Breaking News
Police & Courts

THE COURTS

5 min read

Court News

LISBON -- An East Liverpool man accused of having sexual contact with a child, starting when the child was 6 and continuing until the child was 15 years old, was sentenced to 36 months in prison.

Shawn M. McKinnon, 31, Minerva Street, appeared for sentencing recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court for gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony. Seven counts of third-degree felony gross sexual imposition and one count of fourth-degree felony gross sexual imposition will be dismissed.

McKinnon received credit for one day served.

According to the indictment, the eight third-degree felony counts stemmed from sexual contact with the child from Feb. 4, 2013 to Feb. 3, 2020, with the fourth-degree felony stemming from sexual contact beginning Feb. 4, 2020 to Oct. 31, 2022.

Also in Common Pleas Court:

-- Zanford Carpenter, 30, Bloomfield, N.M., pleaded guilty to gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony, with sentencing set Nov. 16. Carpenter was accused of having sexual contact with a six-year-old child victim Jan. 24, 2025 to Jan. 26, 2025.

-- Daniel James Monte, 50, Independence Square, Wellsville, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, a fourth-degree felony lesser included offense of the original charge of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, with sentencing set for Oct. 30. Monte was accused of acting as if he was going to strike another man and then stomping on his face during a fight in Wellsville on Oct. 14, 2025.

-- Michael I. Earich, 25, Globe Street, East Liverpool, was ordered to serve up to six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center after violating the terms of his probation for domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony, for attempting to harm a woman on Aug. 27, 2025.

-- Cody Jones, 36, Mill Street, Salineville, pleaded guilty to nonsupport of dependents, a fourth-degree felony, for failing to pay support from Oct. 29, 2023 to Oct. 26, 2025, with sentencing set for Oct. 1.

Grand Jury

LISBON -- A Lisbon man charged with multiple drug counts, including second-degree felonies for allegedly trafficking and possessing a large amount of methamphetamine, was served recently with an eight-count secret indictment.

Bryan Dilling, 54, Rose Drive, Lisbon, was charged by the Columbiana County Grand Jury with second-degree felonies of aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs and fifth-degree felonies of aggravated possession of drugs, possession of drugs, two counts possession of heroin and two counts possession of a fentanyl-related compound. The charges involved two separate incidents.

On Nov. 28, 2025, he allegedly possessed methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and xylazine. Then on Dec. 18, 2025, he allegedly possessed heroin, fentanyl and an amount of methamphetamine equal or greater than five times bulk but less than 50 times bulk.

Also served with secret indictments during a recent roundup of defendants were:

-- Bradley M. Cianni, 40, Riverside Avenue, Wellsville, third-degree felonies of aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs and fifth-degree felonies of possession of a fentanyl-related compound, possession of cocaine and possession of drugs for allegedly trafficking and possessing methamphetamine on Jan. 19, 2025 and possessing fentanyl, cocaine and xylazine on March 20, 2025.

-- Nikole E. Sears, 41, Faulk Avenue, East Liverpool, possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing cocaine on Oct. 26, 2025.

-- Isaac L. Lemasters, 56, Water Street, Salineville, third-degree felonies of aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs, fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia for allegedly trafficking and possessing methamphetamine and possessing cocaine and drug paraphernalia on June 4, 2024.

-- Corey Yoho, 32, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Liverpool, theft, a fifth-degree felony theft charge for allegedly stealing a woman's iPhone on April 23.

-- Erikka H. Wentzel, 36, Canton, third-degree felonies of illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility and aggravated possession of drugs for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and trying to take drugs onto the grounds of a detention facility on Dec. 12, 2025.

-- Rachel Mazza, Anderson Avenue, Wellsville, fourth-degree felonies of trafficking in cocaine, possession of cocaine, possession of heroin and possession of a fentanyl-related compound and fifth-degree felony possession of drugs for allegedly trafficking and possessing 5 to 10 grams of cocaine and possessing 1 to 5 grams if heroin and fentanyl and possessing xylazine on Oct. 4, 2025.

-- Lance M. Morris, 40, Hilltop Drive, Lisbon, fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing cocaine and drug paraphernalia on March 27.

-- Kristy Armstrong, 44, West Main Street, Washingtonville, aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Feb. 20, 2024.

-- David Wesley Pugh, 80, Michigan Avenue, East Liverpool, third-degree felony having weapons while under disability and fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine for allegedly possessing cocaine and a weapon on Oct. 10, 2025 while prohibited from having a weapon due to a previous conviction.

-- Brian J. Fattler, 52, U.S. Route 30, Kensington, aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Dec. 7, 2025.

Common Pleas

NEW CASES

Stephanie A. Demster, Carbon Hill Road, East Palestine, and John M. Demster Jr., East Martin Street, East Palestine; dissolution sought.

James R. Maxwell, Bank Street, East Liverpool, vs. Amber N. Beckwith, Main Street, Wellsville; divorce sought.

Charles D. Brereton, South Surrey Road, East Liverpool, vs. The City Hospital Association, et al., West Fifth Street, East Liverpool, and Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Columbus; appeal of claim denial.

DOCKET ENTRIES

Velocity Investments, LLC vs. Rodney Russell; case dismissed.

Fifth Third Bank vs. Rikksha Suggs Wise, et al.; case reactivated.

John M. Thomas vs. Virginia R. Thomas; divorce case dismissed.

Starting at /week.