Columbiana County Court News: New Cases, Grand Jury Indictments, and Municipal Court Updates

A series of felony indictments and high-stakes municipal court appearances dominated the legal docket in Columbiana County this week, according to reports from the Salem News.

The legal proceedings highlight a spectrum of local criminal activity, ranging from property vandalism and forgery to violent domestic disputes and narcotics offenses.

The weight of these cases underscores the ongoing pressure on local law enforcement and the judicial system to manage both long-standing investigations and immediate public safety threats.

Grand jury issues secret indictments

The Columbiana County Grand Jury recently issued several secret indictments involving felony charges in Lisbon.

Landon X. Linville, 18, of East Liverpool, faces two counts of vandalism. One charge is a fourth-degree felony and the other a fifth-degree felony, stemming from alleged damage to property owned by Dale Wynn and the Newell Bridge and Railroad Company between April 1 and May 26, 2026.

Other individuals served with secret indictments include Roxann M. Yeager, 44, of Columbiana, who faces a fifth-degree felony charge for the alleged aggravated possession of methamphetamine on April 24, 2026.

Michael Arend, 58, of Lisbon, is facing two counts of forgery, both fifth-degree felonies. These charges involve the alleged forgery of a loan modification agreement on July 5, 2024, and July 5, 2025.

Steiginga faces multiple felony charges after vehicle incident

In the Columbiana County Municipal Court, several cases involving physical altercations and resisting arrest are moving through the system.

Britton Kyle Steiginga, 32, of New Waterford, faces multiple charges following an incident on Nov. 4. Steiginga is charged with fourth-degree felonies for assault, disrupting public service, and obstructing official business, alongside a fifth-degree felony for escape and misdemeanors for resisting arrest and theft.

The charges follow an incident where Steiginga allegedly took a woman’s vehicle without permission and refused to comply with a deputy’s requests. During the arrest, a deputy reportedly fell to the ground and felt a “pop” in his knee while attempting to secure Steiginga, who then allegedly escaped into a garage before being tased.

Domestic violence cases also appeared on the docket. John Leroy Weyand, 58, of East Liverpool, is charged with two counts of domestic violence. He allegedly pulled a woman down by her hoodie and punched her in the face, then pushed another woman who tried to intervene on Nov. 7 in Liverpool Township.

Troy Alim Spencer, 19, of East Liverpool, faces a domestic violence charge. He is accused of making threats to a woman, including a threat to kill her, on Nov. 8 in Liverpool Township.

In a separate matter, Tiffany L. Martino, 54, of Boardman, faces an assault charge. She is accused of yelling at a motorist and using pepper spray on the driver at the intersection of State Routes 7 and 14 on Nov. 5.

Howell faces felony charges following traffic stop

Law enforcement actions in the region have also focused on drug-related offenses and improper firearm handling.

Lisbon ohio usa oct columbiana county courthouse built in from locally cut sandstone in italianate style

Michael Anton Howell, 48, of Youngstown, has been bound over to the county grand jury. He faces third-degree felonies for tampering with evidence and failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, as well as several misdemeanors.

The charges follow a Nov. 1 incident in Middleton Township where Howell allegedly fled a traffic stop, struck a tree, and exited his vehicle. Investigators reportedly found a burnt pipe with white residue and a glass container with a crystal substance inside the vehicle.

James D. Motton, 32, of Midland, Pa., is facing a fifth-degree felony for improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle. He also faces misdemeanors for operating a vehicle while impaired and a tail lights violation following a Nov. 7 stop in East Liverpool.

The court is also managing cases related to undercover prostitution stings. Several individuals, including Phillip J. Pastine, 47, of Pittsburgh, and Shaun J. Evans, 49, of Freedom, Pa., face charges of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools after allegedly responding to undercover advertisements.

Edward J. Nosek, 46, of Channelview, Texas, was fined $1,150 and ordered to complete a prostitution prevention course. His charge of engaging in prostitution was amended to disorderly conduct, and he was ordered to forfeit $200 to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.

Map of columbiana county ohio with municipal and township labels

Common Pleas court records civil and domestic filings

Beyond criminal matters, the Common Pleas court recorded various civil and domestic filings.

Debt collection efforts continue, with Midland Credit Management, Inc. seeking $31,639 from Jared M. Ault of Columbiana, and Velocity Investments LLC seeking $18,070 from Caleb G. Shaw of Hanoverton.

In domestic matters, a divorce was granted to Anthony D. Kastor and Sarah J. Kastor, while Austen M. Hardman of Warren and Sutten R. Stacey of East Liverpool sought a dissolution.

Several marriage licenses were issued in the county, including those for:

Orville R. Ward Jr., 67, and Michele L. Eells, 56
Travis E. Gallagher, 34, and Kathryn M. Kiger, 34
Kyle S. Hannaford, 30, and Mercedes L. Parks, 29
Brendan M. Detwiler, 26, and Katelyn S. Beveridge, 26
Jason D. Christian, 46, and Jessica L. Thompson, 40
Christopher A. Wyatt, 38, and Kelly M. Niswonger, 40
Michael A. Beaver, 38, and Stephanie N. Hudson, 34

A mortgage foreclosure was ordered for a Lisbon property by Freedom Mortgage Corporation against Rickie F. May. However, a separate foreclosure case by the same company against Kevin L. Puhac has been stayed due to a bankruptcy filing.

The upcoming court calendar includes several pretrial hearings, with dates ranging from Dec. 2 for James D. Motton to Jan. 11 for Angelo Christopher Pilson.