Convicted arsonist sent back to prison

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A man released from prison early after being convicted of arson and insurance fraud for setting his Ohio City house on fire in 2007 will be headed back to prison for violating the terms of his parole.

Matthew L. Peffley, 36, will be serving the remainder of a four-year prison term after he admitted to violating his parole by disseminating material harmful to juveniles during a hearing held Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Judge Charles D. Steele noted that Peffley was not amenable to probation in sentencing him to serve the bulk of his four-year prison term on the arson and insurance fraud charges. The judge did give Peffley credit for 218 days already served.

Peffley, who was convicted of deliberately setting fire to a house he owned in Ohio City in September 2007 and trying to collect an insurance claim on the residence, was originally sentenced to four years in prison on a charge of aggravated arson, a first-degree felony offense, and another 17 months in prison on one count of insurance fraud, a felony of the fourth degree. The sentences, which were handed down by retired Hardin County Common Pleas Judge David Faulkner, who heard the case on assignment by the Ohio Supreme Court, were to be served concurrently and Peffley was given an early release from prison after serving approximately seven months on the charges.

During a hearing held Wednesday, Peffley admitted to violating his probation with the disseminating harmful material charge, and Judge Steele sentenced him to the maximum sentence of 180 days and a $1,000 fine on the first-degree misdemeanor charge.

Also Wednesday, Kelcey L. Frye, 20, of Rockford, who was charged with robbery for grabbing a backpack that contained $450 in cash from another person, will be spending six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima after the victim in the case approved a deal allowing the lighter sentence.

Frye was also placed on three years of community control, but could face up to two years in prison if he violates any of the conditions of his community control program.

Several people also entered guilty pleas to a variety of charges during hearing in Common Pleas Court.

Chad Diltz, 34, of Delphos, entered a guilty plea to a charge of trafficking in Oxycodone, which stems from his selling the drug to an undercover agent working for the West Central Crime Task Force in Delphos in July 2010.

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation in the case and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 11.

Scott D. Bauer, 47, of Convoy, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault, a fourth-degree felony offense. A presentence investigation was also ordered in his case and sentencing set for 9 a.m. May 11.

Michael W. Beach, 47, of Delphos, entered a guilty plea to four counts of illegal processing of drug documents, and was allowed to enter a substance abuse treatment program in lieu of conviction.

Beach, who was attired in a suit and tie for his court hearing Wednesday, had made the request through attorney Scott Gordon.

He will be supervised by the County Adult Probation Department for a year while undergoing treatment. If he violates the terms of his treatment program, Beach faces up to 54 months in prison on the felony counts.

Billy Ray Gibson, 41, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a charge of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor that was downgraded from a felony as part of a plea negotiation with the prosecutor’s office.

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for Wednesday, March 30, at 9 a.m.

Steven Darnell, 23, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of burglary, a fourth-degree felony offense. He was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for sentencing on Tuesday, May 17.

Nathaniel Thomas, 32, of Van Wert, also pleaded guilty to a charge of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor offense. Sentencing was set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 27, and a presentence investigation ordered in the case.

Kevin E. Krick, 48, of Van Wert, entered a plea of guilty to a charge of domestic violence, also a first-degree misdemeanor. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 18.

Lauren Rupert, 19, of Sidney, was also arraigned Wednesday on a charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense. Rupert pleaded not guilty and was ordered released on an unsecured personal surety bond. She will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. April 27.