Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, cases against Mberwa Murjani Mberwa, 23, Pittsburgh, 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. He was accused of allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website of an adult mother trafficking her minor daughter and arranging for sexual activity with both females in exchange for $100, then arriving in East Palestine on Oct. 24 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Cases against Robert Bryant Kerstanski, 45, Youngstown, were bound over to the county grand jury for fourth-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and misdemeanors of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for allegedly responding to an undercover ad posted on a known prostitution website and arranging for allegedly unprotected sexual activity with a woman in exchange for $170, then driving to East Palestine on Oct. 17, 2025 for the meeting. When he arrived at the location and saw the agent pull in with emergency lights activated, he drove around him through a yard and fled northbound. The agent was able to pull in front of the defendant while a marked police unit was behind him with lights and sirens on. The defendant attempted to go around the agent but was blocked in and removed from the vehicle. He was allegedly found with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

A preliminary hearing was set Jan. 12 for Zachary Edward Perry, 30, Dresden Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and fourth-degree felony domestic violence for allegedly throwing chicken wings at the wall, grabbing a steak knife and pointing it at another man and making a lunging motion toward him on Jan. 3 in East Liverpool. The police affidavit said the victim grabbed the knife in self-defense, then the defendant allegedly grabbed a solid glass world globe and threw it at the victim, striking his right ankle.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Feb. 11 for Steve E. Johnson, 40, South Lincoln Avenue, Salem, charged with second-degree felony burglary and misdemeanors of criminal damaging and menacing for allegedly walking into another man’s residence in Salem on Jan. 3, screaming at him and threatening to beat him up. The other man was able to get him out of the house onto the front patio. The police affidavit said video footage allegedly showed the defendant being belligerent and knocking on the window of the residence. He was seen pacing next to a vehicle that video showed had a smashed windshield.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Jan. 12 for Autumn Michelle Woods, 20, Beaver, Pa., charged with fourth-degree felony strangulation and misdemeanor domestic violence for allegedly punching another woman repeatedly after an argument and putting her hands around her neck and obstructing the victim’s ability to breath early on Jan. 5.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Feb. 25 for David Sam DiIullo, 64, Girard, charged with fourth-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and misdemeanor engaging in prostitution for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website of two women and arranging for sexual activity with the women in exchange for money, arriving in East Palestine for the meeting on Dec. 28 and then fleeing from officers.

A preliminary/pretrial hearing was set Jan. 14 for Michael David Bruce, 19, last known address Glenn Street, East Liverpool, charged with operating a vehicle impaired fourth offense and OVI refusal with prior within 20 years, both fourth-degree felonies, and misdemeanors of open container and driving under suspension for allegedly driving while impaired on Jan. 4 in East Liverpool, with several prior convictions of OVI, including two in 2024 and one in 2017.

A status conference hearing was set March 23 and a court trial was set March 30 for Kristina L. Williamson, 35, Strawberry Lane, East Liverpool, charged with assault for allegedly striking another woman with her car on March 21, 2025 in East Liverpool. She was originally charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony, but the grand jury issued the indictment for misdemeanor assault, with the case sent back to county Municipal Court.

A pretrial was set March 16 for Michael E. Earl, 66, East Fifth Street, Salem, charged with domestic violence for allegedly assaulting a woman at his Salem residence on Jan. 4, allegedly smacking a cell phone out of her hand, throwing the phone when she attempted to pick it up and then shoving her to the ground with his hand on her neck. The police affidavit said the victim tried to get up off of the floor multiple times when the defendant allegedly shoved her down again and held her down.

A pretrial was set March 3 for Kyle Christopher Radunz, 35, Myrtle Beach, S.C., charged with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website of two women and arranging for sexual activity with the women in exchange for certain sex acts and traveling to East Palestine on Jan. 3 for the meeting. According to the police affidavit, he was asked to stop at a store and get the women cat food for their cat. When he arrived at the meeting location, he was found in possession of the phone used to make the arrangements and the requested cat food.

A pretrial was set Jan. 20 for Killian P. McHenry, 21, North Market Street, Lisbon, charged with theft and criminal trespass for allegedly jumping the fence to gain access to the Lisbon pool building, entering the locked pool office and stealing $47 on June 15, 2025 in Lisbon.

Benjamin J. Eaton, 42, Imperial, Pa., was fined $150 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for disorderly conduct amended from assault. He was ordered to complete 25 hours community service and to have no contact with the victims. On May 17, 2025 in East Palestine, he was accused of grabbing a man and slamming him to the floor, beginning to choke him and pin him down after an argument with him and a woman.

Kenny L. Montgomery, 69, 10th Street, Wellsville, was fined $150 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for disorderly conduct amended from theft. He was ordered to complete 35 hours community service. He was accused of failing to scan and pay for 20 items totaling $193 at the Calcutta Walmart on March 31, 2025.

Cheryl A. Heitzenrater, 65, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, was fined $150 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for disorderly conduct amended from domestic violence. She was ordered to complete 20 hours community service. She was accused of punching a man during a domestic on Nov. 4 in Salem.

A status conference hearing was set April 1 for Nathan M. Smith, no age listed, Auburn Street, East Liverpool, charged with six counts of failure to file city income tax return for allegedly failing to file East Liverpool city income tax returns from 2020 through 2025.

Lindsey Jessica Beebout, 34, West Sixth Street, East Liverpool, was fined $150 for drug paraphernalia for possessing a digital drug scale and a glass burnt meth pipe while she was a passenger during a traffic stop on Sept. 24 in East Liverpool.

Robert Allen Uyselt, 55, First Street, Beloit, was ordered to serve 20 days in jail for violating the terms of his probation for a 2024 OVI case.

A pretrial was set April 7 for Cora M. Donovan, 24, Barberton, charged with operating a vehicle impaired first offense, OVI breath first offense and marked lanes.

A pretrial was set Feb. 23 for Noah Nelson Wheaton, 25, Vine Street, East Liverpool, charged with OVI second offense, OVI refusal with prior within 20 years and reasonable control.

A status conference hearing was set Jan. 21 for Hector Manuel Vargas Cabo,25, Canton, charged with OVI first offense, OVI breath first offense, driving under suspension and reasonable control.

A pretrial was set March 25 for Jacob John Shreve, 20, Cedar Avenue, Wellsville, charged with OVI first offense, OVI breath first offense, and two stop sign violations.

A pretrial was set March 23 for Samuel M. Elfaye, 62, Louisville, charged with OVI first offense, OVI blood first offense and marked lanes.

A pretrial was set Feb. 11 for Wyatt M. Yost, 18, West Chestnut Street, Lisbon, charged with a brake lights violation.

A pretrial was set March 4 for Ralph J. Pieren, 69, U.S. Route 30, Lisbon, charged with court ordered suspension.

A pretrial was set March 17 for Landon Gage Knight, 19, Reilly Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with speeding.

Robert Glenn Brooks, 29, Monticello Place, East Liverpool, was fined $200 for driving under suspension and assured clear distance.

Andrew J. Thompson, 40, Middletown, was fined $250 for driving under suspension.

Tomas Alonzo Alonzo, 19, Columbia Street, Salem, was fined $100 for driving under suspension.

Mitchell G. Myers, 23, Ellwood City, Pa., was fined $50 for speeding.

Timothy J. Winters Jr., 41, Creek Road, New Waterford, was fined $200 for speeding-school zone.

Joshua D. Rife, 45, Ninth Street, Wellsville, was ordered to pay court costs only for driving under suspension.

Donald J. Cornwell, 26, North Market Street, Lisbon, was fined $230 for driving under suspension, speeding and no seat belt.

Christopher E. Costanzo Jr., 24, North Pearl Street, Columbiana, was fined $150 for speeding.

Michelle Kristi King, 35, East Third Street, Salem, was fined $50 for failure to control.

Christopher A. Rush, 41, Vienna, was fined $50 for speeding.

Henrietta Jean Thompson, 57, Adams Road, Rogers, was fined $150 for driving under suspension.

Jordan Paul Williams, 34, Bradshaw Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $150 for failure to reinstate amended from driving under suspension.

Kresson T. Shepherd, 19, McDonald, Pa., was ordered to pay court costs for speeding.

Gage Alexander Travis, 25, Ephriam Street, East Liverpool, was fined $150 for driving under suspension.

Court News

LISBON — An East Liverpool man who violated the terms of his probation for charges of domestic violence and strangulation was ordered to serve 10 months in prison.

Mark A. Douglas, 41, Henry Avenue, appeared for a probation revocation hearing recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court where his community control was dishonorably terminated. He received credit for 105 days served in jail.

He was accused of assaulting and choking a woman on March 30, 2025 in East Liverpool.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Jessica L. Hart, 48, Leake Street, East Palestine, was ordered to serve up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center in Lisbon, with her community control continued until March 10, 2028, for violating the terms of her probation for four counts of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. Hart possessed oxycodone, hydrocodone, methamphetamine and lisdexamfetamine on July 31, 2023.

— Nancymarie B. Garwood, 42, Alliance, will continue under community control until Aug. 14, 2027 for violating the terms of her probation for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. Her intervention plan was dishonorably terminated. Garwood possessed methamphetamine on Feb. 13, 2024.

— William J. McFarland Jr., 34, Lisbon Road, Salem, was placed under community control for three years for having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony, for having a weapon on Jan. 26, 2025 when he was prohibited from having one due to a previous conviction.

— Jennifer Elaine Perrot, 53, Warren, was placed under community control for 24 months after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs and possession of cocaine, both fifth-degree felonies, for possessing methphetamine and cocaine on Dec. 23, 2023.

Common Pleas

New Cases

Lake A. Baum, West Park Avenue, Columbiana, and Nicole M. Baum, West Salem Street, Columbiana; dissolution sought.

Newrez LLC, Greenville, S.C., vs. Jaclyn Dawn Edelstein, Seventh Street, Columbiana, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought.

Freedom Mortgage Corporation, Fishers, Ind., vs. Brandon Thomas, Woodland Drive, Columbiana, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought.

Docket Entries

Salem Community Hospital, doing business as Salem Regional Medical Center, vs. Darrin R. Bloor; $18,471 judgment granted to plaintiff.

Peter J. Mudrack, et al. vs. Quality Oil & Gas Corp., et al; case dismissed.

Marriage Licenses

Stephano Nicholas Monteleone, 29, East Palestine, musician/landscaper, and Genevieve Isabella Banning, 26, East Palestine, instructional assistant.

Thomas M. Enochs, 49, Wellsville, senior IT analyst, and Jennifer Mae Lucas, 49. New Waterford, occupational therapy assistant.

Bernard J. Veglia, 42, East Liverpool, Fresh Mark, and Randi Rae Bishop, 40, East Liverpool, Chipotle.

Bradley James Bales, 40, East Palestine, truck driver, and Courtney Jo Rader, 35, East Palestine, mail carrier USPS.

Richard L. Hall, 40, Wellsville, IT manager, and Jacki Lyn Ferguson, 39, Wellsville, daycare provider.

Scott D. Sturgill, 34, East Liverpool, order picker, and Cassie Marie Lutz, 30, East Liverpool, cashier.

Grand Jury

LISBON — Gary A. Evans, 48, Youngstown, was served recently with a secret indictment issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury for nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly failing to pay child support from Feb. 26, 2023 to Feb. 23, 2025.