17 arraigned during busy day in court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A total of 17 people were arraigned in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday morning, with several more people appearing for hearings ranging from sentencing to changes of plea.

Lonnie Gentry, 64, of Ohio City, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of felonious assault, a second-degree felony offense. A $100,000 cash bond was set in the case and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 25.

Kenneth Michael Imler, 25, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of intimidation of a witness, a third-degree felony, and one count of telecommunications harassment, a first-degree misdemeanor. Imler was ordered held on a $5,000 bond, 10 percent of that to be paid in cash, and cannot have any contact with the alleged victim in the case. A pretrial conference will be held at 8 a.m. April 25.

Brittany Bermudez, 21, of Arcadia, entered not guilty pleas during her arraignment on two counts of burglary, both felonies of the third degree. A $25,000 cash bond was set in the case, and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. April 25.

Antrae J. Pinn, 27, of Lima, pleaded not guilty to two counts of having a weapon while under disability, both third-degree felonies. The charge stems from a person being in possession of a weapon after having been convicted of a felony offense — a violation of federal law. Pinn was ordered held on a $25,000 cash bond and a pretrial conference set for 8 a.m. April 25.

Orman E. Goings II, 26, of Latty, entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of operating a vehicle while impaired, a fourth-degree felony. A bond set in Van Wert Municipal Court that includes electronically monitored house arrest was continued and a pretrial conference will be held at 8 a.m. April 25.

Carlos Navarro Sanchez, 21, of Portland, Ind., was arraigned on a charge of trespass in a habitation, a fourth-degree felony. Sanchez, who appeared with an interpreter because he speaks little English, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Judge Charles D. Steele ordered Sanchez released on a personal surety bond and set a pretrial conference for 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 16.

Justine Jerome, 26, of Convoy, entered a not guilty plea to charge of felony domestic violence. A $15,000 bond, with 10 percent to be paid in cash, was set in the case and she was ordered to have no contact with her mother, who was the alleged victim in the case. A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. April 25.

Eric Hernandez, 31, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony offense. He was released on a personal surety bond, but was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim. He will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. April 25.

Tom L. Karnehm Jr., 56, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to a two-count indictment for trafficking in marijuana, both fourth-degree felonies. He was released on a personal surety bond and was ordered to appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. May 16.

Lester Sulfridge III, 24, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of abusing harmful intoxicants, a fifth-degree felony. He was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. May 16.

Cody Stout, 21, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. His arraignment was continued until April 25, when a plea will be entered to the charge. He was released on a personal surety bond.

David Langenkamp, 22, of Convoy, pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense. He was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. May 16.

Brandon Baldwin, 19, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. The charge also includes a specification that he used $690 in cash in the commission of the crime. Baldwin was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference set for 8 a.m. May 16.

Rodney Walker, 40, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of trespass in a habitation, a fourth-degree felony. He was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. May 16.

Moses Wilder, 29, of Van Wert, entered a plea of not guilty to a third-degree felony count of domestic violence. He was ordered held on a $50,000 cash bond and ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim. A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. April 25.

Logan Weis, 21, of Ottawa, was ordered held on a $25,000 cash bond after entering a not guilty plea to a charge of burglary, a third-degree felony offense. He will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. April 25.

Britney Mitchell, 19, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. She was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 9.

Also Wednesday, Elmeco Crisp, 35, of Van Wert, was given two consecutive 12-month prison terms on one count each of possession of drugs and trafficking in cocaine, both fifth-degree felonies. Judge Steele gave Crisp credit for 111 days already served while awaiting sentencing.

Ashley Woten, 24, of Lima, admitted to violating her community control program and was ordered held in jail until she can be transferred to the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima.

Jose Sanchez, 32, of Van Wert, was resentenced to an additional 12 months of community control after he admitted to violating his current community control program.

Colt Morris, 24, was given three years of community control, up to six months in the WORTH Center and must pay restitution of $226 with a co-defendant to a victim. A 42-month prison term was deferred.

Jeffrey Wills, 30, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty on a charge of non-support of dependents and was granted a request to be placed in the prosecutor’s diversion program.

Kristina Diltz, 27, of Van Wert, changed her plea to guilty to a charge of selling a Schedule II controlled substance. A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing hearing set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 23.

Chad Neuman, 27, of Delphos, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony. Three other charges were dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. May 23. He bond was also lowered to $10,000, with 10 percent of that amount to be paid in cash.