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WARREN -- Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Sarah Kovoor sentenced a Warren man to three years in prison Tuesday for drug trafficking offenses.
Elijah E. Cofield, 29, Parkwood Drive NW, Warren, received prison and $5,000 in fines after he pleaded guilty June 29 to five counts trafficking a fentanyl-related compound, five counts of trafficking in cocaine and single counts of possession of a fentanyl-related compound, possession of cocaine and having weapons while under disability. The case involved an August 2022 investigation by the Warren Police Department's Street Crimes Unit. Cofield has had three prior prison terms and was rejected by the Northeast Ohio Community Alternative Program, the judge stated.
On Wednesday, a Warren man was sentenced to one year in prison after pleading guilty to felony escape, strangulation and misdemeanor domestic violence. Derek J. Hopson, 30, of Dawson Drive, was sentenced by Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Sean O'Brien.
The strangulation case stemmed from an April 17 incident in which Warren police officers found two people arguing. There were signs of a struggle and the victim had difficulty breathing, prosecutors said.
Hopson also was charged with not following the requirements of his post-release control after he was released from prison in another case.
Others in court this week were:
• Michael Fairclough, 36, of Hamilton Road, East Palestine, received a two-year prison sentence and $13,500 in fines, plus a five-year driver's license suspension, after he pleaded guilty July 16, 2026, to one count tampering with evidence, one count assault and one count drunken driving. The case involved an April 3, 2026, incident in which Weathersfield police investigated a 2008 Pontiac striking a mailbox. The driver, identified as Fairclough, struggled with officers, striking one with an elbow to the head. It was later determined that Fairclough was impaired. As part of the plea deal, Fairclough agreed to forfeit the 2008 Pontiac involved in the incident.
• Robert Gore, 45, Harvard Drive SE, Warren, pleaded guilty to felony drunken driving with a repeat OVI-offender specification. Gore, who was picked up for drunken driving after a March 28, 2026, traffic stop by Warren police, has five previous OVI violations - 2025, 2020 and 2014 in Warren Municipal Court and in 2015 and 2018 in Niles Municipal Court. Gore will undergo a background investigation prior to sentencing. He faces mandatory incarceration, fines and a possible lifetime driver's-license suspension.
• Jonathan T. Dunbar, 20, of Ivy Hill Circle in Bazetta, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and two counts contributing to unruliness or delinquency of a child. Dunbar, who will be declared a Tier 1 sexual offender, will undergo a background investigation prior to sentencing. Dunbar admitted to sexual conduct with a minor female, 14, at the time of the December 2025 incident in Bazetta that also involved alcohol. As a Tier 1 offender, Dunbar will have to register yearly with the sheriff's office for 15 years.
• Jacquelyn B. Jue, 34, of Sheridan Avenue, Warren, was sentenced to one year in prison, fined $2,700 and received a three-year driver's license suspension after she was convicted of two counts of OVI. The charges stemmed from a Jan. 18 crash in which Jue's 2024 Jeep Cherokee struck a telephone pole. No one was seriously injured in the crash, prosecutors stated, but Jue was found to have been impaired.
• Derrick A. W. Moore, 31, of state Route 305 in Burghill, pleaded guilty to a bill of information charging him with attempted felonious assault and misdemeanor domestic violence. A bill of information bypasses the typical grand jury process for felony cases.
The case involved Moore being involved in an assault in the parking lot of a Warner Road business June 5 in Brookfield. The police report stated the man, identified as Moore, jumped into the woman's vehicle and started to beat her. Moore will undergo a background investigation prior to sentencing.
• Brianna F. Daye, 31, of Squirrel Hill Drive in Boardman, pleaded guilty to an attempted felonious assault charge and will undergo a background investigation prior to sentencing.
Before the plea hearing, Daye was found competent to stand trial after the judge read a report from the Forensic Center. Daye's attorney filed a written plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, triggering the competency evaluation.
Daye was charged after a March 23 investigation by Warren police at an address on McMyler Street NW in Warren, where Daye was accused of trying to run over a man.