Man arraigned on felony assault counts

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A man accused of felonious assault and two of three people charged in connection with a burglary at the Century Bar in Van Wert were among those arraigned in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday.

Delbert Drew entered not guilty pleas to one count of felonious assault, a second-degree felony offense, and two counts of assault, both fourth-degree felonies, during his arraignment hearing before Judge Charles D. Steele.

Judge Steele ordered Drew, who is reportedly homeless, held on a $100,000 cash bond, although he noted that the bond could be modified if the defendant finds a place to reside. A pretrial conference was scheduled for Wednesday, December 14, at 8 a.m. in the case.

Jessica L. Thompson, 26, and Gregory A. Jackson, 31, both of Van Wert, each pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the C Bar burglary.

Thompson, a bartender at the establishment who was working at the time of the burglary on November 8, was charged with felony charges of theft and falsification in a theft offense, while Jackson was charged with felony theft in the case.

The owner of the Century Bar discovered the burglary when he found the bar had been broken into when he came to work the next morning. Thompson, who was at first thought to have been abducted in the burglary, was later found unhurt and later charged as a suspect in the burglary.

Both Thompson and Jackson will appear for pretrial conferences on December 14 at 8 a.m. A third suspect, Corey Salisbury, 30, also of Van Wert, will appear for arraignment at a later date.

Others arraigned include the following:

• Elmeco Crisp, 35, of Van Wert, was ordered held on a $10,000 bond on two counts of possession of drugs, both felonies of the fifth degree. Crisp was arrested on November 6 by deputies from the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department on a charge of probation violation, after it was reported that drugs were present at Crisp’s Elson Avenue residence. He will also appear at 8 a.m. December 14 for a pretrial conference.
• Benjamin Williams entered a plea of not guilty to one count of trafficking in marijuana, a fourth-degree felony offense. Williams, who was released on a personal surety bond, will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. December 14.
• Dustin Helle pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense and was ordered held on a $1,000 cash bond. A specification was also included that he used a 2001 Dodge pickup truck in the commission of the offense, which could lead to forfeiture of the vehicle. He will appear for a pretrial conference on December 14.