Van Wert man indicted on 2 rape counts

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Van Wert man accused of raping a young girl was arraigned in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.

Jeremy R. Neeley, 23, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, both felonies of the first degree. Each charge also carries a specification mandating a maximum sentence of life in prison.

According to court documents, Neeley is charged with raping a young girl under the age of 10 sometime between January 1 and March 2 of this year.

Judge Charles D. Steele ordered Neeley held on a $100,000 cash bond following a request by Assistant County Prosecutor Kevin Taylor that a cash bond be set in the case. Neeley will appear in court for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. Thursday, April 28.

Also Wednesday, a Van Wert woman entered not guilty pleas to six separate counts of drug possession during her arraignment hearing.

Stephanie Fannon, 31, is charged with one count of possession of heroin, a second-degree felony; and one count of possession of cocaine, two counts of aggravated possession of drugs and three counts of possession of drugs, all fifth-degree felony offenses.

Judge Steele set a $150,000 bond, with 10 percent of that amount to be paid in cash, as well as an unsecured personal surety bond.

Fannon was apprehended by Van Wert police during a traffic stop on March 26 and found to have drugs on her at the time.

A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. April 28.

A Lima man accused of a series of thefts from area Walmart stores was also arraigned on Wednesday.

Dennis McGinnis, 28, entered not guilty pleas to two counts of theft, each a fifth-degree felony, for the theft of four laptop computers from the local Walmart store in late January.

Judge Steele ordered a $25,000 cash bond in the case and scheduled a pretrial conference for 8 a.m. April 28 for McGinnis, who is presently being held in the Mercer County Jail for thefts from the Celina Walmart and also faces charges for thefts from the Ottawa Walmart.

Others arraigned on Wednesday include the following:

• Kori Glossett, 19, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count of forgery, a fifth-degree felony. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference set for 8 a.m. April 28.
• Teresa Wood, 39, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to one count of receiving stolen property and two counts of forgery, all fifth-degree felonies. A personal surety bond was set in the case and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. April 28.
• Adrian Mileto, 27, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count of domestic violence, a third-degree felony offense. Mileto was ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond, as well as a personal surety bond, and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. April 28.