3 arraigned in CP Court; 2 change pleas

Van Wert independent

Three more arraignments and two plea changes were heard on Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Johnny Ray Foust, 49, of Delphos, pleaded not guilty to a second-degree felony charge of burglary. Foust was indicted after DNA evidence collected by the Delphos Police Department linked him a 2010 residential burglary in that city.

County Prosecutor Charles Kennedy III had at first sought a cash bond for Foust, because of the Delphos man’s extensive criminal history, but Foust and his attorney, W. Edward Hatcher of Van Wert, requested that he be allowed free on bond so he could care for his ailing mother, who is currently in a hospice program

Judge Charles D. Steele took the request under advisement and ordered a personal surety bond set in the case, but also placed Foust on electronically monitored house arrest at his mother’s home to ensure he stayed in the area.

A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 23, in the case.

Kevin Krick, 48, of Fort Jennings, entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony offense.

Judge Steele ordered him released on a personal surety bond, with the stipulation that he have no contact with the alleged victim. Krick will also appear for a pretrial conference on March 23.

Christie Kerner, 34, of Fort Jennings, pleaded not guilty to a charge of passing bad checks, a fifth-degree felony offense. Delphos Police charged Kerner with passing a bad check at a business in that city.

She was also released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference on March 23.

Two people also changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty to charges pending against them.

Matthew L. Peffley, 36, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to disseminating material harmful to juveniles, a first-degree misdemeanor. Judge Steele scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. March 23.

Trey A. Courtney, 26, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty on a charge of possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony, and requested that he be placed in a treatment program in lieu of conviction.

Judge Steele found that Courtney was eligible and allowed him to do so, placing him under the supervision of the court’s Adult Probation Department for a year while he is completing a treatment program.

A sixth person, Ashley Burk, 22, of Van Wert, sought to change her plea and enter a drug treatment program in lieu of conviction, but a question as to whether she was eligible for such a program resulted in that hearing being continued until the eligibility issue is decided.