Meth lab operator given prison term

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Van Wert man who operated a methamphetamine lab in the city was sentenced to prison during a hearing held Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court. The court met in the County Juvenile Courtroom in preparation for renovation work expected to start Monday in the Common Pleas Courtroom.

Zachariah Williams, 27, was given 18 months in prison on a charge of illegal manufacture of drugs, a third-degree felony offense. Judge Charles D. Steele, who also fined Williams $5,000, gave Williams credit for 93 days already served while awaiting sentencing.

A man who didn’t understand English entered a guilty plea through an interpreter to a charge of trespass in a habitation, a felony of the fourth degree.

Carlos Sanchez, 21, of Portland, Ind., also requested through his attorney, Joseph Walsh, that he be placed in a diversion program, which Judge Steele granted. He will be under the supervision of the County Adult Probation Department while undergoing treatment.

Brittany Bermudez, 21, of Ottawa, entered a change of plea to two counts of attempted burglary, both felonies of the fourth degree. The burglary counts were downgraded from third-degree felonies as part of a plea negotiation. Pandora Police Chief Scott Stant had discovered that checks stolen at a Delphos residence had shown up at a Pandora business, and he identified Bermudez and Logan Weis as suspects in the case.

Soon after that, Weis later was treated for a gunshot wound in Allen County and said he was shot while trying to prevent Bermudez from being abducted.

Allen County investigators determined the abduction story was a hoax and the wound was self-inflicted in an attempt to keep Weis from going to jail on a probation violation charge. Both suspects were then transferred to the Putnam County Jail from Allen County and felony charges filed in connection with the Delphos burglary.

A presentence investigation was ordered and Bermudez’ case was continued for sentencing at a later date.

Ryan Schaadt, 27, of Van Wert, was sentenced to three years of community control on two counts of possession of drugs, both fifth-degree felony offenses. Schaadt also had his driver’s license suspended for six months, while $1,196 he had in his possession when the offenses were committed was ordered forfeited to law enforcement.

Ryan Schisler, 27, of Van Wert, was also given three years of community control, including an immediate 30-day jail sentence, on one count of possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree.

Schisler also had his driver’s license suspended for six months.

Lonnie Gentry, 61, of Ohio City, entered a guilty plea as part of a prosecutor’s bill of information to a charge of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony offense. Gentry had originally been charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony, which was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea to the lesser charge.

A presentence investigation was ordered, with sentencing continued until a later date. Gentry was also allowed to seek treatment in a Veterans Administration hospital in Dayton.

Tyler Dirham, 20, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his bond conditions by using heroin. He was ordered held in jail until details of a treatment program can be worked out.

Eric Hernandez, 31, of Van Wert, was given a year of community control on a charge of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor charge. He must also under a psychological assessment and any treatment recommended.

Curtis Boroff, 30, of Van Wert, was given judicial release from prison, where he had been serving time for failing to pay child support. Boroff will be on three years of community control and must spend up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima. He must also get a job within 60 days after leaving the WORTH Center and then remain current in his child support.

Kareem Howard, 37, of Van Wert, was resentenced to community control after he was forced to leave the WORTH Center when he became ill. Howard was placed on electronically monitored house arrest for 60 days and was also ordered to complete a substance abuse treatment program.

Rodney Walker, 40, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a lesser charge of attempted trespass in a habitation, a fifth-degree felony. Sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 27.

David Boff Jr., 19, of Van Wert, was found guilty of violating his bond conditions by failing to report to the probation department. His bond was revoked and he was ordered held in jail until a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, May 23.