Man caught with cycle gets WORTH stay

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Venedocia man who had a stolen motorcycle in his possession was sentenced to a term at the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation Center during hearings held Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

James L. Leiendecker, 22, who had already pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony, was sentenced by Judge Charles D. Steele to three years of community control, which also included the WORTH Center stay.

Leiendecker allegedly was in possession of a motorcycle belonging to a Van Wert man that had been stolen in May when he was arrested on the receiving stolen property offense. Although Leiendecker said he didn’t think the motorcycle was stolen when he received it, the judge didn’t appear to believe that story, but took a recommendation from Assistant County Prosecutor Kevin Taylor to grant community control in the case. In addition to the WORTH Center stay, Leiendecker will also have to undergo a substance abuse assessment and follow any recommendations made.

Leiendecker was released on a personal surety bond and will remain free until he is notified to report to the WORTH Center.

Also Wednesday, a Dayton man entered guilty pleas to a three-count indictment charging him with one count each of trafficking in heroin, possession of heroin and possession of cocaine. The trafficking count is a felony of the fourth degree, while the drug possession charges are fifth-degree felonies.

The trafficking charge also includes a specification that the defendant, Delaquan McCleskey, 21, was offering drugs for sale in the vicinity of a school, while the state is also seeking forfeiture of $704.91 it says was used in the commission of a felony.

McCleskey faces a total of 42 months in prison on the charges and will be sentenced in six weeks following completion of a presentence investigation. The prosecutor’s office recommends concurrent sentences on the three charges.

William Shinnaberry, 19, of Van Wert, was sentenced to three years of community control on a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony. He will also be placed on 60 days of electronically monitored house arrest and cannot have any contact with the victim in the case. Shinnaberry was also categorized as a Tier II sexual offender and will have to register with the sheriff of the county in which he resides and works for the next 25 years.

A Kenton man charged with a drunk driving offense, pleaded guilty to a lesser offense as part of a plea negotiation. Kelly G. Matthieu, 45, entered a guilty plea to a charge of attempted DUI, a fourth-degree felony offense, which was bargained down from a third-degree felony charge of operating a vehicle while impaired (OVI).

Matthieu, who was previously convicted of a felony drunk driving offense in Auglaize County, faces a maximum prison term of 18 months ad a five of up to $5,000.

Matthieu could get a break on sentencing, as he is going into an in-house alcohol treatment program.

A Convoy area teen was given community control during a sentencing hearing on a charge of assault, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Tyler J. Torrey, 19, of Convoy, was originally charged with having sex with a minor, a fourth-degree felony, but the charge was downgraded as part of a plea negotiation.

Torrey apologized for his offense, but was ordered to have no contact with the victim, on the request of the family. He was also sentenced to 30 days of electronically monitored house arrest.