Rape suspect among those arraigned Wed.

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Following on the heels of 17 arraignment hearings held Tuesday, Van Wert County Common Pleas Court saw 10 more people arraigned on Wednesday, while an 11th person appeared in court on a prosecutor’s bill of information.

Among those arraigned was a Van Wert man accused of rape, a felony of the first degree.

David A. Sheets, 41, pleaded not guilty to a rape charge and was released on an unsecured personal surety bond, with the stipulation he have no contact with the alleged victim.

Sheets, who faces a maximum prison sentence of 11 years and a fine of up to $20,000, in connection with the charge, will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 7.

Others arraigned include the following:

• Nicole Wells, 34, of Convoy, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a third-degree felony, and importuning, a felony of the fifth degree. According to the indictment, Wells had sex with a minor older than 13, but younger than 16. The importuning charge also stems from an incident involving a minor older than 13, but younger than 16.

• Wells was released on a personal surety bond, with the added stipulation she have no contact with the alleged victim in the case. A pretrial conference will be held at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 14.

• Elmico Crisp, 36, of Lima, entered not guilty pleas to two counts of trafficking in cocaine, both felonies of the fourth degree. Crisp was ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. March 14.

• Kenneth M. Imler of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of violating a civil protection order. Imler was ordered released on a personal surety bond, with the stipulation he have no contact with the alleged victim in the case. A pretrial conference was set for 8 a.m. March 7.

  

• Brenda Schwartz, 26, of Decatur, Ind., was charged with four counts of theft from an elderly person, all felonies of the fifth degree. She pleaded not guilty and was released on a personal surety bond, with the added stipulation that she sign a waiver of extradition. A pretrial conference will be held 8 a.m. March 14 in the case.
• Joshua A. Lane, 25, of Van Wert, entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony. He was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. March 14.

Kenneth E. Myers III, 19, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of theft, a fifth-degree felony. He was released on a personal surety bond and will be appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. March 14.

David Boff Jr., 19, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony offense. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference set for 8 a.m. March 14.

Sonya Foster, 33, of Kenton, pleaded guilty to a bill of information charging her with possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony offense. Foster also filed a motion for treatment in lieu of conviction, which was granted, since she is presently involved in a treatment program based in Toledo. If she successfully completes the program, she will have no criminal record related to the possession charge.

Andrew Lumpkins, 28, of Spencerville, entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of theft from an elderly person, a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. March 7.

• Dustin S. Stuckey, 26, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with two counts of trafficking in drugs, both fourth-degree felonies. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. March 14.

Also Wednesday, a bartender involved in a theft from her place of employment late last year pleaded guilty to related charges and was also granted treatment in lieu of conviction.

Jessica Thompson, 26, of Van Wert, entered guilty pleas to one count each of theft and falsification, both felonies of the fifth degree. Thompson and two other people were involved in a theft of beer, other liquor and money from the Century Bar in downtown Van Wert on November 9, 2011.

Kelly G. Matthieu, 43, of Kenton, was placed on five years of community control, including serving up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima. Matthieu pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted driving while under the influence of alcohol, a fourth-degree felony offense.

Dontrey E. Cooper, 29, of Houston, Texas, was placed on a year of community control on a charge of theft from an elderly person, a fifth-degree felony offense. Cooper was ordered to serve 30 days in jail, but received credit for that time, since he has already spent 90 days while awaiting sentencing in the case.

Christina McClure, 22, of Van Wert was ordered held on a $20,000 cash bond after she was charged with violating a personal surety bond set in connection with an indictment charging her with theft from an elderly person. A pretrial conference was set for 8 a.m. February 14 on the bond violation count. McClure allegedly violating her bond conditions by using heroin and failing to show proof she attended counseling sessions at Westwood Behavioral Health Care Center.