Appeals court stays jail term in Hiscox case

LISBON -- The 7th District Court of Appeals temporarily stayed a 30-day jail term Monday for former area educator Douglas T. Hiscox and his estranged wife.
Judge David E. Stucki of Stark County Common Pleas Court had been assigned to hear the couple's case in Columbiana County.
Judge Stucki imposed the sentence Friday after Hiscox and his wife, Debbie, claimed the other was not following court orders during the divorce proceedings.
Both were ordered not to dispose of property during the case that she filed in 2005. But Debbie Hiscox claimed her husband was disposing of property and had charged large sums. Douglas Hiscox contended she refused to use an auction house picked to sell property.
The appeals court issued an emergency order Friday to stop the contempt sentence. On Monday, the appeals court ruled the appeal of the order will proceed as usual. The appeals court noted that Judge Stucki can proceed with the divorce case while his order is appealed.
Court records say Douglas T. Hiscox now works for the school district in Bridgeport, Conn. He previously worked in the Leetonia, Youngstown, Canfield and East Liverpool school districts. Debbie E. Hiscox of Leetonia works at Lisbon Veterinarian Clinic.