Wife of murder suspect charged with obstruction of justice | News, Sports, Jobs

LISBON — The wife of a Salineville man charged in the October death of a 13-year-old bicyclist is facing some charges of her own related to the investigation.

Ruth White, 62, state Route 164, Salineville, was served in Salem on Saturday with a secret indictment for two counts of obstructing justice, a fifth-degree felony charge, related to her alleged actions on Oct. 24, 2021, the day after the fatal accident.

Columbiana County Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino confirmed that her husband is Donald E. White, 65, who was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, a third-degree felony; and two charges of failure to stop after an accident, one a second-degree felony and the other a third-degree felony, all related to the Oct. 23, 2021 crash. In a superseding indictment issued by the county grand jury last week, an additional charge of possession of cocaine was added to his case.

Columbiana eighth grader Aiden Wollman, 13, was struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle with another boy along state Route 164, was ejected from his bicycle and died. Donald E. White is accused of driving the pickup that struck him and of leaving the scene.

Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers investigating the crash found the 1987 Chevrolet pickup belonging to White abandoned with damage. White reportedly was found at his home and admitted to driving his pickup, stating he believed he had struck a mailbox.

When asked about the charges against Ruth White, Abruzzino said she allegedly was trying to cover up for her husband and provided him with transportation on Oct. 24, 2021.

Other secret indictments served over the weekend included a major drug indictment against Erin Taggart, 27, West Perry Street, Salem, for both drug trafficking and possession of various drugs on Dec. 13, 2021. According to a release by the county Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 13, 2021, a search warrant was executed at a Lisa Lane, Lisbon property after an investigation into a trespassing call yielded evidence of drugs. During the search, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and $1,210 were seized.

Taggart was indicted last week for two first-degree felonies for trafficking in fentanyl-related compound and possession of fentanyl-related compound, two second-degree felonies for aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs, fourth-degree felony charges of trafficking in cocaine and possession of cocaine, two counts of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, along with eight money forfeiture specifications for the $1,210.

The secret indictment alleged that she trafficked and possessed more than 20 grams but less than 50 grams of fentanyl-related compound, more than five times but less than 50 times the bulk amount of methamphetamine, more than five times but less than 10 times the bulk amount of cocaine, and possessed hydrocodone and the drug known as MDA.

Other secret indictments served were:

— Ashley Sekely, 39, East Perry Street, Salem, charged with aggravated possession of drugs and possession of LSD, both fifth-degree felonies, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and LSD on Sept. 22, 2021, with a forfeiture specification for $138 sought.

— Craig Coffman, 40, East Perry Street, Salem, charged with aggravated possession of drugs and possession of LSD, both fifth-degree felonies, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Sept. 21, 2021 and LSD on Sept. 22, 2021, with a forfeiture specification for $99 sought.

— Todd Dean, 42, Aetna Street, Salem, charged with aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Feb 21, 2021.

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