rsmith@tribtoday.com
Staff photo / Raymond L. Smith
Former Liberty firefighter Joshua Cleland, left, with his attorney Christopher Maruca on Tuesday during Clelandâs arraignment in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on drug-related charges. He pleaded not guilty.
WARREN A former Liberty firefighter who resigned amid a drug investigation at the department pleaded not guilty to charges he faces in connection to that inquiry Tuesday.
Joshua Cleland made his first appearance in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court after a grand jury indictment last week charging the 42-year-old with aggravated possession of drugs and tampering with evidence, both felonies.
The former lieutenant also faces a misdemeanor charge of possession of drugs.
WARREN Former Liberty Township firefighter Joshua Cleland, 42, was indicted by a Trumbull County grand jury Wednesday on charges connected to a yearlong drug investigation linked to the fire department.
Cleland, of Warner Road, Vienna, is charged with two felonies aggravated possession of drugs with specification for forfeiture, and tampering with evidence.
A former lieutenant in the Liberty Fire Department, Cleland also is charged with a first-degree misdemeanor drug possession.
If found guilty of all charges, he would face a potential maximum of six-and-a-half-years in prison.
Cleland’s significant other, Hayleh A. Omar, 43, of the same Warner Road address, was indicted on a misdemeanor obstructing official business charge that will be handled in Girard Municipal Court.
gvogrin@tribtoday.com
WARREN Former Liberty Township firefighter Joshua Cleland, 42, was indicted by a Trumbull County grand jury Wednesday on charges connected to a yearlong drug investigation linked to the fire department.
Cleland, of Warner Road, Vienna, is charged with two felonies aggravated possession of drugs with specification for forfeiture, and tampering with evidence.
A former lieutenant in the Liberty Fire Department, Cleland also is charged with a first-degree misdemeanor drug possession.
If found guilty of all charges, he would face a potential maximum of six-and-a-half-years in prison.
Cleland’s significant other, Hayleh A. Omar, 43, of the same Warner Road address, was indicted on a misdemeanor obstructing official business charge that will be handled in Girard Municipal Court.
gvogrin@tribtoday.com
LIBERTY An arbitrator has ruled in favor of a Liberty Township firefighter, reinstating her to her prior rank as captain inspector.
Cathy Macchione had been demoted two ranks following last year’s investigation into firefighter John Beard’s overdose death in April 2020.
According to grievance documents, arbitrator Rick Bales found the township used “weak evidence” to justify demoting Macchione to firefighter.
Bales ordered the township to rescind all charges of wrongdoing against Macchione as well as pay her lost wages and benefits resulting from her demotion.
Liberty Township attorney Cherry Poteet said the township has accepted the arbitrator’s decision and restored Macchione, as of Jan. 18, to her prior position as captain inspector. Poteet said township officials will make no other comments on the issue.
Liberty reinstates firefighter s rank | News, Sports, Jobs vindy.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from vindy.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.