Common Pleas

NEW CASES

Spencer M. Crosser, Miller Road, Lisbon, and Ansley C. Crosser, New Middletown; dissolution sought.

Eugene J. Rogers, Center Street, East Liverpool, and Sheila C. Rogers, Center Street, East Liverpool; dissolution sought.

Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Cincinnati vs. Ashley R. Herderick, Homeworth Road, Alliance, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for Homeworth Road, Alliance property.

Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC, Anaheim, Calif., vs. Joshua Proya, Columbia Street, Leetonia, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for Columbiana County property.

Huntington National Bank, Columbus, vs. Betty Rush, East Main Street, Salineville, et al.; mortgage foreclosure sought for Columbiana County property.

DOCKET ENTRIES

County Treasurer vs. Kathleen Shasteen, et al.; payment plan entered, case stayed.

Lake Tomahawk Property Owners Association, Inc. vs. Scott Ramsey, et al.; case settled and dismissed.

Grace McQuiston vs. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Co., et al.; case settled and dismissed at cost of defendant Colton Cindrich.

Courtney Colleen McGee vs. Glen Dale McGee; divorce granted.

Gloria Mae Peddicord vs. Shawn M. Peddicord; divorce granted.

Brennelle O’Donnell vs. Todd O’Donnell; divorce complaint dismissed.

Grand Jury

LISBON — A handful of defendants were served recently with secret indictments issued by the Columbiana County Grand Jury, including a Florida woman accused of illegally using food benefits.

Joey Suzanne Buxton, 47, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was charged with illegal use of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits or WIC program benefits, a fourth-degree felony, for allegedly misusing the benefits from Jan. 1, 2021 through Jan. 31, 2022.

Also served with secret indictments were:

— Thomas Charles Joy, 31, Avondale Street, East Liverpool, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and misdemeanor possession of drugs for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and buprenorphine on Oct. 10, 2025.

— Van Lamar Evans, 20, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, third-degree felonies of trafficking in cocaine and possession of cocaine for allegedly possessing and preparing for sale 10 to 20 grams of cocaine on Nov. 20, 2025.

— Scott D. Shreve, 38, Alpha Street, East Liverpool, fifth-degree felony possession of a fentanyl-related compound for allegedly possessing fentanyl on July 25, 2025.

Court News

LISBON — A woman accused of having a knife at Utica Shale Academy earlier this year will face a further status hearing at 9:30 a.m. July 17 in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.

Britania B. Brown, 45, Toronto, appeared recently for a pretrial for illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance in a school safety zone, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly having a knife out at the Utica Shale Academy, Salineville on Jan. 14.

A police affidavit filed in county Municipal Court said she admitted to having a knife open while in the presence of a school teacher while at the school and had the knife in her possession. She had been found competent after a psychological evaluation and then her case was bound over to the grand jury, with an indictment issued in May.

Brown entered a not guilty plea during the arraignment, also in May. Her bond remains set at $20,000 cash or surety.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

— Tommy Hart, 39, Sophia Street, East Liverpool, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after violating the terms of his probation for fourth-degree felony attempted illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility and fifth-degree felonies of possession of cocaine, possession of heroin, possession of fentanyl-related compound, and two counts nonsupport of dependents. His community control was dishonorably terminated. Hart was accused of attempting to take drugs into a detention facility and for possessing cocaine, heroin and fentanyl on Sept. 19, 2022. He was also accused of failing to pay support from Aug. 30, 2020 to Aug. 28, 2022.

— Shahna Roberts, 51, Duke Road, Calcutta, was ordered to serve 150 days in the county jail, with credit for 29 days served, leaving a balance of 121 days still to serve for violating the terms of her probation for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony for possessing methamphetamine on Jan. 16, 2021. Her intervention plan was dishonorably terminated.

— David Crowe, 41, Wilbert Avenue, East Liverpool, was ordered to serve 245 days in the county jail, with credit for 230 days served, leaving a balance of 15 days still to serve after violating the terms of his probation for fourth-degree felony attempted tampering with evidence and misdemeanor obstructing official business. His community control was dishonorably terminated. Crowe was accused of providing a false name and social security number to East Liverpool police officers during a traffic stop on Jan. 8 in East Liverpool. A small circular container was found in his coat pocket and while being handcuffed, he allegedly grabbed the container off the hood of the cruiser, attempting to conceal the evidence.

— Brad Cutchall, 55, Youngstown, was sentenced to 60 days in the county jail, with credit for 51 days served, leaving a balance of nine days still to serve after pleading guilty to attempted trespassing in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present, a fifth-degree felony, and misdemeanor criminal trespass. The incident of trespassing occurred on June 8, 2023.

Municipal

LISBON — A woman facing three separate cases for threats she made against a man had all the charges dismissed after she was found not competent and not restorable to competency.

Christina M. Falconer, 49, Duck Creek Road, Salem, appeared in the custody of the sheriff’s office before Columbiana County Municipal Court Judge Danielle Menning for a competency hearing Tuesday. Charges against her included domestic violence, two counts of aggravated menacing, and two counts menacing. She was accused of allegedly leaving two voicemails on a man’s cell phone, threatening to assault him and kill him and also sending numerous messages via social media that included threats of harm to the man on Feb. 19 in West Township. On Feb. 15 in West Township, she allegedly threatened to shoot the man and kill his current girlfriend. The affidavit noted that when her vehicle was stopped by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a 9mm handgun was found.

The doctor who performed the evaluation of Falconer spoke off the record with both counsel for the defense and the state.

Back on the record, the state withdrew its motion for a second competency evaluation and stipulated that Falconer was not competent and was not restorable to competency within the allowed statutory time frame for the charges. The state had not filed the paperwork to pursue a civil commitment.

The judge dismissed all the charges without prejudice, with costs taxed to the state and the defendant ordered released from custody.

Also in Columbiana County Municipal Court, cases against Norman W. Bender, 52, Aten Avenue, Wellsville, were bound over to the county grand jury for fourth-degree felonies of theft and receiving stolen property and misdemeanors of drug paraphernalia, operating a vehicle impaired, driving under suspension, no turn signal and no seat belt for allegedly driving away in a woman’s vehicle without permission on June 16 in East Liverpool. The affidavit said she gave him a ride and when she exited the vehicle, he allegedly drove away and then he was stopped for a moving violation and she arrived on scene and reported he stole the vehicle. He was in possession of a metal smoking pipe and torch lighter also.

A status conference hearing was set Sept. 1 for Justin Daniel Lucas Trevor, 38, Etruria Street, East Liverpool, charged with assault and criminal mischief for allegedly attacking another man on April 24 in East Liverpool, throwing him up against a vehicle and then onto the ground. During the altercation, he allegedly grabbed the support of the canopy on the property and attempted to pull it out of the ground, causing damage.

Warren Stephen Taylor, 27, Pittsburgh, Pa, was fined $250 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 179 days suspended and credit for one day served, with 25 hours community service ordered, for assault amended from domestic violence. He must take a domestic violence awareness course and was ordered to have no contact with the victim. Taylor hit a woman and choked her over items in the house in East Liverpool on Feb. 1 and been throwing items at her and slamming her against the wall.

Alan Timothy James, 48, Chester, W.Va., was fined $450 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 88 days suspended and credit for two days served, for obstructing official business and two counts of menacing, with 20 hours community service ordered. He was ordered to have no contact with the victims. On Sept. 19, 2025 in Yellow Creek Township, James parked across from a woman’s house and was yelling obscenities and he also sent threatening text messages to another woman threatening to release her livestock and sending a photo of her fence. Deputies went to his property at the time in Yellow Creek Township and he fled on his 4-wheeler, but was later located in a field after the 4-wheeler broke down.

Seaton I. Ruffner, 42, Ohio Avenue, Salem, was fined $300 and sentenced to 52 days in jail, with credit for 12 days served, leaving a balance of 40 days still to serve for misdemeanor aggravated trespassing amended from fourth-degree felony burglary for entering a Salem residence without permission on June 17.

Shawn Roderick Horne, 55, Baden, Pa., was fined $1,000 and given a suspended 180-day jail term and 25 hours community service for possessing engaging in prostitution and two counts of possessing criminal tools. He was ordered to forfeit $80 to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. He responded to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranged for sexual activity with a woman in exchange for $80, then arrived in East Palestine on Feb. 17 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements.

David Gene Miller, 53, Hiram, was fined $900 and sentenced to two days in jail, with credit for two days served, leaving no time to serve for engaging in prostitution, possessing criminal tools and drug paraphernalia. He already completed an online prostitution prevention course. He responded to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranged for sexual activity with a woman in exchange for money, then arrived in East Palestine on Aug. 15, 2025 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements and drug paraphernalia. An open container charge was dismissed for possessing three Fireball single shot containers and a thermos with a mixed drink.

Darnell Cornelius Penn, 35, last known address Akron, was fined $750 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 179 days suspended and credit for one day served, with 40 hours community service, for engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. He was ordered to complete a prostitution prevention course. Penn responded to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranged for sexual activity with a woman in exchange for $100, then arrived in East Palestine on April 22 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

A pretrial was set July 13 for Gage Matthew Gillespie, 18, Vine Street, East Liverpool, charged with resisting arrest, receiving stolen property, bicycle on sidewalk, prohibited activity, hand and arm signals, lights and reflector on bicycle, skateboarding and reckless operation. On June 29 in East Liverpool, a police officer spotted a man, identified as Gillespie, wanted on a warrant and when he went to place him in handcuffs, Gillespie pulled free and ran and was located behind an abandoned building where he was taken into custody. On June 22 in East Liverpool, he was allegedly riding a stolen bicycle through Giant Eagle, was confronted by the victim and he ran away from the scene, with a lot of the charges dealing with his operation of the bicycle.

A pretrial was set July 13 for Van Lamar Evans, 20, East Cleveland, charged with obstructing official business and resisting arrest for an incident on June 25 in Wellsville when he was a passenger in a vehicle during a traffic stop detectives with the Columbiana County Drug Task Force conducted knowing he was wanted on warrants. The affidavit said he told the driver to take off and was grabbing the gear shift trying to shift the vehicle into drive, then held onto the gear shift as detectives were trying to remove him. He was tased and taken into custody.

A pretrial was set Aug. 24 for Joseph Daniel Mason, 42, listed as homeless, charged with theft and two counts of open container for allegedly having an open container of alcohol on June 10 in East Liverpool and on June 29 in East Liverpool, which is when he also took a book bag that did not belong to him and took the wallet from the book bag.

A pretrial was set Sept. 15 for Barry Lee Ours, 51, Moore Street, East Liverpool, charged with theft for allegedly stealing a cell phone and head phones from a book bag belonging to someone else on June 29 in East Liverpool.

All charges for property maintenance requirements, litter and storage of furniture against David Durbin, 52, Duke Road, East Liverpool, were dismissed. The charges related to alleged indoor furniture, piles of junk and debris scattered about the exterior of his property on Allison Street, East Liverpool on June 9, 2025.

Six counts of failure to file city income tax return against Nathan M. Smith, no age provided, Auburn Street, East Liverpool, were dismissed. He was accused of failing to file East Liverpool City income tax returns from 2020 through 2025.

Danielle Rauch, 30, Hunter Camp Road, Lisbon, was fined $1,595 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 175 days suspended, leaving a balance of five days to serve in jail for operating a vehicle impaired second offense, driving under suspension and failure to display valid sticker. She was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and must serve 18 days electronically monitored house arrest. Her license was suspended for two years, with driving privileges granted.

Shawn Robert Shirk, 44, Genesee, Pa., was fined $1,200 and must serve at least one day in jail for obstructing official business, engaging in prostitution, possessing criminal tools, and reckless operation amended from OVI. Charges of refuse to submit to test for commercial motor vehicle or commercial driver’s license, no seat belt and marked lanes were dismissed. For the prostitution case, a 180-day jail term was suspended. For the reckless operation, the sentence was 30 days with 27 suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program. For the obstructing charge, he was sentenced to 90 days, with 88 days suspended and credit for one day, leaving one day to serve in jail. Community service of 25 hours was ordered, along with a prostitution prevention course. On July 19, 2025, he failed to exit the vehicle after being asked multiple times during a traffic stop in Perry Township upon suspicion of being impaired. On Jan. 15, 2026, he arrived in East Palestine for a sex-for-hire meeting after responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a woman in exchange for $140. He also possessed the phone used to make the arrangements.

David Craig Valent, 53, Rochester, Pa., was fined $750 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools, with 20 hours community service. He already completed an education course. Valent responded to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranged for sexual activity with a woman in exchange for $80, then traveled to East Palestine on Feb. 11 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Kenneth Joseph Buzzard, 76, Pittsburgh, Pa., was fined $500 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for engaging in prostitution. A charge of possessing criminal tools was dismissed and he was ordered to complete a prostitution prevention course. Buzzard responded to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranged for sexual activity with women in exchange for $150, then traveled to East Palestine on Nov 11, 2025 for the meeting.

A pretrial was set Aug. 3 for Nicola D Strother, 41, First Street, Beloit, charged with theft for allegedly stealing a package from a woman’s porch on U.S. Route 62 in Knox Township and then bringing it back and dropping it at the end of a driveway on Westville Lake Road on April 30.

A pretrial was set Aug. 26 for Virginia M. Christy-Keener, 72, Moore Street, East Liverpool, charged with theft for allegedly stealing $758 worth of items from the Salem Walmart while working with another woman on June 28.

Jacob J. Fullerton, 25, West California Avenue, Sebring, was fined $1,075 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 80 days suspended, leaving 10 days still to serve in jail for two merged OVI charges, open container, and disorderly conduct amended from obstructing official business. Fullerton wasn’t following commands during a traffic stop April 19 in Perry Township. He was ordered to complete 20 hours community service and his license was suspended for two years.

Britton K. Steiginga, 32, Walnut Grove Drive, New Waterford, was fined $250 and given a suspended 90-day jail term for obstructing official business, with 20 hours community service. He was refusing to identify himself or provide his identification and refused to exit the vehicle during a traffic stop on Feb. 28 in Columbiana.

Derica Charnel Barnett, 37, West Eighth Street, East Liverpool, was fined $200 and sentenced to 10 days in jail, with credit for seven days served, leaving three days to serve in jail for complicity for being the driver for an alleged shoplifter on Feb. 18 at the Calcutta Walmart. She was also ordered to serve an additional 30 days in jail for violating the terms of her probation for a 2022 theft case.

Thomas Glen Reed, 38, St. Clair Avenue, East Liverpool, was fined $200 and given a suspended 90-day jail term and 20 hours community service for theft for stealing a generator out of the Calcutta Walmart on March 24.

A pretrial was set Sept. 2 for Alvin W. Carnes, 42, West Washington Street, Lisbon, charged with criminal damaging for allegedly throwing rocks at a motorcycle and another motor vehicle on June 29 at state Route 164 and Mattix Road in Center Township.

A pretrial was set Aug. 26 for Doyle L. Conner Jr., 40, Third Street, Salem, charged with complicity to commit theft for allegedly driving the vehicle after a person stole groceries from Walmart in Salem on June 26.

A pretrial was set Sept. 1 for Frank James Lacey, 63, Georgetown, Ky., charged with drug paraphernalia, expired license and tail light violation for allegedly possessing a burnt glass pipe with an unknown residue during a traffic stop on June 24 in East Liverpool.

Christopher Nelson Read, 47, Coraopolis, Pa., was fined $645 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 87 days suspended and credit for three days served in a driver intervention program, with 20 hours community service, for physical control amended from OVI, no seat belt and a turn signal violation. Another OVI was dismissed. His license was suspended for one year. He also must serve 10 days electronically monitored house arrest.

George David Faber, 65, Youngstown, was fined $100 for open container for having an open container of alcohol on June 21 in East Liverpool.