Salem men accused in drug robbery also face panic charge

LISBON - One count of inducing panic has been added to the charges against two Salem men accused of using a bomb threat ruse at the Salem Walmart as a diversion for a drug robbery at Lease Drug in Salem.

The Columbiana County grand jury issued superseding indictments Thursday against James Lippiatt Jr., 20, of 1360 W. State St., and Travis Faulkner, 20, of 313 W. Fifth St., with the fourth-degree felony of inducing panic added to the charges already lodged against each of them last month.

Lippiatt had already been indicted for robbery, a second-degree felony, and disrupting public services, a fourth-degree felony. Faulkner had been indicted for conspiracy, a third-degree felony, and complicity to robbery, a second-degree felony.

According to court documents, Salem Police received a phone call from a male about a man possessing a bomb at the store with a possible hostage situation. The police deployed all possible personnel to the store, which is on the other side of town from Lease Drug. About 15 minutes later, the police received a panic alarm from the drug store.

Documents said a man who attempted to

conceal his identity approached the pharmacy counter and said, "Give me all your OxyContin, you have thirty seconds or I'll start shooting." He kept his hands out of sight within his clothing to make it appear he had a weapon and began counting backwards from thirty. He left after receiving 40 80-milligram tablets and 120 40-milligram tablets of the drug.

In the new indictment, the inducing panic charge alleged the pair caused the evacuation of a public place or caused serious public inconvenience or alarm by initiating a report or warning of an alleged impending explosion.

Besides the two superseding indictments, the grand jury issued eight open indictments and 17 secret indictments after meeting for two days.

Open indictments issued included:

Donna Greaves, 44, of 364 Columbia St., East Palestine, possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. Documents alleged Greaves possessed crack cocaine during a traffic stop in East Palestine on June 12.

Robert Halfhill Jr., 28, of 3251 Waterford Road, New Waterford, illegal conveyance of prohibited items onto grounds of a government facility, a third-degree felony. Documents alleged Halfhill possessed marijuana when he was being patted down at the Columbiana County jail on June 27. A county jail worker reported finding cigarette papers and a balled-up piece of paper containing a green vegetable substance in Halfhill's pocket.

George Faulkner Jr., 23, of 50731 state Route 14, East Palestine, and Danielle Taormina, 21, of 3403 Court St., New Waterford, each charged with receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony. Documents alleged they had a 1998 GMC Jimmy belonging to the R&M Auto Group in their possession on Aug. 27. A document said the two test drove the vehicle at a car lot in New Philadelphia and then a set of keys was noticed missing. The vehicle was reported stolen on Aug. 19. Upon investigation, it was discovered an SUV in Taormina's driveway had a different vin number placed over the original vin number, the grill was altered and the Jimmy logo was was replaced with a Bravada logo, but the keys for the stolen vehicle matched the SUV.

Ronald Davie, 27, of 47902 Chippewa Trial, Negley, domestic violence, a third-degree felony. Documents alleged Davie attempted to harm a woman he knows in the parking lot of the Calcutta Walmart on Sept. 17, with two previous domestic violence charges on his record from 2005 and 2008.

Lindsay Miller, 23, of 256 W. High St., Lisbon, burglary, a third-degree felony, receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony, and misuse of credit cards, a first-degree misdemeanor. Documents alleged Miller trespassed in the residence of Richard and Diane Dowd on state Route 517 in Lisbon on Aug. 21 and used a stolen credit card belonging to Richard Dowd.

Charles Holcomb Jr., 31, of 1854 Pennsylvania Ave., East Liverpool, receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony. Documents alleged Holcomb had a stolen 2008 Pontiac sedan belonging to Brandy Bailey in his possession on Oct. 20.

Geoffrey Cody, 24, of 28855 Hartley Road, Salem, burglary, a third-degree felony. Documents alleged Cody trespassed in the residence of Brian and Kim Cody on Woodsdale Road, Hanoverton on Oct. 18 and stole jewelry which was pawned in Youngstown.

Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net