Common Pleas

New Cases

Bradley A. Long, Saltwell Road, Lisbon, and Heather Marie Long, state Route 518, Lisbon; dissolution sought.

Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Coppell, Texas, vs. Cory L. White, West Martin Street, East Palestine, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought.

Docket Entries

Erin Kelly, et al. vs. John P. Bartos III, et al.; $14,450 judgment granted to plaintiff related to breach of contract for window replacements.

Patty J. Walter and Jeffery W. Walter; dissolution granted.

Kimberly Dixon vs. Geoffrey Dixon; divorce granted.

Amanda Tuttle and Timothy Tuttle; dissolution granted.

Susan P. Dunlap and Randy D. Dunlap; dissolution granted.

Shawn T. Smith vs. Buffie D. Smith; divorce granted.

Grand Jury

LISBON — Two drug defendants were served Tuesday with secret indictments issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury.

Samantha L. Harrison, 35, Rose Drive, Lisbon, was charged with aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on March 1, 2024.

Taylor Stevie Nichole Thrasher, 27, Sixth Street, Wellsville, was charged with possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing cocaine on Sept. 1, 2024.

Court News

LISBON — A Salem man accused of assaulting a woman last year was sentenced to prison for an indefinite term of three to four and a half years for felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and domestic violence, a third-degree felony.

John R.Wolfe Jr., 43, West Fourth Street, Salem, appeared recently for sentencing in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court for the two charges, receiving credit for 257 days served in jail. The sentence was three to four and a half years for felonious assault and 30 months for the domestic violence, but to be served concurrently, or at the same time.

Wolfe was accused of striking a woman in the face multiple times and hitting her head off of the bathroom door and also placing his forearm against her throat and attempting to strangle her on Oct. 18, 2024 in Salem. He had six previous domestic violence convictions on his record.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Charles L. Bailey, 47, West Main Street, Salineville, was sentenced to an indefinite term of three to four and a half years in prison for second-degree felonies of aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs and fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine, all with specifications for forfeiture of money from a drug case, for preparing for sale and possessing methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than five times bulk, but less than 50 times bulk and possessing cocaine and $557, all on June 17, 2024. He was ordered to forfeit the $557 and received two mandatory fines of $7,500 each.

— Chase W.J. Perkins, 27, Roosevelt Avenue, was sentenced to a total of 46 months in prison, or three years eight months, for charges from four separate cases, with terms for three of the cases to be served consecutively and one concurrent with all for the total of 46 months. The charges included three counts of aggravated possession of drugs, with one a third-degree felony and two fifth-degree felonies, and complicity in the commission of an offense, a third-degree felony. A charge of aggravated trafficking in drugs was dismissed. Perkins also received a mandatory $5,000 fine. He received credit for 53 days served. Perkins was accused of soliciting or procuring another to commit the offense related to an unlawful transaction in weapon on Jan. 2, 2024 and for possessing methamphetamine on Feb. 8, 2025, Jan. 2, 2024 and Dec. 6, 2023. He also possessed $43 in one of the drug cases that included a specification of forfeiture of money from a drug case. He was ordered to forfeit the $43.

— Daryl Hall, 39, Youngstown, was sentenced to three years nine months in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree felony aggravated trafficking in drugs and a lesser charge of attempted aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, with specifications for forfeiture of money in a drug case. He was also given two mandatory fines of $7,500 each. He sold or attempted to sell and possessed methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than five times bulk but less than 50 times bulk on Aug. 15, 2024, along with possessing $280.

— Antonio Mitchell, 29, Youngstown, was sentenced to nine months in prison for third-degree felony engaging in prostitution, with credit for 216 days served in jail. A charge of fourth-degree felony promoting prostitution was dismissed. He had been accused of driving a woman to Salem on April 15, knowing that she was going to engage in a sex for hire arrangement during an undercover texting conversation.

— James Davisson, 30, Laurel Lane, East Liverpool, was placed under community control for three years after pleading guilty to fourth-degree felony resisting arrest, with charges of fifth-degree felony obstructing official business and misdemeanor disorderly conduct dismissed. He received credit for one day served in jail. Davisson was accused of yelling and threatening people in Salineville and then failing to comply with verbal commands of a deputy, throwing a knife down after being told multiple times to drop it and resisting arrest on April 20.

— Jessie R. Vega, 32, Boardman, was sentenced to nine months in prison and given a mandatory fine of $5,000 for aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, for possessing methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk on Aug. 5, 2024.

— Michael Craig, 46, state Route 170, East Palestine, was placed into drug court and will remain on community control after violating the terms of his treatment plan for possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. His treatment plan was terminated. He possessed tramadol on July 5, 2022.

— Thomas Milligan, 45, Hubbard, was ordered to serve a term at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center until the program is complete and placed under community control for three years for aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony. A second count of aggravated possession of drugs was dismissed. He was given a mandatory $5,000 fine and received credit for one day served in jail. Milligan was accused of possessing methylphenidate on July 4, 2023 in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk.

— Ryan Butler, 40, Desellem Road, Lisbon, pleaded guilty to obstructing official business, a fifth-degree felony, and was sentenced to 250 days in jail, with credit for 250 days served, leaving no more time to serve. Charges of fourth-degree felony assault and misdemeanors of assault and disorderly conduct were dismissed. He was accused of putting his hands on a security officer and pushing him out of the way at Salem Regional Medical Center, running out the door, but then being confronted by a deputy sheriff on Feb. 24 in Salem. He then grabbed the deputy’s vest and was brought under control by the deputy and hospital staff.

— John Dennis Lanam, 45, 10th Street, Wellsville, was sentenced to six months in prison for aggravated possession of drugs, fifth-degree felony, with credit for one day served in jail for possessing methamphetamine on April 20, 2024. The prison term was ordered served consecutively, or in addition to the 30-month prison term he just received earlier this month for charges of aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, and possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk and possessing cocaine on June 16, 2024.

— Robert R. Smith, 49, Hammond School Road, Wellsville, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty to fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and misdemeanor possessing drug abuse instrument for possessing methamphetamine and drug abuse instruments on July 15, 2024. He received credit for 25 days served in jail. The prison term was ordered served consecutively or in addition to a 24-month prison term he received in April for third-degree felony burglary and misdemeanor assault. The burglary and assault charges stemmed from him returning to the Hammond School Road property April 26, 2023 after being evicted, kicking in the door and assaulting a person who was working inside.

— Carl B. Moore, 46, Low Road, Columbiana, was placed under community control for 24 months after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing methamphetamine on Oct. 18, 2022.

— Jonathan R. Rudder, 40, Aliquippa, Pa., was placed under community control for two years after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, with a forfeiture specification for money from a drug case. He was ordered to serve 26 days in jail, but received credit for 26 days already served, leaving no time to serve in jail. He was ordered to forfeit $623. Rudder possessed cocaine and $623 on Dec. 6, 2024.

— Selina T. Leon, 66, Clinton, Pa., was placed on a treatment plan for two years after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, with credit for one day served in jail. She possessed cocaine on April 24, 2024.

— Justin Novak, 44, Stump Road, Minerva, was placed under community control for two years for misdemeanor charges of weapons while intoxicated and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them. He was ordered to serve 180 days in jail, with 163 days suspended, leaving 17 days to serve. He was ordered to attend a driver intervention program, he was fined $565 and his driver’s license was suspended for two years. Novak possessed a loaded handgun in the vehicle he was driving impaired on June 8, 2024 in Salem.

Municipal

John N. Thompson, 59, Erie Street, East Liverpool, was fined $100 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for disorderly conduct amended from aggravated menacing for pulling up next to a woman at a stop sign while driving in Wellsville on April 14 and saying he was going to slice her throat and then making the threats during phone calls to a relative she knows. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service.

Ryan P. Oliver, 46, Princeton Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $100 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for disorderly conduct amended from criminal damaging, with no fine for discharge firearm. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to make restitution of $1,780 to Sentry Insurance. On July 5, 2016, Oliver was accused of firing rounds into a garage door at Milligans Hardware in East Liverpool.

Vincent Anthony Circelli, 46, Broadway Avenue, Wellsville, was fined $400 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for two counts of theft. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service. Another theft charge was dismissed. He was ordered to stay out of the Calcutta Walmart and Calcutta Sheetz. Circelli concealed merchandise in his pockets at the Sheetz in St. Clair Township on Sept. 2. On May 2, he left the Calcutta Walmart without paying for several items totaling $122 and $79.

Christopher Courtney, 20, Park Avenue, Salem, was fined $50 and sentenced to one day in jail with credit for one day served for disorderly conduct amended from domestic violence for assaulting a juvenile during a dispute that turned physical in Salem on March 7, 2025.

Michael W. Metzgar, 61, Carey Road, Salem or Newgarden Road, Salem, was fined $100 for prohibitions against board order violations for failing to correct a nuisance for solid waste and garbage at his Carey Road, Salem property between Nov. 25, 2024 and Sept. 5, 2025. The charge was filed by the county health district.

Dianna L. Neiswonger, no age listed, Oak Street, East Liverpool, was fined $500 each for six counts of failure to file city income tax return, but with all fines suspended at the request of the city on the condition that the defendant file and pay all taxes as due. Neiswonger was accused of failing to file East Liverpool city income tax returns from 2019 through 2024.

A pretrial was set Feb. 10 for Walter K. Morgan, 36, Cleveland, charged with driving under suspension and window tint.

Michelle Lynn Kerr, 43, Carmel Achor Road, Rogers, was fined $925 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 170 days suspended, leaving a balance of 10 days to serve in jail for two merged operating a vehicle impaired charges and a turn signal violation. Her license was suspended for two years, with driving privileges granted, and she was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

A pretrial was set Feb. 17 for Steven May, 31, Youngstown, charged with OVI first offense.

Scott E. Kopras, 33, Thompson Avenue, East Liverpool, was ordered to serve three days in jail for a probation violation for a previous OVI case.

Kathy Lynn Williams, 69, East Fourth Street, Salem, received no fine for driving while texting after completing a course on distracted driving.

A charge of right of way-pedestrian against Michael L. Zema, 49, Duke Vodrey Road, East Liverpool, was dismissed.

Annie Bernard, 42, Union Street, Columbiana, was fined $150 for an equipment violation amended from reasonable control.

Eric R. Riley, 31, New Brighton, Pa., was fined $150 for an equipment violation amended from reasonable control.

Danica S. Germanovich, 18, Bell School Road, East Liverpool, was fined $75 for speeding.

Edward O. Garcia Jr., 70, East Fourth Street, East Liverpool, was fined $150 for speeding.

Joseph Lamantia, 59, Summit Drive, East Liverpool, was fined $70 for speeding.

Jeffrey Fulks, 44, Bayard Road, Minerva, was fined $200 for reasonable control and failure to report amended from failure to stop after accident.