The Van Wert County Courthouse

Thursday, Mar. 28, 2024

3 get prison sentences in CP Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Three people received prison sentences during hearings held Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Johnny Ray Foust speaks during his sentencing hearing in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court. (photos by Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)

Johnny Ray Foust, 49, of Delphos, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on a charge of burglary, a fourth-degree felony offense, but was given credit by Judge Charles D. Steele for 76 days already served while awaiting sentencing.

According to a Delphos Police Department investigation, Foust allegedly entered an attached garage of a residence on West Fourth Street in that city and took alcoholic beverages from the garage.

Foust made a plea for community control to that he could help care for his ailing mother, but Judge Steele ruled that the Delphos man was not amenable for community control, although he did say that anything that can be done in that area will be considered.

Joshua M. Minyoung, 27, of Van Wert, was sentenced to a year in prison on a charge of possession of drugs, a third-degree felony. Judge Steele also fined Minyoung $5,000 as part of his sentence.

The Van Wert man was arrested on December 10, 2010, after a trooper of the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol stopped him on U.S. 30 and discovered a large quantity of Dilaudid, a derivative of morphine, in his vehicle.

Mark L. Brown, 45, of Convoy, was also sentenced to six months in prison on a fourth-degree felony charge of domestic violence, but was given credit for 79 days already served while awaiting sentencing.

According to an investigation conducted by the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department, Brown physically assaulted a brother who was living at his residence at the time. Because Brown was recently released from prison in Indiana when the incident occurred, his probation was revoked by Indiana parole authorities and he spent another 10 months in prison for the incident.

Several other hearings were held Wednesday, with several people given community control sentences and others changing their pleas to a variety of charges.

Those receiving community control sentences include the following:

  • Samantha J. Lacy, 19, of Van Wert, was sentenced to three years of community control and ordered to spend up to six months at the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, a facility operated by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction that provides life skills instruction and substance abuse treatment. Lacy was convicted on a charge of possession of drugs, a fourth-degree felony offense. Charges were filed as a result of a Van Wert Police Department investigation that alleged Lacy took prescription pills from a residence while she was visiting there in April.
  • Alyssa C. Bebout, 23, of Van Wert, was placed on three years of community control on a charge of trafficking in drugs. Her vehicle was also ordered forfeited to the Van Wert Police Department on a specification that it had been used in the commission of a felony. Bebout was arrested as a result of an undercover drug operation conducted by city police in September 2010. She was charge with selling heroin to an undercover agent and allegedly used a 1996 Chevrolet during the drug sale. Bebout recently completed a drug rehabilitation program and was ordered to complete any follow-up counseling recommended.

Seven people changed their pleas to guilty during hearings held Wednesday. They include:

  • Joshua Minyoung listens as he's sentenced in Common Pleas Court.

    Eric D. Bowers, 25, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty on a charge of possession of heroin and also filed a motion for treatment in lieu of incarceration, which Judge Steele granted.

  • Matthew C. Foehl, 25, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony, and was also granted a motion to enter treatment in lieu of conviction.
  • Both Bowers and Foehl will be under the supervision of the Van Wert County Adult Probation Department while they are undergoing treatment.
  • Scott Chesbro, 29, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 20.
  • Michael Coombs Jr., 28, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal use of supplemental nutritional program benefits (food stamps). A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, August 10.
  • Rory J. Bigelow, 28, of Ohio City, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft, a first-degree misdemeanor. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 27.
  • Randal D. Keller, 51, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to one count of possession of drugs (heroin), a fifth-degree felony offense. Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and set sentencing for 9 a.m. August 10.
  • Taren Decamp, 31, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a charge of passing bad checks, a fifth-degree felony offense, and was placed in the prosecutor’s diversion program. Decamp is to make restitution of $1,500 to a local car dealership. If payment is made, the charges will be dismissed.

POSTED: 06/30/11 at 4:12 am. FILED UNDER: News