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LISBON -- A Bristolville man caught in a sex sting last year entered a guilty plea recently to prosecutor's information for fourth-degree felony attempted compelling prostitution.
Marc Schmucker, 42, appeared for a hearing in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court regarding the charge, with sentencing set for April 29.
He had originally been charged in county Municipal Court with third-degree felony compelling prostitution and fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools. Schmucker was accused of responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website advertising a 16-year-old juvenile and soliciting sexual activity in exchange for money, traveling to East Palestine on Jan. 12, 2023 for the meeting.
Also in Common Pleas Court:
-- Sara Noling, 37, Wood Street, East Palestine, entered guilty pleas to charges in four different cases, mostly related to drugs, with sentencing set for April 25. Noling pleaded guilty to two counts third-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and a single count of fourth-degree felony possession of fentanyl-related compound for possessing fentanyl in an amount equal or greater than 1 gram, but less than 5 grams and methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk, but less than five times bulk during an incident in East Palestine on Aug. 9. She also possessed methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk, but less than five times bulk on March 8, 2023. Charges of trafficking and possession were dismissed.
Noling pleaded guilty to fifth-degree felonies of breaking and entering and receiving stolen property and fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property for entering a residence on South Market Street, East Palestine, on May 5 and possessing a stolen checkbook and a drug on June 5. She pleaded guilty to fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs for possessing methamphetamine on Jan. 14, 2022.
Noling also pleaded guilty to third-degree felonies of illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a special governmental facility and aggravated possession of drugs and a misdemeanor possession of drugs for taking drugs into a detention facility and possessing buprenorphine and methamphetamine on Oct. 18, 2022.
-- Walter Short, 41, Wells Hollow Road, Wellsville, was sentenced to 10 months in prison after violating his probation for nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony. His probation was dishonorably terminated and he received credit for seven days served in jail. Short failed to pay child support from Jan. 1, 2018 to Jan. 26, 2020.