Common Pleas

New Cases

Columbiana Country Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Jeffrey S. Sloan, Columbiana, and Capital One Bank, Richmond, Va.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for North Middle Street, Columbiana, property.

Rocket Mortgage LLC, Woodward Avenue, Detroit, vs Patricia L. Myers, state Route 39, Wellsville, et al; mortgage foreclosure sought.

LVNV Funding LLC, Greenville, S.C., vs. James Simpson, Edward Circle, Columbiana; collection sought of alleged $18,800 debt.

Roy Larkins, Steubenville Pike Road, Lisbon, vs. Michael R. Tice, Mick Road, Wellsville, and Acme Bros. Plumbing Contractors Co., Bonesville School Road, Leetonia; damages in excess of $25,000 for a motor vehicle crash Sept. 13, 2023.

Kimberly J. Jones, Walnut Street, Rogers, vs. William H. Jones, John Avenue, East Liverpool; divorce sought.

Jacqueline D. Spencer, Butcher Road, Salem, vs. James R. Spencer Jr., Westville Lake Road, Beloit; divorce sought.

Docket Entries

Gerald T. Hopple Jr., Minerva, and Kami L. Hopple, East Rochester; dissolution granted.

William C. Swearingen vs., Linda K. Swearingen, divorce granted.

Huntington National Bank vs. Colton Merill et al; petition for bankruptcy stayed.

JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A. vs. Nicole M. Moon; petition for bankruptcy stayed.

Marci D. Royer vs. Michael C. Utt et al; claims settled, case dismissed.

Grand Jury

LISBON — An inmate at the Columbiana County Jail was served a secret indictment issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury for multiple drug charges.

Norman D. Sleper, 58, Ravine Street, East Liverpool, was served Friday on charges of aggravated trafficking of drugs, a second-degree felony; aggravated possession of drugs, a second-degree felony; and possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly being found with a bulk amount of methamphetamine May 4, 2024.

Also served a secret indictment:

— Cassandra J. Badini, 36, state Route 45, Salem, was served Monday in common pleas court on charges of weapons under a disability, a third-degree felony; and aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony; for allegedly having a firearm and methamphetamine Nov. 16, 2023.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, charges against related to a domestic dispute in Salem were bound over to the grand jury.

Seaton I. Ruffner, 41, Ohio Avenue, Salem, is charged with strangulation, a fourth-degree felony; domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony; vandalism, a fifth-degree felony; and misdemeanor domestic violence for allegedly choking the victim at their home April 10, causing injury to the victim’s neck.

A pretrial was set May 8 for Tracy Renee Douds, 47, Midland Road, Midland, Pa., charged with drug paraphernalia for allegedly having a cut straw with white residue on it during a traffic stop in St. Clair Township April 21.

A pretrial was set May 27 for Penelope Lynn Clark, 65, McCoy Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with theft for allegedly failing to scan and pay for three items totaling $34.19 at a Dresden Avenue business in Calcutta April 16.

A pretrial was set June 10 for Justin Karl McCauley, 18, Hillcrest Road, Wellsville, charged with underage OVI, failure to control and a seatbelt violation.

A pretrial was set June 16 for Joseph Michael Stolz, 51, East Beech Street, Alliance, charged with OVI-first offense, OVI refusal with prior within 20 years, a turn signal violation and speeding.

A pretrial was set July 7 for Heidi D. Roe, 50, Orchard Grove, East Liverpool, charged with OVI-second offense and no taillights.

Raul A. Bautista, 31, North Market Street, East Palestine, was sentenced to 30 days in jail (suspended), fined $250, and ordered to complete 20 hours community service and substance abuse treatment.

Richard M. Cox, 42, Beverly Drive, North Benton, was fined $530 for disorderly conduct amended from endangering children, reckless operation amended from OVI, unauthorized plate, distracted driving and no seatbelt, with a charge of left of center dismissed, following a traffic stop in Butler Township May 15, 2024 in which he was found to be driving impaired.

Christopher Joseph Russell, 29, Etruria Street, East Liverpool, was fined $100 for failure to control. A charge of failure to stop was dismissed.