LISBON — A former East Palestine man accused of threatening to burn down his own home last year was ordered to serve up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center as part of the community control he was placed under for three years.

Joshua Gorby, 48, Darlington, Pa., appeared for sentencing recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court for attempted aggravated arson, a third-degree felony, and misdemeanors of domestic violence and endangering children. He was designated an arson offender with a registration requirement. Gorby was accused of threatening to burn down his South Market Street, East Palestine home after pouring gasoline around the perimeter during a lightning-laden thunderstorm June 15, 2023.

Through the investigation, police learned the defendant allegedly poured gasoline around the back of the home, on the back porch and in the detached garage, an affidavit said. He then went into the home and evacuated a child, advising her he was going to burn the house down. The affidavit noted the incident took place during a thunderstorm and the lightning strikes could have ignited the gasoline. Charges of possessing criminal tools and a second count of attempted aggravated arson were to be dismissed.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Alan T. James, 46, Irondale, pleaded guilty to two fourth-degree felony assault charges, and misdemeanors of using weapons while intoxicated and resisting arrest. A charge of obstructing official business will dismissed. Sentencing was set for June 7. James was allegedly seen standing next to a truck and trailer with a shotgun laying on the tailgate on April 26, 2023 on state Route 39, Wellsville. He wouldn’t give his name when approached by sheriff’s deputies and resisted when a deputy attempted to check him for weapons, ignoring multiple commands to stop reaching in his pockets and put his hands behind his back. Once handcuffed, he kicked a deputy multiple times and trapped another deputy’s arm in between his.

— Emilio Quinones, 52, Youngstown, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree felony domestic violence and misdemeanor obstructing official business for allegedly assaulting a woman on Sept. 19, 2023 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. Sentencing was set for May 9. A strangulation charge will be dismissed.

— Jeffrey Maurer, 53, state Route 154, Rogers, pleaded no contest and was found guilty of grand theft, a fourth-degree felony, with sentencing set for June 10. Maurer was accused of stealing funds from the Ohio Valley Business Travel Association from Jan. 1, 2018 to Jan. 31, 2019, with the funds coming from unauthorized withdrawals and card purchases.

— Donald Meadows Graves Jr., 34, Youngstown, pleaded guilty to two counts of violating a protection order, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for May 9. The violations allegedly occurred on Feb. 8, 2020 and Feb. 13, 2020.

— A motion to suppress evidence in a drug case against Nathan James Minerd, 37, Youngstown, was denied by Judge Scott Washam, who ruled the traffic stop which led to the charges was justified. Minerd was charged with fourth-degree felonies of trafficking in heroin and trafficking in fentanyl-related compound for allegedly attempting to sell drugs in East Palestine on Aug. 16, 2023. The amounts of the drugs involved were equal or exceed 1 gram, but were less than 5 grams.

— Michael Souers, 36, Prospect Street, Salem, pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for June 17. He was accused of possessing fentanyl on Sept. 24, 2022.