Court News

LISBON — A Columbiana man accused of possessing images of child pornography was ordered evaluated again for current competency and sanity at the time of the offenses.

Richard Braham, 27, West Park Avenue, had previously been found competent and without serious mental issues in the fall, but his defense attorney Charley Kidder requested another evaluation last month.

Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam ordered the evaluations be done by the Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio and set a new status hearing for April 16. A trial date of Feb. 13 had been continued.

Braham was charged last year with one count of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, a fourth-degree felony, and four counts of illegal use of minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, a fifth-degree felony. All the charges stemmed from his alleged possession of the images on Nov. 10, 2023.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Lance B. Richardson, 37, Alliance, was sentenced to six months in prison for violating the terms of his probation for nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, with credit for 30 days already served in jail. His community control was dishonorably terminated. Richardson failed to pay support from July 11, 2021 to July 9, 2023.

— Cheyenne G. Garvis, 25, Rose Drive, Lisbon, was placed on an intervention plan for 36 months after pleading guilty to lesser offenses of attempted aggravated trafficking in drugs and attempted aggravated possession of drugs, both fourth-degree felonies. She was originally charged with third-degree felonies of aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs for possessing and trafficking methamphetamine on Feb. 8, 2025.

— Kurt R. Holloway, 30, Brookfield Avenue, Lisbon, was placed under community control for 30 months after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing cocaine on April 5, 2025.

— Alec Berardi, 25, Coraopolis, Pa., was sentenced to 75 days in the county jail, with credit for 17 days served, leaving a balance of 58 days to serve in jail for violating the terms of his probation for a fourth-degree felony charge of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle. He had a loaded weapon in a vehicle on April 27, 2022.

— Colleen M. Murray, 46, Boardman, was ordered to serve up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center for violating the terms of her probation for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. Her community control was extended for another year to June 20, 2027. She possessed methamphetamine on April 4, 2023.

— Caleb Austin Hoggard, 23, St. Clair Avenue, East Liverpool, was ordered to serve up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center and placed under community control for three years for possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony. He possessed fentanyl on Feb. 14, 2025.

— Rachel E. Garnes, 47, Columbia Street, Salem, was placed under community control for three years after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. She possessed methamphetamine on March 1, 2025.

— Steven Watters II, 48, Elk Avenue, Lisbon, pleaded guilty to charges from two separate indictments, including aggravated possession of drugs, possession of drugs and failure to stop after an accident, all fifth-degree felonies, with sentencing set for May 22. Watters possessed methadone and buprenorphine on April 29, 2024 and fled the scene of an accident on May 25, 2024 in Center Township.

Common Pleas

New Cases

James Bruderly, doing business as Bruderly Excavating, Lodge Road, Leetonia, vs. William Croach, doing business as Croach Construction, New Castle, Pa.; collection sought of alleged $15,663 debt.

U.S. Bank Trust Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, vs. Kenneth W. Moore III, Boardman, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for Columbiana County property.

Huntington National Bank, Columbus, vs. Randy Cope, North Market Street, East Palestine, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for Columbiana County property.

Village of Salineville, c/o Regional Income Tax Agency, East Main Street, East Palestine, vs. Darla K. White, Salineville Road, Salineville; collection sought of alleged $5,639 debt for village income taxes owed.

Village of Salineville, c/o Regional Income Tax Agency, East Main Street, East Palestine, vs. Courtland E. Kellog, West Main Street, Salineville; collection sought of alleged $5,439 debt for village income taxes owed.

Village of Salineville, c/o Regional Income Tax Agency, East Main Street, East Palestine, vs. Kevin W. Stacy, Madison Avenue, Salineville; collection sought of alleged $4,928 debt for village income taxes owed.

Docket Entries

Derrick J. Stickles and Tonya Marie Stickles; dissolution granted.

Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC vs. Brian A. Taylor, et al.; case stayed.

County Treasurer vs. Timothy A. Williams; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Gardendale Street, East Liverpool.

TIKVA 2024, LLC vs. Cynthia A. Gamble, et al.; case reinstated to active docket.

Grand Jury

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

Nicholas W. Smith, 26, last known address West Main Street, Salineville, was charged with third-degree felony tampering with evidence, fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine and misdemeanor possessing drug abuse instrument for an indictment issued last year for allegedly possessing cocaine and drug abuse instruments and tampering with evidence on April 16, 2024.

David G. Miller, 53, Hiram, was charged with possession of cocaine and aggravated possession of drugs, both fifth-degree felonies, with specifications for forfeiture of money from a drug case, for allegedly possessing cocaine and methamphetamine and $300 on Aug. 15, 2025.