Walmart thief sentenced to WORTH Center

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Lima man was banned from Walmart stores and must serve up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima for a portion of what was a series of thefts from area Walmart stores.

Dennis McGinnis, 28, of Lima, was sentenced to three years of community control by Van Wert County Common Pleas Judge Charles D. Steele, with a term in the WORTH Center part of that sentence. He must also make restitution totaling $1,792 to the local Walmart Supercenter for items stolen from the store as part of his community control sentence.

McGinnis had previously pleaded guilty to theft charges in connection with the case, but attorney Joseph Benavidez requested community control, noting that, while his has a substance abuse problem, McGinnis’ training as a carpenter makes him employable, if he is not in prison.

“He does have skills, your honor,” Benavidez told Judge Steele.

Also Wednesday, Shaun E. Haston, 26, of Van Wert, was resentenced to a three-year community control term, with an additional 60 days in jail, after he violated his earlier community control sentence by testing positive for marijuana use and admitted to drinking alcohol, as well as failing to pay his court costs.

Judge Steele agreed to work release while in jail, since he is currently employed in Van Wert.

Haston, who was convicted of a charge of trafficking in drugs, faces a nine-month prison term if his community control is revoked.

A Lima man changed his plea to guilty on an amended charge stemming from a plea negotiation with the Van Wert County Prosecutor’s Office.

Bradley D. Smith, 34, entered a guilty plea to a charge of attempted receiving stolen property, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Three charges of forgery were dismissed in exchange for the guilty plea, while the original charge of receiving stolen property was downgraded to a misdemeanor.

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation in the case and will schedule sentencing at a later date.