ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Former Shadyside Village Council member Nick Ferrelli entered a plea agreement Thursday in Belmont County Eastern Division Court in his case involving Village Administrator Erica Tamburin.

Accused of one count of menacing by stalking, Ferrelli instead pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Judge David Trouten sentenced Ferrelli to two years of probation, a $100 fine and court costs after he entered his plea. Trouten then ordered Ferrelli remain at least 500 feet from Tamburin’s residence, to not have any contact with her directly or through third parties, in writing, by telephone or on social media.

Trouten ordered that Ferrelli cannot post about Tamburin on social media. He added that Ferrelli is not to be at the village’s municipal building unless he is attending a council meeting.

“I realize that we have to put that in parentheses because Miss Tamburin works for the government, and I’m not going to deny you access to your government,” Trouten said.

Ted Tsoras, Ferrelli’s attorney, informed Trouten that his client owns a contracting business and needs to go to the municipal building to obtain various permits. Trouten said Ferrelli must provide the court with specifications about his contracting business and said he will consider modifying the ruling based on the specifics at 9 a.m. Aug. 21.

Before Trouten went forward with sentencing, Tamburin gave a victim impact statement.

“For over a year and a half, I’ve lived in constant fear and never feel safe at home or work or even running errands. I’ve had to look over my shoulder everywhere I go, wondering if I was being watched or followed,” she said. “I’ve had to change my routines, drive different vehicles, avoid certain places. I felt trapped in my home. Even simple things like walking to my truck has filled me with anxiety.”

She added that her son has learned to be on alert and to constantly scan for Ferrelli’s truck.

“I’ve lost sleep, nightmares, panic attacks. I feel like there’s no sense of normalcy anymore,” Tamburin said.

She then told Trouten that she wants him to know that Ferrelli is a scary individual, and she asked that the court protect her from him.

“I hope the court understands the seriousness of stalking and how deeply it damages someone’s life. Stalking is not harmless. It destroys your peace of mind and your freedom. I hope the sentence will protect me,” Tamburin said.

Trouten replied that he will certainly do what he can, through the order of the court.

He added that the court will retain some control over the case.

Trouten then asked Tamburin if she’s seeking help for the stress and anxiety this situation has caused. Tamburin said that she has sought professional help to deal with her feelings about Ferrelli’s actions.

Tsoras then asked Trouten if he could respond briefly, which Trouten allowed.

“On December 17 of 2024 at a council meeting, so this would have been three or four months before my client was charged with the current case, Ms. Tamburin, at a council meeting, accused another councilman of stalking,” Tsoras said.

Tsoras referred to Shadyside Councilman Sam Carpino, who was the subject of a criminal investigation stemming from the purchase of a tractor owned by a board of public affairs.

The board ceased to exist once Tamburin was hired as the village administrator, eliminating the need for a village water board. Under Ohio law, a village must have either an administrator or a board to handle public affairs such as providing water service.

Tamburin accused Carpino of stalking after the investigation became public. Neither Carpino nor any former members of the dissolved board were charged with a crime, and the Ohio Auditor’s Office released a report in July that cleared Carpino of any wrongdoing.

Trouten then asked Ferrelli if he would like to address the court before sentencing. Ferrelli said that his intentions were never to cause any stress or hardship for Tamburin.

“My position is that this entire case was based on trying to fabricate something against me to keep me from regaining a political position. I never meant any ill toward her, but quite frankly, I don’t think there’s any truth to any of this,” Ferrelli said.

Trouten then asked Ferrelli if he has any ill will toward Tamburin. Ferrelli said he does not.

“You do see that, regardless, she does have some emotional consequences here. Even if it’s your accidental behavior that may trigger that, if you’re a good human, you wouldn’t want to do that. You would take extra steps to make sure that you don’t,” Trouten told Ferrelli.

In a press release issued after the hearing, Tsoras said Ferrelli “feels vindicated” from the stalking charge, that there was “substantial evidence” against those stalking claims and several witnesses ready to testify that Ferrelli did not stalk Tamburin.

“With all due respect to Judge Trouten, we are exploring whether the probation and no contact order can be applied to a minor misdemeanor guilty plea and currently we are researching the matter,” Tsoras wrote.

Ferrelli, a Shadyside mayoral candidate, pleaded to the misdemeanor in part to help the village move forward from the matter, according to the release.

“Nick believes the case against him has harmed the village and its good reputation and wants the animosity and infighting to end,” Tsoras wrote. “Nick contends having a trial and putting 15 witnesses on the stand would not have advanced that sentiment. My client’s sincere hope is to move past this and work together to regain the good reputation the village once had.”