17 arraigned in Common Pleas Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Drug bust-related and other indictments from Friday’s Van Wert County Grand Jury session made Common Pleas Court a busy place Tuesday morning, as the first of two days of arraignment hearings was held. A total of 17 people were arraigned, mostly on drug charges.

Kelly McKenzie, 49, of Van Wert, who was indicted as part of undercover city drug investigations held last year, as well as for her arrest for allegedly transporting heroin from Dayton to Van Wert on January 30 of this year.

McKenzie entered not guilty pleas to separate counts of trafficking in heroin and trafficking in counterfeit controlled substances, both felonies of the fourth degree, and to aggravated trafficking in drugs and possession of heroin, both third-degree felony offenses.

Police received a tip that McKenzie was bringing heroin in from Dayton, along with a description of the vehicle she was in and a probable time she was due back in town. When officers spotted the suspected vehicle on the south edge of the city on U.S. 127, they stopped the car at the intersection of Washington Street and Hospital Drive.

A search warrant was obtained and 5.3 grams of heroin found on the woman.

A $100,000 cash bond was set in the case and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, February 15.

Another Van Wert resident also recently nabbed as a result of a tip. Ryan Schaadt pleaded not guilty to three counts of possession of drugs, all fifth-degree felony offenses, as a result of a tip from someone who reportedly saw heron, prescription drugs, marijuana and a large amount of cash at Schaadt’s residence.

Police searched Schaadt’s residence and found heroin, methadone, marijuana and more than $1,100 in cash in the house.

The defendant was released on an unsecured personal surety bond, with a pretrial conference set for 8 a.m. Wednesday, February 29.

A rural Mercer County man was ordered held on a $100,000 bond after he entered pleas to a nine-count indictment that included charges of breaking and entering, safecracking and theft.

Douglas Fonner, 27, pleaded not guilty to four counts of breaking and entering, three counts of safecracking and two felony theft counts in connection with a number of break-ins in Van Wert County. The cash bond was ordered on Fonner, who also faces similar charges in Mercer and Auglaize counties. A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. February 29.

Ruth A. Napier, no age or address listed, was also ordered held on a $100,000 cash bond after she entered a plea of not guilty to a second-degree felony burglary count. She will appear at 8 a.m. February 15 for a pretrial conference.

Kyle Caldwell of Van Wert also pleaded not guilty to a second-degree charge of burglary and was ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond. He will also appear for a pretrial conference on February 15.

Also appearing in Common Pleas Court was Alonzo Munoz, 19, of Van Wert, who pleaded not guilty to a fourth-degree felony charge of domestic violence. Munoz was released on a personal surety bond, with the added stipulation that he have no contact with the alleged victim in the case. A pretrial conference was scheduled for February 29.

The others arraigned on Tuesday, all on drug-related charges, are as follows:

Adam Stripe, 34, of Van Wert, entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony count. A personal surety bond was set in the case and a pretrial conference scheduled for February 29.

Kyle Barnes, 24, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to three counts of trafficking in marijuana, all fifth-degree felony offenses. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference set for February 29.

Jeff Garwood, 48, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to two counts of trafficking in drugs, both fourth-degree felonies, and one third-degree felony count of drug trafficking. A personal surety bond was set and a pretrial conference scheduled for February 29.

Timothy A. Wollet of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of trafficking in heroin, a fourth-degree felony. He was ordered held on a $5,000 cash bond and is scheduled to appear on a pretrial conference on February 15.

Ream Thomas Davis, 54, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to two counts of aggravated drug trafficking, both third-degree felonies, and one count of trafficking in counterfeit controlled substances, a fourth-degree felony. Davis was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference set for February 29.

Greg Glander Jr. of Van Wert entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense. He was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference on February 29.

Jared Garwood, 27, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs, both fourth-degree felonies. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference scheduled for February 29.

David W. Pratt, 32, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to trafficking in a counterfeit controlled substance, a fifth-degree felony; and one count each of trafficking in heroin and trafficking in drugs, both fourth-degree felonies. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference set for February 29.

Ryan Schisler of Van Wert pleaded not guilty to three counts of possession of drugs, all felonies of the fifth degree. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference set for February 29.

Zachary Springer, 19, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to three counts of trafficking in heroin, all fifth-degree felonies. A personal surety bond was set in the case and a pretrial conference set for February 29.

Christopher Blue, 32, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to two counts of trafficking in heroin, both felonies of the fourth degree. A personal surety bond was set and a pretrial conference scheduled for February 29.