Several plead guilty to drug charges

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Several people, including a number of those indicted in connection with the latest Van Wert undercover drug investigation, changed their pleas to guilty during hearings held Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

One man who didn’t have his guilty plea accepted was 80-year-old Richard Foley. The Convoy man was ostensibly in court to change his not guilty plea to guilty on a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony offense. The incidents in question allegedly took place during a period from February through September 2010.

However, under questioning by Judge Charles D. Steele, Foley maintained that he was not guilty of the offense, but was merely pleading guilty to “get this over with.” After several assertions by Foley that he was not pleading guilty because he was guilty, Judge Steele said he could not accept Foley’s plea and continued the case for trial.

The judge had no problem accepting guilty pleas from several other defendants, including six of those indicted as a result of undercover drug operations last year by the Van Wert Police Department.

Ashley Burk, 22, of Van Wert, entered a plea of guilty to a charge of possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. She then requested treatment in lieu of conviction, which was granted by Judge Steele. Burk will under the supervision of the Adult Probation Department for a year while in a treatment program.

Megan Wannemacher, 25, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a charge of trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony. Wannemacher, who allegedly sold heroin to an undercover agent working for city police in October 2010, will appear for sentencing at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, following completion of a presentence investigation.

Stacey Young, 34, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense. Young allegedly sold heroin to an undercover agent working for Van Wert police in November 2010.

A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. May 4.

Virginia Schrader, 21, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree felony charge of trafficking in drugs. Schrader admitted to selling or offering to sell morphine to an undercover agent working for city police in November 2010.

She will also appear for sentencing at 9 a.m. May 4.

Amber Baker, 21, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of trafficking in heroin, a fifth-degree felony, with the added specification that she used a Chevrolet Malibu in the commission of the felony drug offense.

A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 11.

Zach Baker, 24, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs, all fifth-degree felony offenses. Baker allegedly sold drugs to an undercover agent working for Van Wert police during May 2010. Baker will also be sentenced at 9 a.m. May 11.

Another person indicted as a result of last year’s undercover drug investigation, Ronald Dillingham, 34, of Lima, was arraigned on Wednesday. Dillingham pleaded not guilty to a two-count indictment charging him with trafficking in crack cocaine. One of the charges is a third-degree felony, while the other is a felony of the fourth degree.

Dillingham allegedly sold crack cocaine twice to an undercover agent for the Van Wert police. Dillingham, who is currently being held in Allen County on unrelated charges, will be released on a personal surety bond when he is released from the Allen County Jail.

A pretrial conference was scheduled in the case for 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 30.

Others entering guilty pleas to non-drug charges include Andrew Taylor, 25, of Elida, who pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery, a fifth-degree felony offense. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. May 4.

Joel Crawford, 22, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of burglary, a third-degree felony offense. Crawford and other people were charged with entering a Van Wert residence and assaulting a resident of the home. He will appear for sentencing at 9 a.m. May 11.

Two people were also sentenced Wednesday in Common Pleas Court.

Corey D. Dolt, 21, of Van Wert, was sent to prison after admitting he violated conditions of his community control program by being terminated from a program at the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima.

Dolt was sentenced to three nine-month prison terms, all to run concurrently – at the same time – on his original convictions for several breaking and entering charges. He was also given 111 days credit for time served while awaiting sentencing.

Klarisa A. Mendoza, 23, of Van Wert, was sentenced to three years of community control on charges she violated a civil protection order, as well as one count of possession of drugs. Mendoza will be undergoing an inpatient treatment program while on community control.