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Sentences handed down in Jefferson County criminal court

STEUBENVILLE — An Irondale woman who kicked a Saline Township police officer while he was trying to arrest a family member was sentenced on Monday to two years of probation.

Evelyn M. Russell, 56, of 9 Mound St., Irondale, pleaded guilty before Jefferson County Common Pleas Judge Michelle Miller to a bill of information charging felony counts of assault on a police office and obstructing official business.

Assistant Prosecutor Michael Calabria said the officer was trying to talk to Russell’s son on Jan. 1 about a charge against him at Russell’s Mound Street home when the officer had to take the son down to the ground. Russell’s husband came out of the house and attempted to intervene when the officer also took him to the ground. Russell then came out of the home and kicked the officer, Calabria said. The officer’s body camera was broken, he said.

Miller sentenced Russell to two years of probation, during which time she has to do 100 hours of community service, pay a $1,000 fine and make $200 in restitution for the broken body camera. Miller said Russell faces 18 months in prison if she violates probation.

Russell served 15 days in jail after her arrest.

Brandon C. Porco, 48, of 1707 Halls Road, Colliers, pleaded guilty on Monday before Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. to an amended indictment of misdemeanor disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile.

Prosecutor Jane Hanlin dismissed a felony count of the charge.

Porco was at Austin Lake campground in August 2017 when he offered money to a teenage male for the boy to run around naked, and then Porco attempted to lure the boy back to his cabin to view similar pictures, Hanlin said. Hanlin said she didn’t have evidence Porco was going to show pornographic pictures to the boy.

Hanlin said the charge is not classified as a sex offense in Ohio, but said Porco is already a registered sex offender in West Virginia.

Bruzzese sentenced Porco to a 180 day suspended sentence. The judge said Porco is not permitted to be at Lake Austin campground.

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