Wind turbine site vandal pleads guilty

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The final member of a trio of vandals accused of destroying a crane and other equipment used for installing wind turbines in July 2011 entered a guilty plea to related charges during a lighter than normal agenda in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.

Cody Edwards, 21, of Saginaw, Texas, pleaded guilty to a charge of vandalism, a felony of the fourth degree, for his part in damaging construction equipment, including a crane, used to install wind turbines at a county site this past July. The equipment was owned by Blattner Energy Company.

Two other individuals, Dustin Gamble and Kyle Beech, have already been sentenced for their part in the incident, and Edwards will also be ordered to share in making restitution of $58,000 to the company for the damage done to its equipment. Damage was estimated at more than $500,000, but the $58,000 represents the amount not covered by insurance.

Judge Charles D. Steele ordered a presentence investigation in the case and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 14.

Also Wednesday, Benjamin Hurley, 27, of Van Wert, was placed on one year of community control on a first-degree misdemeanor charge of theft. He was also sentenced to spend 180 days in the Van Wert County Correctional Facility as part of his sentence.

Judge Steele also ordered Hurley to pay restitution totaling $249.23 to the victim in the case.

Hurley was given credit for 105 days served in jail while awaiting sentencing on the charge.

Dontrey E. Cooper, 29, of Beechnut, Texas, pleaded guilty to a prosecutor’s bill of information charging him with theft, a fifth-degree felony. According to court documents, Cooper allegedly conducted a telephone scam on an elderly county woman, bilking her out of a large sum of money.

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m.  Wednesday, February 29.

Ford C. Wilson, 28, of Van Wert, was granted judicial release from prison during a hearing held Wednesday in Common Pleas Court.

Wilson, who was also placed on three years of community control, was part of a group of people arrested for stealing from vehicles parked at the 2011 Van Wert County Fair, in addition to break-ins of fairground buildings and buildings owned by The Van Wert County Foundation.

Wilson was also ordered to make restitution to the victims in the case.