Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a status hearing was set Oct. 23 and a court trial was set Oct. 30 for Robert Allen Riggs, 55, East Ninth Street, East Liverpool, charged with domestic violence for allegedly placing his hands around a woman’s neck and beginning to strangle her, making it hard for her to breathe on Sept. 22 in East Liverpool. A fifth-degree felony strangulation charge was dismissed after probable cause was not found.

A pretrial was set Oct. 16 for Julie Marie McClain, 42, Old Fredericktown Road, East Liverpool, charged with criminal damaging, resisting arrest and criminal trespass for allegedly trespassing at an East Liverpool property and damaging a door on Oct. 10 and then refusing to follow police officer commands when placed into custody.

A pretrial was set Jan 14 for Shannon Marie Johnson, 45, McDonald Street, East Liverpool, charged with obstructing official business, two counts of drug paraphernalia, and use of unauthorized plate and no valid license for allegedly giving a false name and birth date during a traffic stop in Liverpool Township on Oct. 5. She also allegedly possessed two glass pipes and a clear baggie with suspected drugs.

A pretrial was set Jan. 14 for Carl David Gooding, 43, Putnam Street, East Liverpool, charged with drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing a burnt glass meth pipe on Oct. 9 in East Liverpool.

Craig A. Bartlett, 56, Sprucevale Road, East Liverpool, was fined $75 for prohibition against violations of board for failing to comply with an order issued by the Columbiana County Health District Board on Jan. 27, 2021 related to sewage on a Campground Road, Wellsville property, according to court documents.

Teri L. Smith, 49, High Street, Leetonia, was fined $50 for animals running at large after receiving several warnings and failing to contain the dogs from running at large on other properties.

James V. Elliott, 34, West Sixth Street, East Liverpool, was ordered to serve 21 days in jail for violating the terms of his probation for a theft charge from 2024. The term was ordered served consecutive to the terms for two other cases.

Charges of failure to stop after an accident, driving under suspension and left of center against Shauntrice K. Carter, 31, Oakland Avenue, East Liverpool, were dismissed.

A pretrial was set Oct. 16 for Angel Gonzales, 19, Park Drive, Salem, charged with underage consumption after a traffic crash on Oct. 10 that ended in the parking lot of Dunkin Donuts at East State Street and Cunningham Road, Salem.

A pretrial was set Jan. 14 for Caley Jean Boyd, 21, Cannons Mill Road, East Liverpool, charged with driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set Jan. 14 for Joseph Allen Kahrig, 35, Newton Falls, charged with speeding.

A pretrial was set Jan. 13 for Victoria Ann Featherstone, no age listed, Moore Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with improper registration.

Rammel Stanley Perry-Tisdale, 31, Market Street, East Liverpool, was fined $180 for driving under suspension and speeding.

Darien Michael Suggs, 23, Aten Avenue, Wellsville, was fined $30 for no seat belt.

Calvin William Fryman Brooks, 24, Ambrose Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $130 for no license and a tail light violation.

Norman I. Shields, 55, state Route 7, East Liverpool, was fined $180 for driving under suspension and marked lanes.

Common Pleas

New Cases

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Tracey Lindsay, Main Street, Kensington, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for Main Street, Kensington property.

Patty J. Walter, Hollow Street NE, Minerva, and Jeffery W. Walter, Bower Road, Minerva; dissolution sought.

Margaret O’Donnell-Foust, Pembrooke Drive, Salem, vs Michael Foust, St. Jacob Logtown Road, Leetonia; divorce sought.

Canton School Employees Federal Credit Union, Canton, vs. Lindsay M. Hale, Mayfair Avenue, Minerva; collection sought of alleged $18,769 debt.

Cameron Howard, West Salem, vs. Stonie DeWitt, Winona Road, Salem, et al.; damages sought for personal injury/insurance claim related to 2023 traffic crash.

Heather Ann Henthorne, North Main Street, Columbiana, vs. Scott A. Henthorne, Stooksberry Road, Lisbon; divorce sought.

Anthony D. Kastor, Fink Road, Kensington, vs. Sarah J. Kastor, Center Road, Homeworth; divorce sought.

Sarah Anne Smith, Buzzard Road, Wellsville, and Brett Austin Smith, Spring Grove Avenue, East Liverpool; dissolution sought.

Susan P. Dunlap, North Market Street, East Palestine, and Randy D. Dunlap, South Market Street, East Palestine; dissolution sought.

Michael J. Sprouse, Desellem Road, Lisbon, and Jaime Lee Sprouse, Campbell; dissolution sought.

Amanda Tuttle, Oak Grove Road, Wellsville, and Timothy Tuttle, state Route 39, Salineville; dissolution sought.

Dale Hickman, Riffle Road, Lisbon, vs. Becky L. Adams, Samuel Street, East Liverpool, et al.; quiet title sought and award of ownership of property in Elkrun Township and St. Clair Township to plaintiff.

Billy Blake, McDonald Street, East Liverpool, vs. FCA US LLC, Columbus; damages sought along with replacement of 2025 1500 with comparable replacement motor vehicle for alleged claims of breach of contract, breach of written warranty, breach of express warranty and violation of motor vehicle lemon law.

Docket Entries

Lona’s Route 14, LLC, et al. vs. Gary H. Rambo; estate ordered subdivided with plaintiff to get lots 1 and 2 and defendant to get lot 3 plus 4 acres.

County Treasurer vs. Erin M. Huddleston; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Main Street, Wellsville property.

County Treasurer vs. Robert J. Woodworth, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Prospect Street, Salem property.

Brown Valley Farm, et al. vs. Encino Energy, et al.; defendant’s motion to dismiss granted, complaint dismissed.

Ally Bank vs. Mark Lentz; repossession of 2023 Ram 3500 ordered.

Lori J. Heater v.s Martin S. Heater II; divorce case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. Lawrence R. Clemens, et al.; payment play stay lifted, case reinstated to active docket.

County Treasurer vs. Robert Anderson III, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Tomahawk Drive, Negley property.

County Treasurer vs. Shawn R. Williams, et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

Huntington National Bank vs. Stephen Lee Jones, as heir to estate of Teddy Lee Jones, et al.; case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. Chad Jones, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Mill Street, Salineville property.

County Treasurer vs. Russell Scott Shreve, et al.; payment plan entered, case stayed, taxes for one parcel paid, with that parcel dismissed from complaint.

American Express National Bank vs. Michael Bush Jr.; $13,236 judgment granted to plaintiff.

Grand Jury

LISBON — Two drug defendants were served Wednesday with secret indictments issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury, including:

— Darrell G. Strowder Jr., also known as Ceasar, 39, Cleveland Heights, second-degree felonies of aggravated trafficking in drugs, aggravated possession of drugs, trafficking in fentanyl-related compound and possession of fentanyl-related compound, and third-degree felonies of trafficking in cocaine and posession of cocaine for allegedly preparing for sale and possessing methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than five times bulk but less than 50 times bulk, allegedly preparing for sale and possessing fentanyl and cocaine, both in amounts equal or greater than 10 grams but less than 20 grams and also possessing $1,787.

— Joshua Daniel Davidson, 32, state Route 7, New Waterford, possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing cocaine on Jan. 15, 2023.

— Lillian Antoinette Simms, 25, Prospect Street, Salem, misdemeanors of criminal trespass and disorderly conduct for allegedly entering her former apartment the day after she was evicted by going through a back window on Aug. 18 in Perry Township. She also was accused of yelling, breaking and throwing items. Her case is being transferred back to county Municipal Court.

— Luke Reid, 41, homeless, Empire, breaking and entering, receiving stolen property and theft, all fifth-degree felonies, for allegedly cutting a hole in the fence at the sewage treatment plant in Salineville, then being seen on video operating a John Deere riding mower owned by the sewage plant, traveling south down to the North Fork of Yellow Creek on Sept. 4. Village police officers received pictures and text messages the defendant allegedly sent to someone admitting he stole the tractor and hid it on the shore of the North Fork of Yellow Creek under some grass and sticks. The damaged stolen lawn mower was located and returned to the sewage plant. A dolly worth $1,500 was also reported missing and when taken into custody, he allegedly admitted to taking the dolly.

— Michael I. Earich, 24, West Ninth Street, East Liverpool, domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony, for allegedly pulling a woman from a vehicle by her hair and tossing her to the ground, then kicking her from the doorway when she attempted to get back in the driver’s seat on Aug. 27 in East Liverpool.

— Elliott E. Springston, 42, Beachwood Street, East Liverpool, fifth-degree felony domestic violence and misdemeanor domestic violence for allegedly striking a woman in the face and biting her arm on Sept. 1 in East Liverpool.

— Eric E. McVicker, 45, Warren, third-degree felony strangulation and misdemeanors of domestic violence and aggravated menacing for allegedly threatening, hitting and strangling a woman in East Palestine on Aug. 15.

— Justin L. Burr, 32, Riverside Avenue, Wellsville, third-degree felony domestic violence, fourth-degree felony strangulation and misdemeanor aggravated menacing for allegedly choking a woman during a domestic on Aug. 21 in Wellsville.

— Ronald L. Knight, 52, state Route 45, Wellsville, domestic violence, a third-degree felony, for allegedly striking a woman with an open hand several times and spitting on her face on Aug. 26 in Wellsville, with at least two or more past convictions for domestic violence on his record.

— Tyrone M. Davis, also known as Reese Davis, 52, Eighth Street, Wellsville, third-degree felony domestic violence for allegedly slapping a woman across the face on Aug. 12 in Wellsville, with at least two or more past convictions for domestic violence on his record.

— Glen A. Guthrie Jr., 56, Massillon, receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony, for allegedly bringing a stolen wood chipper to auction at the Rogers Community Auction in Rogers on April 11. The sale was refused due to the identification plate being missing. The wood chipper had been reported stolen in Canton on April 5.

Court News

LISBON –An Illinois man accused of possessing images of child pornography is now scheduled to face a jury trial at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 26.

The appearance of Vincent John Bianconi, 35, last known address Chicago Heights, Ill., was waived for a recent hearing in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court which his defense attorney, Tod Brininger, attended by phone. The prosecution was represented by county Assistant Prosecutors Tammie Riley Jones and Christopher Weeda.

A decison remains pending on Bianconi’s motion to suppress all evidence obtained from the seizure of his phone when he showed up in East Palestine for a sex-for-hire meeting on July 4, 2024. A final status hearing was set for 1 p.m. Dec. 19.

Charges against Bianconi include three counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, a fourth-degree felony, and misdemeanors of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools.

Bianconi was accused of allegedly responding to an undercover ad placed by an agent on a known prostitution website and requesting a woman meet him in his semi truck for sex acts in exchange for $30, arriving at the meeting location in East Palestine on July 4, 2024 in his semi truck wearing only a robe.

In his possession was $50 and the cell phone used to make the arrangements, which was seized. An agent with the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force recovered from the phone images of minor children engaged in sexual acts.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Stephen W. Jones, 36, East Martin Street, East Palestine, pleaded guilty to domestic violence, a third-degree felony, and misdemeanor endangering children, with sentencing set for Dec. 11. A charge of strangulation will be dismissed. Jones was accused of assaulting a woman after an argument on Nov. 13, 2024 in East Palestine. A police affidavit said Jones smashed a wooden dining room chair and punched out the glass window of the microwave and struck the woman in the back with a large piece of broken dining room chair. She went upstairs and was holding a child when he grabbed her by the throat with both hands and choked her.

— Brian A. Wagner, 48, Flushing, was placed under community control for six months for theft and passing bad checks, both fifth-degree felonies. He already tendered full restitution to the victim. Wagner issued a bad check resulting in the theft of $2,282 from Acme Steak & Seafood on March 28, 2024.

— Darius Holcomb, 39, Youngstown, pleaded guilty to amended offenses of two counts attempted possession of drugs and was sentenced to nine days in jail, with credit for nine days already served, leaving no time left to serve. He was ordered to forfeit $773. He was originally charged with possession of drugs for possessing drugs and $773 on Oct. 13, 2016.

— Ross A. Chaplow, 43, Metz Road, Columbiana, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated possession of drugs, one a third-degree felony and two fifth-degree felonies, with sentencing set for Dec. 17. Two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs will be dismissed. Chaplow possessed methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk, along with psilocyn and hydrocodone on March 6, 2024.