Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a case against Jessy Paul Lee, 35, Chester, W.Va., was bound over to the county grand jury for felonious assault, abduction and grand theft auto for allegedly holding a woman against her will, punching her in the face multiple times then holding a knife to her throat while they were traveling in a vehicle in East Liverpool on Feb. 17.

During a preliminary hearing, Judge Tim McNicol found probable cause to send the case to the grand jury.

The affidavit said the victim was able to pull the vehicle over on West Fifth Street where she fled from the vehicle screaming for help. Prior to that, Lee had shown up at her residence and asked for a ride, and once in the vehicle told her to drive where he tells her to and not to do anything stupid. She claimed she needed gas and stopped at Sheetz in Calcutta and video surveillance showed him trying to stop her from going inside, then following her to the women’s bathroom, forcing her out a side door and walking her back to the vehicle, threatening her if she didn’t comply. After the assault when she fled, he drove off with her vehicle.

A case against Sean Zett, 40, Streetsboro, was bound over to the county grand jury for grand theft auto, a fourth-degree felony, for allegedly stealing a 2024 Ford Raptor under the ruse of identifying himself under a different name and taking the vehicle for a test drive and to his mechanic on Jan. 17 from Tri-State Ford in East Liverpool. He left the business and never returned the vehicle and stopped taking its phone calls. The affidavit also said he possessed a fraudulent Ohio BMV document under the other name.

David S. Lyon, 64 Bayard Road, Minerva, was fined $300 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 89 days suspended and credit for one day served, for assault. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to stay away from the victim. He was accused of grabbing a man by the throat and physically assaulting him on Dec. 31, 2025 on Bayard Road, Minerva.

A domestic violence charge against Jeanie Marie Schreffler, 40, St. Clair Avenue, East Liverpool, was dismissed. According to a motion to dismiss filed by the state, the victim wasn’t cooperating. Schreffler was accused of pushing a man through a glass door on Sept. 16, 2025 in East Liverpool.

A status conference hearing was set June 15 and a jury trial was set June 25 for Martin Scott Heater, 43, Kings Court, Leetonia, charged with menacing by stalking for allegedly continuing to contact a woman after being told to leave her alone and being warned multiple times, along with sending her flowers, causing mental distress to her on Sept. 6, 2025 in East Palestine.

Fred H. Carlisle, 56, Eagleton Road, Lisbon, was fined $150 for disorderly conduct for using abusive language while at the Lisbon park on Sept. 9, 2025.

Joseph F. Helpy, 61, Garfield Avenue, East Palestine, was fined $150 for disorderly conduct amended from assault for an alleged incident in East Palestine on Sept. 15, 2025 when the victim took a fighting stance towards him, swung at him and missed and he struck the victim in the face, knocking him to the ground.

Kurt Robert Brown, 46, Alice Street, East Palestine, was fined $150 for disorderly conduct, with a second count of disorderly conduct dismissed. He was found not guilty on a charge of criminal damaging, with a motion for acquittal granted. The disorderly conduct charges stemmed from an incident Sept. 20, 2025 in East Palestine involving a fight. For the criminal damaging charge, he was accused of throwing a rock at a vehicle on July 24, 2025 in East Palestine.

Thomas R. Neapolitan, 39, Charlotte, N.C., was fined $750 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and already completed an education course. He was accused of responding to an undercover ad on a known escort website and requesting sexual activity from a woman in exchange for $40 and advising he would bring methamphetamine, arriving in East Palestine on April 4, 2022 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession, along with some alleged methamphetamine.

Stacy Ray Mayne, 55, Sandy Lake, Pa., was fined $750 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for two counts of possessing criminal tools, with one amended from engaging in prostitution. Mayne was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and already completed a prostitution prevention course. Mayne was accused of responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a woman in exchange for money, then driving to East Palestine on June 6, 2025 for the meeting, with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Marlane Polojac, 23, Minerva Street, East Liverpool, was fined $350 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 74 days suspended and credit for 16 days served, for possession of drug abuse instrument and criminal trespass. She was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and to stay away from an Avondale property in East Liverpool. She trespassed in a condemned residence on Avondale on Jan. 27, 2025 in East Liverpool and possessed several used syringes in East Liverpool on Sept. 16, 2025.

Ruthann M. Rose, 42, Seigler Road, Salineville, was fined $450 for driving under suspension and two counts of disorderly conduct, with one amended from failure to comply. Charges of obstructing official business and loud exhaust were dismissed. On Oct. 2, 2025, she was accused of abruptly exiting her vehicle during a traffic stop and causing alarm to the Salineville police officer, then refusing to listen to commands and being disorderly.

Kevin S. Frazier, 44, Michigan Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $550 for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and criminal damaging for taking a woman’s vehicle without permission on Jan. 30, 2025 in East Liverpool and wrecking it.

Gary F. McCabe Jr., 52, Steubenville Pike Road, Lisbon, was fined $200 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for menacing amended from telecommunications harassment. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and to stay away from the victim. On June 28, 2025 in Salineville, he was accused of calling a woman five times and texting her 23 times after being told to stop.

Brandi J. Glover, 39, East Liverpool Road, Lisbon, was fined $450 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for assault and criminal mischief. She was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and have no contact with the victims. On Dec. 12, 2025, she was accused of punching another woman in the face in Salineville. In January, 2026, she was accused of spray painting the words “cheater,” “liar,” and “cheat” on the walls of man’s house in Salineville.

Makayla D. Brown, 22, state Route 45, Lisbon, was fined $350 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for theft. She was ordered to complete 60 hours community service and to have no contact with the Salem Walmart. Brown was accused of failing to scan and pay for 26 items totaling $179 at the Salem Walmart on Nov. 20, 2025.

Jay A. Ranalli, 21, state Route 45, Lisbon, was fined $350 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for theft. He was ordered to complete 60 hours community service and to have no contact with the Salem Walmart. Ranalli was accused of bagging 26 items not scanned or paid for valued at $179 at Salem Walmart on Nov. 20, 2025.

Natalie N. Berg, 27, East Main Street, East Palestine, was fined $1,165 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 177 days suspended, for operating a vehicle impaired and reasonable control. With completion of a driver intervention program, she will receive credit for three days served and $500 of her fine will be suspended. Her driver’s license was suspended for one year and she was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

Melissa Lynn Mills, 42, Warren, was fined $875 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 170 days suspended, leaving 10 days to serve in jail, along with 36 days of electronically monitored house arrest, for OVI second offense. Her driver’s license was suspended for two years and she was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

Tamra Jo Bing, 43, East High Street, Lisbon, was fined $1,115 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 174 days suspended, leaving three days to serve in jail and three days to serve in a driver intervention program, for OVI and a turn signal violation. Her driver’s license was suspended for one year and she was ordered to complete 40 hours community service. She was also ordered to complete 35 days of electronically monitored house arrest and wear an alcohol ankle monitor known as SCRAM.

James A. Utt, 39, Summit Street, Salem, was fined $925 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 speeding. His driver’s license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service.

A pretrial was set April 28 for Ryan S. Romigh, 31, Tower Road, Salem, charged with driving under suspension.

Hayden Oliver, 19, Ninth Street, Wellsville, was fined $350 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for reckless operation amended from failure to stop after an accident and reasonable control. He was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and to take a remedial driving course.

Randy C. Nussbaum, 38, East Clark Street, East Palestine, was fined $75 for no license amended from driving under suspension.

Ismael Ixcoy Ajanel, 20, East Fourth Street, Salem, was fined $100 for driving under suspension.

Common Pleas

New Cases

Candy Kornack, Crestview Road, New Waterford, vs. Rose Kornack, Depot Road, Lisbon; divorce sought.

Rickey E. Cochran Jr., Depot Road, Salem, and Ceri M. Evans, Depot Road, Salem; dissolution sought.

Security Credit Services LLC, Cincinnati, vs. Natalie Dalrymple, 11th Street, Wellsville; collection sought of alleged $15,689 debt.

Jamie Mash, Lisbon Road, Salem, vs. Bobby Allen Bernstein Jr., Idaho Avenue, Salem, et al.; damages sought for personal injury/negligence claim from 2024 traffic crash.

Docket Entries

Jessica Bushee and Tyler Bushee; dissolution granted.

Victor M. Carroce and Ashley N. Carroce; dissolution granted.

Servis One, Inc. Vs. Lisa A. Dorsey, et al.; mortgage foreclosure ordered for East Liverpool property.

Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB vs. Richard J. Holt, et al.; case stayed.

Capital One, NA vs. Scott Kuhlman; $4,141 judgment granted to plaintiff.

Tanner C. Cope vs. McKayla F. McCulley; divorce granted.

David L. Gentry vs. Leah M. Gentry; divorce granted.

Capital One, NA vs. Sandra House; $18,681 judgment granted to plaintiff.

American Express National Bank vs. Mark A. Downey; $12,694 judgment granted to plaintiff.

JPMorgan Chase Bank vs. Julie L. Temple, et al.; foreclosure judgment vacated.

County Treasurer vs. James Laut, et al.; payment plan entered, case stayed.

County Treasurer vs. William Joseph Lara; forfeiture order vacated, case stayed pending completion of payment plan.

Rocket Mortgage LLC vs. James D. Williams, et al.; case stayed.

Huntington National Bank vs. Francis Cerech; $85,804 judgment granted to plaintiff.

County Treasurer vs. Bruce A. Maher, et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

Pennymac Loan Services LLC vs. Donnie Michael Mergenthaler, et al.; mortgage foreclosure ordered for Maryland Avenue, Salem property.

Lake Tomahawk Property Owners Association Inc. vs. Scott Ramsey, et al.; First Energy Corp dismissed as defendant.

Capital One, N.A. vs. Anthony J. Rhodes; $3,546 judgment to plaintiff.

County Treasurer vs. Sean L. Rhodes, et al.; payment plan entered, case stayed, taxes for one parcel paid, with that parcel dismissed from complaint.

Marriage Licenses

Nicholas B. Miller, 25, Sarahsville, software engineer, and Katelyn N. Chilton, 26, Salem, teacher.

Spencer Biser, 35, Leetonia, packer, and Terri Lynn Earich, 31, Leetonia, unemployed.

Gary A. Schmidt, 67, Columbiana, auto worker, and Martha I. Lamphear, 54, Columbiana, cashier (PSA).

Tony L. Hilton, 45, East Liverpool, unemployed, and Shannon D. Thrasher, 39, East Liverpool, shipper.

Hugo Lopez Herrara, 44, Salem, manager, and Ma Guadalupe Gonzalez Siordia, 42, Salem, housewife.

Jeffrey T. G. Sayer, 31, New Waterford, teledata, and Aysia L. Canterbury, 29, New Waterford, unemployed.

Court News

LISBON –A man facing multiple felony counts for a 2025 incidents involving a Jeep and a high speed chase in June and an assault in April was sentenced to a total of five years in prison.

James D. Laughlin, 34, state Route 518, Lisbon, appeared for sentencing recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.

He was sentenced to at least three years to four and a half years in prison for felonious assault, a second-degree felony and an additional 18 months for failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony. He was sentenced to 180 days in the county jail for endangering children, a misdemeanor, but the term was ordered served at the same time as the other two charges. He received credit for 246 days in jail. Charges of felonious assault, two counts vehicular assault an domestic violence were dismissed.

He received an additional six months in prison for a separate assault charge, a fifth-degree felony, bringing the total prison time to six months.

The incidents began when Laughlin allegedly became aggressive with a woman at the Rogers Food and Fuel, Depot Street, Rogers, on June 29, 2025 so she ran to a friend who was driving a Jeep with other people inside. Laughlin then jumped in the van they were driving, with the woman’s unrestrained 2-year-old child inside, and intentionally rammed the Jeep with the van, then fled the area with the child still inside. Laughlin allegedly fled at a high rate of speed when an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper initiated a traffic stop in Madison Township, then Laughlin drove into a yard, left the vehicle and fled on foot into a wooded lot. The other incident occurred April 23, 2025 when he caused harm to a person.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Douglas C. Toothman, 48, East Fourth Street, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree felony domestic violence, with sentencing set for April 27. He was accused of hitting a woman in her face and head area several times in East Liverpool on Oct. 18, 2025. The affidavit said the victim was pregnant.

— Nicholas L. Weyand, 37, Dewey Avenue, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility, a third-degree felony, and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for May 18. Weyand was accused of possessing fentanyl and trying to take drugs into a detention facility on May 27, 2024.

— Megan N. Stofen, 31, Bloomfield Avenue, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony lesser-included offense from the original second-degree felony, and was sentenced to serve a term at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center until the program is successfully completed and then placed in drug court for a period not to exceed five years. She was given a mandatory fine of $5,000. She received credit for four days served in jail. A charge of aggravated trafficking in drugs, a second-degree felony, was dismissed. She possessed methamphetamine on July 26, 2024.

Grand Jury

LISBON — Shannon M. Johnson, 45, McDonald Street, East Liverpool, was served recently with a secret indictment issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury for possession of cocaine and aggravated possession of drugs, both fifth-degree felonies, for allegedly possessing cocaine and methamphetamine on Oct. 5, 2025.