2023.