Court News

LISBON — An East Liverpool man who entered guilty pleas to numerous charges in March, including a first-degree felony fentanyl possession charge, drug trafficking charges and obstructing official business was sentenced recently to at least five years in prison.

Marques Marquell Kimmie, 30, Pennsylvania Avenue, appeared for sentencing in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court for the two cases.

For the one case involving first-degree felony possession of a fentanyl-related compound and fourth-degree felonies of trafficking in cocaine and possession of cocaine, he was sentenced to a concurrent sentence of three years to maximum possible additional one and a half years if the state prison system deems it necessary. That sentence was ordered served consecutively to the concurrent 24 months issued for the other case for third-degree felony possession of a fentanyl-related compound and fifth-degree felonies of obstructing official business, trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs, with specifications for forfeiture of money from a drug case.

Charges being dismissed as part of the plea deal for both cases include assault, two counts trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound and drug paraphernalia.

He was also ordered to pay mandatory fines of $10,000 and $5,000 and forfeit amounts of $323 and $550. He received credit for two days served in jail.

Kimmie was accused of attempting to run back inside an East Liverpool residence while the Columbiana County Drug Task Force was executing a search warrant and slamming the door shut on a police officer’s wrist, using his body weight to hold the door shut on June 27, 2025. Kimmie also possessed several used digital drug scales with white residue and packaging material near the scales, along with preparing for sale and possessing fentanyl in an amount equal or greater than100 unit doses but less than 200 unit doses and possessing $550, buprenorphine and hydrocodone.

The other indictment said that Kimmie possessed $323, trafficked and possessed fentanyl in an amount equal or greater than 50 grams but less than 100 grams and trafficked and possessed cocaine in an amount equal or greater than 5 grams but less than 10 grams on July 21, 2025.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Aiden C. Booth, 22, Center Street, had been evaluated again for competency, but was not transported for the recent hearing in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court from Heartland Behavioral Health Care. Judge Scott Washam based his ruling on a new evaluation, finding that he was unable to understand the nature and objective of the legal proceedings or assist in his defense, but this time finding was possibility of restoring competency with the six months allowed by law.

Washam found that the least restrictive treatment alternative consistent with public safety and the defendant’s treatment needs related to restoration was inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, with Booth to remain at Heartland Behavioral Health Care.

Booth was indicted last year for 41 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, a fourth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing images of child pornography on May 6, 2025.

— Christian A. Radcliff, 37, Ravine Street, East Liverpool, was ordered to serve 30 days in jail, with credit for one day served, leaving 29 days to serve for the violating the terms of his probation for possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing fentanyl on Dec. 26, 2022.

— Jeremy L. Ghrist, 43, Brilliant, pleaded guilty to nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, with sentencing set for July 9, for failing to provide support from Jan. 1, 2023 to Dec. 209, 2024. An additional charge of nonsupport of dependents will be dismissed.

— Charles A. Slocum Jr., 34, Brookfield Avenue, Lisbon, pleaded guilty to charges from two separate cases, including fifth-degree felonies of assault and obstructing official business and fourth-degree felony failure to verify address, with sentencing set for May 27. Between Jan. 14 and Feb. 3, he failed to verify his current address for the sex offender registration. In the assault case, he tried to harm a man on July 15, 2025.

— Johnathon R. Easterday, 36, Aten Avenue, Wellsville, pleaded guilty to third-degree felony domestic violence for pushing a woman in the chest, which caused her to fall into a glass box in Wellsville on Jan, 29, with three or more domestic violence convictions on his record. Sentencing was set for June 5.

— Tina Gardner, 36, Granite Avenue, Salem, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for charges from two separate indictments. She recently appeared for sentencing for third-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs, fourth-degree felony improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia. She was also fined $5,000 and received credit for four days served in jail. Those charges stemmed from July 1, 2025 and involved a loaded firearm, drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk. She also pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated possession of drugs for possessing methamphetamine on Aug. 5, 2025 and oxycodone on Aug. 21, 2025, with the 12-month sentence to be served at the same time as the 12-month term for the other case.

— Melissa R. Brink, 46, Warren, was placed under community control for three years, received a mandatory fine of $5,000 and credit for 85 days served in jail for third-degree felonies of tampering with evidence and aggravated possession of drugs and a specification for forfeiture of money from a drug case. Charges of trafficking in drugs and drug paraphernalia were dismissed. She was ordered to forfeit $120. Brink possessed methamphetamine in an amount equal or greater than bulk but less than five times bulk, along with the $120 and tampered with evidence on March 4, 2025.

— Hallie J. Delposen, 26, state Route 518, Lisbon, was placed on an intervention plan for three years after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and possession of LSD for possessing amphetamine and LSD on Nov. 13, 2025.

— Van Evans, 20, East Cleveland, was placed under community control for two years and ordered to serve 10 days in jail, with credit for one day served, leaving nine days still to serve for third-degree felony tampering with evidence. Evans admitted to flushing two bags of drugs down the toilet when the Columbiana County Drug Task Force was executing a search warrant at a West Fourth Street apartment in East Liverpool on June 10, 2025.

— Jackie Barker, 31, Saline Street, Irondale, had community control extended by an additional six months for violating the terms of a treatment plan for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing amphetamine on April 18, 2023.

— Justin C. Davis, 41, West Pine Lake Road, Salem, was sentenced to 45 days in the county jail, with credit for one day served, leaving 44 days still to serve in jail for violating the terms of his probation for endangering children and aggravated trespassing, both misdemeanors. Davis was accused of putting a child at risk on June 17, 2025 and trespassing on Jan. 5, 2024.

— Rickey L. Smith, 70, Warren, was placed under community control for 18 months after pleading 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, for possessing fentanyl and trying to take drugs into a detention facility on Jan. 18, 2023.

— Adam H. Watkins, 41, Fox Chase Road, East Liverpool, was placed under community control for five years and ordered to pay $15,174 restitution for theft, a fifth-degree felony, for stealing building materials and tools from East End Lumber in East Liverpool from March 17, 2025 to Nov. 29, 2025.

— Kerry Frasier, 24, Wellsville, was placed under community control for three years, with credit for 28 days served in jail, after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing bromazolam on April 29, 2023.

— Christopher E. Byers, 32, 16th Street, Wellsville, was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with credit for 49 days served, leaving a balance of 41 days still to serve for violating the terms of his probation for attempted strangulation, a fifth-degree felony. His community control was dishonorably terminated. Byers tried to harm a woman on Nov. 18, 2023.

Common Pleas

New Cases

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Leetonia Aerie 1496 Fraternal Order of Eagles, Main Street, Leetonia, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for Main Street, Leetonia property.

County Treasurer, Lisbon, vs. Bryan D. Worth, Elkton Road, Lisbon, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure sought for Elkton Road, Lisbon property.

Wintrust Mortgage, Coppell, Texas, vs. James Schweichler’s unknown heirs, etc, address unknown, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for Columbiana County property.

Docket Entries

Accelerated Inventory Management, LLC vs. Lynette Earl; $17,996 judgment granted to plaintiff.

ABL Wholesale Distributors Inc. vs. South Hills Market & Deli LLC, et al.; $6,756 judgment granted to plaintiff.

Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC vs. Nolan J. Martin, et al.; mortgage foreclosure ordered for Center Road, Alliance property.

William Martin vs. city of Salem, et al.; case settled and dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. American Health Care Inc., et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for West Main Street, East Palestine property.

County Treasurer vs. Williams Solar Holdco LLC; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. Steckman Memorials Inc., et al.; delinquent property taxes paid, case dismissed.

County Treasurer vs. William T. Poling, et al.; sheriff sale cancelled, defendant has payment plan through Tax Ease Ohio.

County Treasurer vs. Melinda Jean Holbrook, et al.; payment plan entered, case stayed.

Municipal

LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a preliminary/pretrial hearing was set May 20 for Bryan Keith Dilling, 54, last known address Rose Drive, Lisbon, charged with fourth-degree felony failure to report change of address and misdemeanor falsification for allegedly failing to notify the sheriff’s office of his change of address for the sex offender registration on May 6 in Lisbon and giving the sheriff’s address a false address for a property where he did not live.

A pretrial was set July 15 for Kurtis Edward Cooper, 39, Kingwood, W.Va., charged with engaging in prostitution, possessing criminal tools and drug paraphernalia for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a woman in exchange for methamphetamine and adrenal, traveling to East Palestine on May 13 for the meeting with the drugs, a meth pipe and the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

A pretrial was set July 20 for Nicholas Allen Anderson, 32, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with falsification for allegedly claiming to St. Clair Township police on May 13 that his wife was assaulted by her work manager at a local restaurant. Police discovered the assault did not take place by watching surveillance video and speaking to the alleged victim, who said she was never assaulted.

Tammy Joe Manley, 27, Riley Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $300 for a miscellaneous wildlife violation and hunting without permission for a hunting incident involving a deer on Dec. 20, 2025 on Osbourne Road in Madison Township.

James E. Hanlon, 39, Ohio Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $200 for improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle for having a shotgun and live round in the vehicle near him when he was a passenger in a traffic stop on Dec. 20, 2025 in Madison Township.

Charles Duane Hollingshead, 29, Teegarden Road, Lisbon, was fined $200 for miscellaneous wildlife for hunting from the bed of his truck Dec. 20, 2025 in Unity Township.

A court trial was set June 23 for Mariah R. Beaver, 35, Cartwright Street, East Liverpool, charged with intoxication for an incident of public intoxication on July 1, 2025 in East Liverpool.