Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, Thomas J. Panek, 58, Atwater, was fined $750 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 85 days suspended and credit for one day served, leaving a balance of four days to serve in jail after a jury found him guilty this week of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. He was ordered to complete 30 hours community service and a prostitution prevention course.

Panek was accused of requesting sexual conduct for an agreed upon price of $140 from an undercover agent with the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, then driving to Salem on Jan. 31, 2024 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession. According to the agent’s affidavit, the defendant claimed to be in Salem to quote a digging job. The agent also said that the defendant was a police officer for the village of Northfield from 1989 to 2002.

Scott M. Smith, 42, Westville Lake Road, Beloit, was fined $1,250 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 178 days suspended and credit for two days served, for domestic violence and assault amended from felony strangulation. He was ordered to complete 60 hours community service and courses in anger management and domestic violence. Smith was accused of being involved in a physical conflict with a relative he took to the ground and placed in a headlock to the point where the victim threw up on Aug. 30 in Knox Township. Deputies determined Smith was the primary aggressor.

A pretrial was set Oct. 30 for Donte L. Harris, 42, Strongsville, charged with aggravated menacing and telecommunications harassment for allegedly sending threatening video and text messages to an East Liverpool woman, claiming he was going to kill or hurt her and break her house windows and sending a video of himself manipulating a firearm and saying he had something for her on Oct 4, a police affidavit said.

A pretrial was set Jan. 14 for Zachary Tyler David Rudder, 28, Henry Avenue, Wellsville, charged with theft and criminal damaging for allegedly damaging a vending machine at the St. Clair Laundromat in East Liverpool and stealing some food items from it on Oct. 4

Charges of obstructing official business, disorderly conduct and two counts criminal damaging against Marcus J. Mick, 31, Glasgow Road, Lisbon, were dismissed at the request of the prosecutor, with Mick recently found not competent and not restorable to competency. Mick had been accused of walking on Glasgow Road beating on people’s doors, hitting mailboxes, dumping trash cans in the road and possibly taking belongings from properties on June 5, 2025 in Madison Township. When sheriff deputies found him, he ignored verbal commands. On March 19, 2024, he drove through two different front yards and driveways on Crews Road, Wellsille, causing damage.

A pretrial was set Jan. 13 for Cady Marie Milliron, 31, Fifth Street, East Liverpool, charged with theft for allegedly failing to scan and pay for 14 items totaling $80 at the Calcutta Walmart on Oct. 10.

A pretrial was set Oct. 30 for Shari L. Evans, 49, Harvey Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly walking in traffic in her bathrobe and rolling in the grass in East Liverpool on June 9, talking to herself when police arrived and claiming she was waiting for someone and had won the house across the street from a “headspace killing game.” She said she used heroin that morning when asked the last time she used narcotics.

A pretrial was set Jan. 20 for David Durbin, 51, Allison Street, East Liverpool, charged with property maintenance requirements, litter and storage of furniture for allegedly failing to clean up his East Liverpool property of indoor furniture and piles of junk and debris scattered about outside on June 9.

Tracey Marshall, 62, McDonald Street, East Liverpool, was fined $100 for a health code violation or prohibition against violations of the board for failure to correct a nuisance at the McDonald Street property on Feb. 28 for solid waste/garbage and an unmaintained swimming pool in St. Clair Township. An order had been issued by the Columbiana County Health District Board.

A pretrial was set Jan. 14 for Jordan M. Franklin, 30, Main Street, Columbiana, charged with operating a vehicle impaired first offense, driving under suspension and failing to have a functioning brake light.

A pretrial was set Jan. 7 for Pamela J. Sisco, 57, Moore Street, East Liverpool, charged with OVI first offense and driving on left side.

A pretrial was set Jan. 14 for Jessie L. Barton, 36, Beachwood Street, East Liverpool, charged with driving under suspension.

A sentencing hearing was set Nov. 6 for John H. Bowman, 78, Vine Street, East Liverpool, who pleaded guilty to hit skip/leave scene.

A pretrial was set Nov. 24 for Mason Anthony Shreve, 19, Duke Vodrey Road, East Liverpool, charged with driving under suspension, driving while texting, no seat belt and improper/expired registration.

A pretrial was set Jan. 12 for Amanda M. Kiger, 52, Westfield Road, East Liverpool, charged with speeding and two counts driving under suspension.

A pretrial was set Jan. 14 for John M. Zeigler, 69, Darlington, Pa., charged with driving under suspension and reasonable control.

A pretrial was set Jan. 5 for James E. Cottle, 41, Fair Avenue, Salem, charged with driving while texting.

Lamont Bickley Jr., 24, Akron, was fined $300 for driving under suspension, no license and speeding.

Richard H. Stoddard, 56, Windsor Drive, East Liverpool, was fined $105 for loud exhaust and unauthorized plate.

Juan Torosantannder, 27, Youngstown, was fined $150 for no license and speeding.

Rachel Rae Williams, 52, Maple Drive, East Liverpool, was fined $100 for driving under suspension.

Common Pleas

New Cases

Joe Robert Barnhouse, Clearview Drive, East Liverpool, vs. Heather Sue Barnhouse, Jewett; divorce sought.

Kristen Foster, East Martin Street, East Palestine, vs. Joshua S. Foster, Brookdale Avenue, East Palestine; divorce sought.

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company vs. unknown heirs etc. of Shawn Hill, et al.; case stayed due to bankruptcy filing.

Docket Entries

Eva L. Davis vs. Chris D. Davis; divorce granted.

County Treasurer vs. Donald V. Barker, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Yuma Trail, Negley property.

County Treasurer vs. Joseph Yarzebinski, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Dyke Road, Negley property.

County Treasurer vs. Joshua F. Wolfe, et al.; crossclaim and third-party complaint of Hancock County Savings Bank FSB dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. unknown heirs, etc. of Linda Merino, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Grant Street, Salem property.

County Treasurer vs. Donald Abbuhl; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for High Street, Salineville property.

County Treasurer vs. Hilda Eaddy, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Yuma Cove, Negley property.

Grand Jury

LISBON — A man who allegedly caused physical harm to a woman was served Thursday with a secret indictment issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury for fifth-degree felony domestic violence.

Andre L. Owens, 27, Elm Street, East Liverpool, allegedly committed the offense on Feb. 17, 2025.

Also served recently with secret indictments were:

— Jarrell L. Sloan, 50, 14th Street, Wellsville, fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine for allegedly possessing cocaine on Jan. 11, 2024 and fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine and first-degree felony possession of a fentanyl-related compound for allegedly possessing cocaine and possessing fentanyl in an amount equal or greater than 20 grams but less than 50 grams on Aug. 14, 2023.

— David S. Durbin, 51, Duke Road, East Liverpool, third-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs for allegedly possessing methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk on March 8, 2025.

— Amanda N. Ferrebee, 38, Valleyview Street, East Liverpool, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on March 8, 2025.

— Chelsea N. Keyes, 23, Lacroft Avenue, East Liverpool, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Oct. 18, 2024.

— Brandon Kyle Hodges, 40, 14th Street, Wellsville, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Jan. 11, 2024.