Man arraigned for bombing incident

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Bryan man who allegedly threw bombs into the yard of a rural Van Wert County residence was ordered held on a $500,000 bond during his arraignment Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Ronald McBride, 42, entered not guilty pleas to four counts of possession of explosive devices, all second-degree felonies, filed by the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department in connection with an incident that occurred September 16.

According to sheriff’s deputies, McBride was arrested September 21 following an investigation by Sheriff’s Department detectives and federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. Judge Charles D. Steele continued a $500,000 bond in the case, with 10 percent of that amount to be paid in cash, with the further stipulation that he be placed on electronically monitored house arrest if he is able to post bond. He is also to have no contact with the alleged victim in the case.

Deputies were called to a residence on Zook Road September 16 and found that four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) had been thrown into the yard of the residence, and that one of the devices had exploded.

McBride will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. Tuesday, October 16, in Common Pleas Court.

Others arraigned on Wednesday include the following:

• Deanna Ladd, 42, and Robert Ladd, 43, both of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a third-degree felony charge of intimidation of a witness or victim. Both were released on personal surety bonds, with the stipulation they are to have no contact with the alleged victim in the case. They will appear for a pretrial conference at 3 p.m. Friday, November 2.
• Kenneth Michael Imler, 33, of Ohio City, was arraigned on a charge of violation of a protection order, a fifth-degree felony offense. He entered a not guilty plea and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, October 31. Bond was not set as Imler is already incarcerated on other charges.
• Zachary Dominique, 24, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference set for 8 a.m. October 31.
• Allen McMillen, 28, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to one count of tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree. McMillen was released on electronically monitored house arrest, and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. October 31.
• Jason Pescosolido, 27, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of violating a protection order, a fifth-degree felony. A $50,000 bond, 10 percent of which is to be paid in cash, was set in the case, and he was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim. He will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. October 16.
• Jared Garwood, 28, of Van Wert, was arraigned on one count of trafficking in drugs, a felony of the fifth degree, and later entered a guilty plea to that charge and another trafficking charge filed in February in exchange for the dismissal of a third trafficking count. A presentence investigation was ordered in the case and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, November 21.
• Taylor Agler, 20, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to one count each of trafficking in drugs and permitting drug abuse, both felonies of the fifth degree. She was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference was set for 8 a.m. October 16.
• Zachary Brinkman, 24, of Middle Point, pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. October 31.

Two people were also sentenced on Wednesday in Common Pleas Court.

Jared Smith, 24, of Van Wert, was placed on three years of community control on a charge of possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. He was also placed on 30 days of electronically monitored house arrest and his driver’s license was suspended for six months.

Klarissa Mendoza, 24, of Van Wert, received three years of community control, including up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, on a charge of possession of heroin. She was also given a six-month driver’s license suspension.

Also Wednesday, two people entered changes of plea during hearings in Common Pleas Court.

A Delphos man changed his plea to guilty to an amended charge of attempted burglary, a felony of the fourth degree. Shaun Duckett, 21, who was originally charged with burglary, a felony of the third degree, entered the guilty plea as part of a negotiation with the prosecutor’s office. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. November 21.He was released on a personal surety bond pending sentencing.

Janice Fetters, 39, of Coldwater, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of heroin, a felony of the fifth degree. She then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction. Her case was stayed pending completion of a drug treatment program.