Carroll County Common Pleas Court cases for week of Sept. 7

Addresses as listed on court records 

New cases filed 

Joshua Houston of 1532 Woodland Ave. NW, Apt. 3, Canton, has filed a complaint against Mannel Espasandin Jr. of 4144 Bonnie Dr. NW, Malvern, seeking judgment in excess of $25,000 in compensatory damages relating to alleged injuries and damages suffered by the plaintiff as a result of the alleged delinquent driving of the defendant involving an accident Sept. 12, 2023, on state Route 43 in Carroll County. 

Paul E. Snyder of 8208 Lake Dr. NE, Mineral City, has filed a complaint against Dark Haulers LLC, doing business as Dark Haulers of 300 W. Lisbon St., Waynesburg, and Stephanie McLoud, CEO/administrator of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation at Columbus, seeking the right to participate in the benefits provided by the Ohio Workers’ Compensation Act and for a jury trial regarding an alleged accidental injury sustained July 10, 2024, while an employee of Dark Haulers. 

LaFayette Federal Credit Union of Rockville, Md., has filed a complaint against Christopher Debo of 4211 King Rd., Carrollton, seeking judgment for $54,591.54 due on a home improvement loan for $89,832.86 executed Feb. 14, 2024. 

First National Bank of Greensboro, Ind., has filed a complaint against Christina Kugler of 1260 Bark Rd., Magnolia, seeking judgment for $21,122.18 due on a promissory note for $40,000 executed Dec. 10, 2021. 

Criminal cases 

Steve Allen Smith, 62, of 39120 Dutch Ridge Rd., Jewett, has withdrawn a former not guilty plea to a May 7, 2025, indictment charging him with two counts of felonious assault (both second-degree felonies) and entered a guilty plea to an amended indictment charging Smith with aggravated assault (a fourth-degree felony). Smith was sentenced to a three-year probation on 18 conditions, which include a 30-day jail sentence with credit for six days served. 

The three-year probation imposed Dec. 12, 2022, has been terminated as successfully completed in the case of Thomas John Michael Macolino, 37, of 14767 state Route 164, Lisbon, who was convicted of carrying concealed weapons. 

Probable cause has been found that Lawrence M. Thomas, 45, of 90625 Jewett-Germano Rd., Jewett, has violated a three-year probation imposed Feb. 14, 2024, on conviction of aggravated possession of drugs; defendant released on a $10,000 recognizance bond and case continued to Oct. 2 for a merits hearing. 

The case of Brent E. Brown, 38, of 8777 Sequoia Rd., Waynesburg, who was indicted Aug. 6, 2025, on charges of having weapons while under disability and possession of cocaine has been continued to Oct. 15 for a one-day jury trial with a pretrial set for Sept. 18. 

At an Aug. 28 hearing, Eric F. Hawkins, 41, of 1090 Bedrock Rd. NW, Dellroy, was found competent to stand trial involving an Oct. 10, 2024, indictment charging him with domestic violence (a fourth-degree felony), to which the defendant withdrew a former not guilty plea and entered a guilty plea to the original charge; pretrial was scheduled for Sept. 4 and bond set at $100,000 cash or surety. 

Possession of dogs granted 

Mayson S. McCluskey of 31220 Hastings Newville Rd., Mansfield, has been granted judgment to immediate possession of four dogs in another civil action filed June 26 against Bradley W. Harshbarger of 3139 Amsterdam Rd. SE, Scio. 

Foreclosure dismissed 

The foreclosure action filed Oct. 16, 2024, by the Huntington National Bank of Columbus vs. Royce and Jessica Reinhart of 5010 Johnston Dr. SW, Carrollton, has been vacated and dismissed on a motion of the plaintiff. 

Protection orders issued 

A protection order has been issued until Sept. 1, 2030, against Aaron D. Stansberry of 113 W. 5th St., Mansfield, until Oct. 1, 2025, in a domestic violence/stalking petition filed Sept. 2 by Eric J. McEvoy, anonymous address. 

A protection order has been issued until Sept. 1, 2030, against Paige M. Hill of 11639 4th St. NE, Lot 14, Magnolia, in a domestic violence/stalking petition filed Aug. 5 by Tyson O. Hill, anonymous address. 

Civil action dismissed 

The other civil action filed May 15, 2025, by HS Financial Group LLC of Grand Rapids, Mich., vs. Kathleen Miller of 10440 Valleydale St., Magnolia, has been dismissed on notice of the plaintiff.