Man gets prison for assaulting woman

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Van Wert man who broke into a former girlfriend’s house and assaulted her was sentenced to four years in prison during hearings held Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Ryan Homier, 31, of Van Wert, was sentenced on a charge of aggravated burglary, a felony of the first degree.

According to Van Wert police, Homier broke into a home on North Chestnut Street in September of this year and was assaulting a former girlfriend when officers arrived at the residence.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Charles D. Steele ordered that Homier be placed on five years of post-release control following his release from prison. The judge gave Homier credit for 96 days served in jail while awaiting sentencing on the charge.

Two people who pleaded guilty earlier to charges related to the vandalism of a crane used to install wind turbines at area wind farms were sentenced on Wednesday.

Kyle J. Beech, 21, of Van Wert, and Dustin E. Gamble, 20, of Haviland, were both sentenced to five years of community control and ordered to pay $56,585 — the amount not covered by insurance — in restitution for their part in vandalizing the crane. Damage to the crane totaled more than $500,000.

Alcohol was involved in the incident, according to statements made by the defendants in court.

Two men were also placed on community control Wednesday on drug possession charges.

Kevin L. Clay, 25, of Van Wert, was placed on three years of community control, including up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, on a charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

Assistant County Prosecutor Martin Burchfield noted that Clay would likely have died from a heroin overdose in January if a friend hadn’t found him and called EMS personnel.

Kristopher Markley, 28, of Van Wert, was placed on three years of community control on a charge of cultivation of marijuana, a fourth-degree felony offense.

Markley was arrested after a Van Wert Police Department investigation revealed he was growing marijuana at his residence in Van Wert.

As part of his community control program, Markley must undergo a substance abuse assessment and complete any programs recommended. He also had his driver’s license suspended for six months.

Ronald T. Haiber, 30, of Fort Wayne, Ind., was placed on three years of community control for violating a civil protection order, a fifth-degree felony offense.

The incident took place in Delphos last fall.

As part of his sentence, Haiber was sentenced to 90 days in jail, but received credit for the 90 days since he has served that amount of time while awaiting sentencing in the case.

Also Wednesday, several people changed their pleas to guilty during hearings held in Common Pleas Court.

Dominic Eddins, 33, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted burglary, both third-degree felony offenses.

The charges stem from incidents that took place in October. Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, January 25, 2012.

Benjamin Williams, 33, of Convoy, entered a guilty plea to a charge of trafficking in marijuana, a fifth-degree felony.  A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. January 25, 2012.

Dustin Helle, 22, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of drugs, which also included a specification that he used a 2011 Dodge pickup truck in the commission of a felony offense.

A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. January 25, 2012.

Cory Salisbury, 30, of Fort Wayne, entered a guilty plea to a charge of theft, a first-degree misdemeanor. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. January 25, 2012.

Nicholas Bendele, 29, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a charge of misuse of a credit card, a felony of the fifth degree.

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation in the case and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, December 21.

One person was also arraigned in Common Pleas Court on Wednesday. Robert K. Seibert, 24, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony offense. He was recently indicted by the Van Wert County Grand Jury.

Judge Steele released Seibert on an unsecured personal surety bond, with the stipulation that he have no contact with the alleged victim in the case.