Court News

LISBON — An East Liverpool man charged with passing bad checks had his case dismissed recently after being found still not competent and unable to be restored to competency.

Shawn Peddicord, 44, Wilbert Avenue, was charged with one count of fourth-degree felony passing bad checks for allegedly attempting to defraud a man with a check written for $17,650 on Jan. 30, 2025.

Peddicord had previously been found not competent, but was ordered into outpatient treatment in an attempt to restore his competency. Despite that treatment, he was found still not competent based on a recent psychiatric evaluation and not able to be restored within the required time by law, which was six months.

Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam made the ruling regarding Peddicord’s competency and inability to be restored, dismissing the case.

The state isn’t pursuing any sort of probate/civil commitment. Peddicord was ordered discharged with costs taxed to the state.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Deon A. Richmond, 58, Smithfield Street, East Liverpool, was found not competent again for a charge of failure to register, a third-degree felony, for allegedly failing to register as a sex offender in Columbiana County on Dec. 10, 2024. Last December, he was ordered transported to Heartland Behavioral Healthcare in Massillon for inpatient restoration services, but a recent evaluation said he remained not competent. The state requested a second opinion to determine the probability of Richmond being returned to competency. A status hearing is set for June 26.

— Aubrey W. Trayvick, 29, Petersburg, was placed under community control for three years, ordered to serve a term at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center until the program is complete and fined $5,000, with credit for 18 days served in jail, for third-degree felony possession of cocaine and fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs. A charge of trafficking in cocaine was dismissed. She possessed cocaine and hydrocodone on Feb. 19, 2025.

— George S. Feezle, 51, Enon Valley, Pa., was sentenced to 60 days in the county jail, with credit for one day served, for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for possessing methamphetamine on April 10, 2025.

— Rylan Vujo Polojac, 27, Youngstown, must spend 83 days in the county jail for violating the terms of his probation for receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony, for having a woman’s bank debit card on Dec. 25, 2023.

Common Pleas

NEW CASES

Tommy Joe Lemasters, Malone Road, Salineville, vs. Lindsay Raye Lemasters, Clarksville Road, Salineville; divorce sought.

Rocket Mortgage, LLC, Dallas, Texas, vs. Timothy Allen Hayner, individually and as executor of estate of Rita K. Hayner, Parkersburg, W.Va., et al.; foreclosure sought for West Hill Boulevard, East Liverpool property.

DOCKET ENTRIES

County Treasurer vs. Stephanie Griffin; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for West Wilson Street, Salem property.

County Treasurer vs. Andrew D. McKarns, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Fink Road, Kensington property.

County Treasurer vs. JB&D Holdings LTD; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Elkrun Township, Lisbon property.

County Treasurer vs. Thomas J. Sprowls, et al.; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for Neeld Road, East Palestine property.

County Treasurer vs. Mark A. Steeb; delinquent property tax foreclosure ordered for South Elm Street, Columbiana property.

Municipal

LISBON — A New York man who allegedly intended to help an inmate escape from the federal prison in Elkton by lifting him over the fence with a large drone will face a pretrial Aug. 17 for criminal trespass after being caught on prison property.

Nathan A. Lund, 34, Port Jefferson, appeared for arraignment in Columbiana County Municipal Court for the misdemeanor charge.

An affidavit said deputies from the county sheriff’s office responded to the prison on Scroggs Road, Elkrun Township, regarding a drone flying around the recreation yard of FCI Elkton prison. Upon arrival, prison guards had Lund outside of a U-haul in the entrance of the facility wearing a black chest rig and a handheld control device beside him.

“After further investigation, it was found that the defendant was attempting to assist a federal inmate in an escape by lifting him with a large drone over the fence area with a rope and hook attached to said drone,” the affidavit said.

Also in Columbiana County Municipal Court, cases against Steven D. Lemaster, 35, Lancaster, were bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanors of receiving stolen property, possession of drug abuse instrument and drug paraphernalia for allegedly attempting to conceal evidence during a traffic stop when methamphetamine was found scattered throughout the passenger seat and door pocket of the vehicle and a meth pipe was found on Feb. 5, 2022 in Columbiana. A loaded syringe and 11 empty syringes were also found, along with a laptop computer reported stolen during a break-in at Ohio State University in October 2021.

Jordan Aubry Sloan, 30, May Street, East Liverpool, was fined $500 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 172 days suspended and credit for eight days served, for assault amended from domestic violence and criminal trespass amended to a misdemeanor from a second-degree burglary charge. A second-degree felony of strangulation was dismissed by the prosecution. Sloan was accused of pushing a woman against the wall and striking her, punching her in the mouth and slamming her off of the floor April 12 in East Liverpool. He also put his hands around her throat and was choking her.

Sentencing was set July 1 for Johnathan Wayne Russell, 34, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, who pleaded guilty to domestic violence and disorderly conduct for striking a woman in the face with his fist on June 22 in East Liverpool, then slamming his head off of the glass divider in a police cruiser after his arrest.

Romellow Marquice McKnight, 30, Youngstown, was fined $1,000 and sentenced to 100 days in jail, with credit for 32 days served, leaving a balance of 68 days still to serve in jail for aggravated menacing and three counts of violation of a protection order. He threatened a woman with physical harm on Sept. 15, 2025 in East Liverpool and then sent messages, some through social media, to a protected person on Oct. 28, 2025 and on Feb. 17 and April 3 this year in East Liverpool.

A status conference hearing was set Aug. 31 and a court trial was set Sept. 14 for Desiree M. Walker, 32, South Washington Street, East Palestine, charged with domestic violence for allegedly choking a man and striking him with her fist on June 6 in East Palestine.

A pretrial was set July 1 for Sally J. Stanley, 60, Leslie Road, Lisbon, charged with domestic violence for allegedly assaulting a man in Lisbon on June 20.

A pretrial was set Aug. 31 for Nancy L. Anderson, 68, Sunrise Drive, Lisbon, charged with aggravated menacing for allegedly trying to drive over a 12-year-old child after her grandchild was allegedly hit with a wiffle ball by the victim on May 30 in Lisbon.

Clark Earl Geer, 52, Jackson Street, East Liverpool, was fined $150, sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 23 days suspended and credit for seven days served, with 25 hours community service ordered, for disorderly conduct amended from domestic violence for causing a woman to fall to the floor and twisting her head around on April 16 in East Liverpool.

Trinity Ann Syvertsen, 25, North Shadylane Drive, East Liverpool, was fined $200 and given a suspended 30-day jail term for menacing amended from domestic violence, with 20 hours community service ordered for running towards man with a knife outside in an apartment complex parking lot in East Liverpool on June 12.

Michael R. McDaniel, 53, Alliance Sebring Road, Alliance, was fined $250 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 179 suspended and credit for one day served, for aggravated menacing, with 40 hours community service ordered. He was ordered to have no contact with the victims. On April 21 in Lisbon, McDaniel pointed a firearm at two women after a fight ended between two males.

A status hearing was set June 29 for George Ellis Montgomery, 72, Harvey Avenue, East Liverpool, charged with domestic violence, disorderly conduct and disorderly conduct intoxication for allegedly chasing a woman trying to hit her in East Liverpool on June 19.

A pretrial was set Aug. 17 for Mark Anthony Bryan, 25, Sharpsville, Pa., charged with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a woman in exchange for money via the Cash App, arriving in Unity Township on June 17 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

A pretrial was set Aug. 31 for Travis Richard Fritz, 45, Penn Run, Pa., charged with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a woman in exchange for $140, arriving in Unity Township for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession. The police affidavit said he was a truck driver instructor and while his trainee was in the semi, he obtained an Uber ride to the meeting location.

Vincent Arnell Myers, 26, Youngstown, was fined $500, received a suspended 180-day jail term and 25 hours community service for engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools for responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity in exchange for $140, then traveling to East Palestine on April 23 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession. The seized money was ordered forfeited to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.

Robyn E. Smeltzer, 45, Cleveland Street, Salem, was fined $100 and sentenced to five days in prison, with credit for five days served, for public indecency expose private parts for urinating in the corner of a pavilion at Centennial Park in Salem on March 25.

Timothy R. Boggs, 33, Glen Street, East Liverpool, was fined $400 and sentenced to 20 days in jail, with credit for 15 days served, leaving a balance of five days still to serve for resisting arrest and obstructing official business. Boggs ran from a garage into a thicket of woods behind a home when deputies arrived to serve a warrant, was given numerous warnings and was apprehended by K-9 Jimmy on June 6 in Elkrun Township.

Matthew Scott Howard, 39, Annesley Road, East Liverpool, was fined $2,000 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 174 days suspended and credit for one day served, leaving a balance of five days to serve in jail for improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle amended to a misdemeanor from a felony and two merged charges of operating a vehicle impaired, with 25 hours community service ordered. His license was suspended for one year, with driving privileges granted. On March 9 in Elkrun Township during a traffic stop on a motorcycle, Howard possessed a loaded handgun inside a holster hear the handlebars.

Chase W. Perkins, 28, Roosevelt Avenue, Salem, was fined $1,000 for theft, criminal trespass, criminal damaging, furnish false information and two counts driving under suspension. Perkins was an inmate at the Columbiana County Jail on Feb. 18, 2025 when he broke into a secure office in the recreation area of the jail and stole a pack of gum, a pen and a can of hair clipper spray.

A pretrial was set Aug. 26 for Steven R. Conkle, 74, Dakota Street, East Liverpool, charged with theft for allegedly stealing five items worth $63 from Giant Eagle in St. Clair Township.

A pretrial was set July 15 for Vincent Anthony Circelli, 46, Broadway Avenue, Wellsville, charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle for allegedly driving a vehicle owned by his former employer without permission on June 10 in East Liverpool.

Trinity Gloria McCoy, 18, West Fourth Street, East Liverpool, was fined $200 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 29 days suspended and credit for one day served, for two counts of disorderly conduct, with one count amended from resisting arrest. She was looking into vehicles while intoxicated, standing unsteady and pulling away from a police officer, falling to comply with verbal commands on April 18 in East Liverpool.

A pretrial was set Aug. 24 for Ronald L. Keller, 52, Rochester Road, East Rochester, charged with theft for allegedly being stopped in Salem in a stolen vehicle on April 6.

Nick Rhodes, 52, Youngstown, was fined $1,000 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with credit for 10 days served, leaving a balance of 20 days still to serve for disorderly conduct amended from obstructing official business, OVI, driving under suspension and failure to control. His license was suspended for two years. Rhodes kept pulling away from a deputy sheriff while handcuffed and being placed in a cruiser, then kicked the doors and windows multiple times once inside on June 6 in Elkrun Township.

Michael A. Russell, 43, Wells Avenue, Wellsville, was fined $450 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with credit for five days served, leaving a balance of 25 days to serve for theft, use of unauthorized plate and no license. He stole a go cart from Six Recycling in East Liverpool on Sept. 4,, 2025. He must serve an additional 15 days in jail for violating his probation for a 2025 theft case.

A pretrial was set Aug. 24 for Natalie L. Smith, 29, North Lima, charged with telecommunications harassment for allegedly sending a text message to another woman on May 29 in Salem Township after being told she would face a charge if she contacted the victim again.

Connie L. Chapman, 69, and Shawn Lee Chapman, 50, both of Columbia Street, Leetonia, were each fined $25 for charges of disorderly conduct for using profanity towards police in Leetonia on Jan. 26 after Shawn Lee Chapman was told it was against the law to shovel snow into the street.

A pretrial was set Sept. 1 for Ethan A. Bortoli, 21, Alliance, charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly causing a scene while intoxicated at a store in Salem on July 17.

A pretrial was set Aug. 31 for Brandon S. Gust, 27, West Washington Street, Lisbon, charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly kicking the door of a shop on South Broadway Avenue in Salem on June 22.

A pretrial was set Aug. 25 for Vincent A. Ruiz Tibbs, 23, Cleveland, charged with disorderly conduct, for allegedly being extremely intoxicated, not knowing where he was and then leaving the police station after police took him there to wait for a ride on June 20 in Salem.

A pretrial was set Sept. 1 for Mason A. Patchin, 23, North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, charged with drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing a burnt straw with residue during a traffic stop in Salem on June 15.

A charge of criminal trespass against Fredrick J. Webb, 48, Van Buren Avenue, Salem, was dismissed after the alleged victim failed to appear. Webb had been accused of trespassing at a Salem business on Oct. 22, 2025.

Ronald M. Wolf, 53, Lisbon Street, East Liverpool, was fined $100 for unlicensed sale of tobacco for buying cigars through an unlicensed distributor on June 15 at Nikkis Market LLC in East Liverpool.

Mariah R. Beaver, 35, Dewey Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $100 for intoxication for being intoxicated in public in East Liverpool on July 1, 2025.

A pretrial was set Sept. 1 for Jason W. Anderson, 39, East Pershing Street, Salem, charged with OVI, OVI refusal and assured clear distance.