Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a man who said he wanted to cost Norfolk Southern money by halting rail traffic was arraigned on several charges for allegedly being heavily intoxicated and sitting on the railroad tracks in September.

A pretrial was set Nov. 24 for Michael Shane Fowler, 54, West Clark Street, East Palestine, charged with criminal trespass, attempted, open container and disorderly conduct for his alleged actions on Sept. 17 in East Palestine. A police affidavit said a police officer was dispatched to the railroad tracks after it was reported that Fowler had threatened to kill himself by being hit by a train. After a lengthy search, he was found on the south rail line in between Market and James streets sitting in the middle of the rail with his dog leashed and sitting next to him on the tracks.

The affidavit said he was heavily intoxicated and “was upset that he had not received any money from the derailment settlement and he wanted to cost the railroad money by halting rail traffic.” According to the affidavit, Norfolk Southern rail traffic was halted for 50 minutes during the search for Fowler.

Cases against Mark N. Hayes, 59, Phoenix, Ariz., were bound over to the county grand jury for fourth-degree felony assault on a peace officer and misdemeanors of obstructing official business and disorderly conduct for pushing Leetonia Police Chief Allen Haueter off his truck cab and onto the street, causing him to fall on his back during an incident on Industry Road, Leetonia on Oct. 23. Hayes had been told to move his semi truck, which was deemed a road hazard, and he became belligerent and was refusing to leave the truck, ignoring several warnings to desist his actions. He complied after another officer told him he would be tased.

Cases against Robert Richard Zewe, 50, Erie, Pa., were bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools and misdemeanor engaging in prostitution for allegedly responding to an undercover familial ad on a known prostitution website of an adult mother trafficking her 16-year-old daughter and arranging for sexual activity with both mother and daughter in exchange for money, arriving in East Palestine on Oct. 10 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Cases against Paskal Nkumba, 26, Windsor Mill, Md., were bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanors of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging to have sexual activity with a woman for $140, traveling to East Palestine on Oct. 3 for the meeting. While being removed from his box truck, he allegedly deleted the message thread between himself and an agent with the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force from his cell phone that was used to make the arrangements. The affidavit said that while being handcuffed, he urinated himself on the agent. He also allegedly possessed a digital scale and suspected LSD mushrooms.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Nov. 17 for Stephen James McRae, 43, Davidsville, Pa., charged with third-degree felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanors of engaging in prostitution, possessing criminal tools and obstructing official business for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website of two women and arranged for sexual activity in exchange for $30, then arrived in East Palestine on Oct. 31 for the meeting and allegedly starting to delete the texting application he was using and not exiting the vehicle. An officer had to physically hold the window down to prevent him from rolling it up on officers and he would not unlock the door, which had to be unlocked by officers.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Nov. 13 for Brandon A. Green, 33, Lisbon Street, East Liverpool, charged with fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property and misdemeanor criminal trespass. Green was allegedly caught in the driver’s seat on Aug. 25 of a stolen vehicle that was crashed on state Route 154, Elkrun Township. On Sept. 7, he was found inside a residence in East Liverpool after being trespassed from the property earlier in the summer.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Nov. 13 for Brian D. Tinker, 43, North Jefferson, Lisbon, charged with fourth-degree felony failure to comply with an order and misdemeanors of headlights required and a stop sign violation for allegedly running a stop sign at East Pine and North Jefferson, crashing into a house on Jefferson and fleeing from officers on foot in Lisbon on Nov. 3.

A preliminary hearing was set Nov. 20 for Korey Koran, 34, Speidel Road, East Rochester, charged with fourth-degree felony theft for allegedly not returning a rental vehicle as of Oct. 27 in Salem.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Nov. 10 for Romello Shamone Edison, 27, West Sixth Street, East Liverpool, charged with fourth-degree felony failure to comply and misdemeanors of failure to move to left for public safety vehicles and no driver’s license. Edison allegedly failed to move over for emergency lights on state Route 39 and fled from police who attempted a traffic stop, accelerating and losing control, with the vehicle sliding sideways and coming to rest in an empty gravel lot on Nov. 2 in East Liverpool.

A sentencing hearing was set Nov. 13 for Terry L. Adams, 49, Parkview Road, Hanoverton, who pleaded no contest and was found guilty of domestic violence. Adams was accused of threatening multiple times to kill a woman on Nov. 2 in Hanover Township.

A charge of third-degree felony obstructing justice was dismissed against Caitlin Marie Dunn, 27, West Fourth Street, East Liverpool, due to the charge being a duplicate charge. She had already been bound over to the county grand jury for the third-degree felony obstructing justice charge for allegedly telling police a man wanted on felony warrants was not inside her apartment when he was actually inside and she told him police were outside and he took off running from the rear of the residence on Oct. 11 in East Liverpool.

Anthony T. Bowles, 56, Oak Ridge Road, Wellsville, was fined $200 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 164 days suspended and credit for 16 days served, for assault amended from domestic violence. He was ordered to complete 25 hours community service and to have no contact with the victim. Bowles punched another man in the face on Oct. 18 in East Liverpool.

A sentencing hearing was reset to Jan. 28 for Jamaar C. Pullie, 37, First Street, Wellsville, who previously pleaded no contest and was found guilty of three counts of assault. He was accused of assaulting three people outside the Eagles bar in Wellsville on July 26. He was accused of pushing a woman to the ground, attempting to attack her when she got up, slamming her into a car and attempting to punch her. He kept screaming and also assaulted a couple that came to the woman’s aid, pushing the man to the ground twice and pushing the woman with him into a truck.

Barbara E. Newlin, 78, Jackman Street, East Liverpool, was fined $300 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 88 days suspended and credit for two days served, for assault. She was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and to have no contact with the victim. Newlin was accused of biting the victim on her left arm on July 5 in East Liverpool.

Edward A. Bolin, 45, Water Street, Salineville, was fined $500 and sentenced to 180 day in jail, with 170 days suspended and credit for 10 days served, for domestic violence. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service. He was accused of shoving a woman while arguing with her on Oct. 24 in Salineville.

Scott M. Groves, 44, state Route 45, Lisbon, was fined $500 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 82 days suspended and credit for eight days served, for two counts of assault. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to have no contact with the victims. He was accused of assaulting a man and a woman on Oct. 24 in Madison Township. The male victim said he was struck in the ribs and advised when the defendant attacked the woman, he pulled him off of her and then the defendant continued to attack him. Deputies had been called to the property for a suicidal man with a knife.

A pretrial was set Jan. 27 for Jacob Dawyne Rochwick, 46, New Castle, Pa., charged with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with women in exchange for currency to be paid via the Cash App, then driving to East Palestine on Oct. 31 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Bruce Lamont Prout, 58, Berwyn Heights, Md., was fined $750 and given a suspended 180-day jail term for two counts of possessing criminal tools, with one amended from engaging in prostitution. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and a 12-hour prostitution prevention online course. Prout responded to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranged for sexual activity with women in exchange for $260, then drove to East Palestine on Feb. 19 for the meeting, with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Teresa M. McMillan, 62, state Route 517, Lisbon, was fined $200 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for menacing. She was ordered to complete 25 hours community service and to have no contact with the victim. McMillan threatened to murder a man during a conversation on July 7 in East Liverpool.

Justina Marie DeSarro, 35, Curry Street, East Liverpool, was fined $200 and sentenced to 12 days in jail, with credit for 12 days served, for criminal trespass for trespassing April 23 at a Cannons Mill Road, East Liverpool property.

Christopher Lee Joy, 40, Avondale Street, East Liverpool, was fined $650 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 174 days suspended and credit for six days served, for assault, obstructing official business and theft. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to make restitution of $850 to St. Clair Laundry Room. He was accused of running into the road and punching a man in the face, causing him to fall from the scooter he was riding on May 28 in East Liverpool. He also fled from officers attempting a traffic stop in East Liverpool on April 19 and on Nov. 8, 2024, he stole laundry carts from St. Clair Laundry Room.

A pretrial was set Jan. 28 for Kyle E. Melott, 31, Fredricktown-Clarkson Road, Negley, charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle for not having permission to use a vehicle he was found inside on Nov. 1 in Salem Township. A state trooper had responded to the vehicle for two unconscious persons occupying it, with both the defendant and the driver allegedly overdosing from illegal narcotics and given Narcan. The owner was contacted when the vehicle was being towed and said neither Melott or the driver had permission to take the vehicle. The affidavit said the defendant was using the vehicle when it was involved in several hit/skip crashes.

A pretrial was set Nov. 24 for John E. Seddon, 40, Barclay Avenue, Salem, charged with theft for allegedly coming into the Salem Walmart multiple times on Sept. 23 and stealing two cans of duster each time from the electronics department without paying.

A pretrial was set Jan. 28 for Hunter L. Hodson, 38, Lake Milton, charged with obstructing official business, operating a vehicle impaired third offense, OVI refusal with prior within 20 years, driving under suspension and marked lanes for allegedly refusing to provide his information at first during a traffic stop on Nov. 2 in Perry Township after an officer saw him switch seats with the passenger. While in custody at the Salem Police Department, he also yelled profanity and made remarks.

A pretrial was set Dec. 1 for Amy L. Desimone, 55, Alpha Street, East Liverpool, charged with possess instruments to ingest, OVI first offense, expired license and left of center for allegedly possessing a narcotics smoking device during a traffic stop on Oct. 31 in Lisbon.

A pretrial was set Jan. 21 for Steven E. Boggs, 41, Austintown, charged with OVI first offense and reasonable control.

A pretrial was set Jan. 6 for Elizabeth Lynn Coulter, 44, Harvey Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with OVI first offense and loud exhaust.

A pretrial was set Jan. 27 for John E. Seddon III, 63, Aetna Street, Salem, charged with OVI first offense and OVI breath first offense.

A pretrial was set Feb. 9 for Christa M. Hutton, 47, East Chestnut Street, Lisbon, charged with OVI first offense and open container.

A pretrial was set Jan. 26 for Taurean Rashad McCullough, 28, Youngstown, charged with driving under suspension.

Billy J. Cloud, 62, North Beaver Street, Lisbon, was fined $865 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 87 days suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program, for OVI and leaving the scene. Another OVI charge was dismissed. Cloud’s driver’s license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted, and he was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

David P. Straka, 38, Toronto, was fined $300 for driving under suspension and unsafe vehicle.

James R. Zimmerman, 31, state Route 7, Columbiana, was fined $150 for no license amended from driving under suspension.

Heather N. Craft, 29, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $75 for driving under suspension.

Jannie Lynn Crawford, 36, Ottawa Trail, Negley, was fined $50 for assured clear distance.

Common Pleas

New Cases

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Kay Kozlowski, Metz Road, Columbiana, et al; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for Highland Avenue, Columbiana property.

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Nicole Stouffer, Greensburg, Pa., delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for 13th Street, Wellsville property.

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Michael Hudak, Youngstown Salem Road, Salem, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for Walnut Street, Leetonia property.

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Greg Bentley, state Route 39, Salineville, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for state Route 39, Salineville property.

Court News

LISBON — A Lisbon man accused of ramming a police cruiser with his motorcycle during an attempted traffic stop was sentenced to 18 months in prison during a recent sentencing hearing in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.

Ryan E. Geho, 31, Mattix Road, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony, and an additional six months for vandalism, a fifth-degree felony. The terms were ordered served consecutively, for a total of 18 months. He received credit for 28 days served in jail.

Geho’s driver’s license was suspended for three years. A charge of invalid license was dismissed.

When Columbiana Police attempted a traffic stop of his motorcycle, Geho allegedly fled at high rates of speed and, after ramming the police cruiser and crashing into two parked vehicles, his motorcycle crashed on June 27, 2024 in Columbiana.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— David M. Kane, 40, West Ninth Street, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering, possessing criminal tools and aggravated possession of drugs, all fifth-degree felonies. He was sentenced to 319 days in the county jail, but received credit for 319 days already served, leaving a zero balance for jail time. Kane trespassed in a structure and had a crow bar and methamphetamine on Aug. 4, 2023.

— Thomas C. Summers, 46, Haiti Road, Salineville, was placed under community control for four years and sentenced to 30 days each for two counts of nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, with credit for nine days already served in jail for failing to pay child support for two children from Oct. 3, 2021 to Oct. 1, 2023. He was also placed under community control for four years for open burning or open dumping of solid waste and given a minimum $10,000 fine. He was accused of disposing of solid waste by open burning or open dumping from April 2, 2023 to Sept. 5, 2024.

— Rachel R. Mazza, 36, West Fourth Street, East Liverpool, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for violating the terms of her probation for possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fourth-degree felony, and possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. Her participation in drug court was dishonorably terminated. She received credit for 59 days served in jail. Mazza possessed cocaine and an amount of fentanyl equal or greater than 1 gram but less than 5 grams on Feb. 15, 2023.

— Myquia T. McCoy, 27, 15th Street, Wellsville, was placed on a treatment plan for three years after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing methamphetamine on JUly 20, 2024. McCoy received credit for two days served in jail.

— Steven M. Faulkner, 41, Camelot Drive, Columbiana, was placed under community control after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony for possessing psilocyn on Nov. 22, 2024. The community control was ordered concurrent with the three years of community control he received in September for two separate cases of two counts aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing methamphetamine and oxycodone on Dec. 14, 2023 and methamphetamine and hydrocodone on March 6, 2024.