4 plead to drug charges; teen gets prison

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Four people arrested as part of the Operation Shield law enforcement initiative were arraigned in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, while a Van Wert teenager received a total of three years in prison for a theft spree that took place earlier this year.

Arraigned were the following:

• Taylor Agler, 19, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to two counts of trafficking in drugs, both fourth-degree felony offenses. She was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 13.
• Emily Lacy, 20, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs, both fourth-degree felonies, and a third trafficking count, a fifth-degree felony offense. She was also released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference was set for 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 29.
• Shane Seekings, 27, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to two counts of drug trafficking, both fourth-degree felonies. Seekings was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. May 29.
• Jerad Caldwell, 25, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and one count of trafficking in drugs, also a fifth-degree felony offense. He was also released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. May 29.

Also Wednesday, Ian Taylor, 18, of Van Wert was sentenced on multiple charges related to a vehicle and house burglary spree that occurred in February of this year.

Taylor was given 12 months in prison on each of four counts of theft and four counts of breaking and entering, all fifth-degree felony offenses, and one count of trespass in a habitation, a fourth-degree felony, and three years in prison on a charge of burglary, a felony of the second degree. All charges were to be served at the same time for a net prison term of three years.

The teen, who has a lengthy criminal record, mostly as a juvenile, was also ordered to pay restitution of more than $500 to his victims. He was given 83 days credit toward his sentence by Judge Charles D. Steele, since he spent that amount of time incarcerated prior to sentencing.

Chad Neuman, 27, of Delphos, was sentenced to 12 months in prison on drug trafficking charges during a hearing held Wednesday. Neuman, who was arrested as a result of an undercover drug operation by the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force, also receive credit for 70 days served while awaiting sentencing.

Neuman, through his attorney, Scott Gordon, sought community control, noting that he was the sole caretaker for an ailing relative. Judge Steele, though, cited Neuman’s extensive criminal record going back more than a decade in sentencing him to prison.

David Boff Jr., 19, of Van Wert, was also given a 12-month prison term on a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony offense. Credit was given for 13 days served in jail while awaiting sentencing. Boff must also register as a Tier 2 sex offender for 25 years after being released from prison.

Zachariah Young, 23, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his community control by failing to report a impaired driving arrest, for testing positive for drugs and also failing to report to his probation officer. He was resentenced to one year of community control, but a 60-day jail term was added.

Justine Jerome, 26, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control on a charge of domestic violence, a felony of the fourth degree.

As part of her sentence, Jerome must spend up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, a substance abuse treatment facility operated by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.

Kristina Diltz, 32, of Van Wert, was sentenced to three years of community control on a charge of trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony offense. Diltz was sentenced to an additional 30 days in jail, but was then given credit for 30 days already served while awaiting sentencing. Her driver’s license was also suspended for six months.

Two people also entered plea changes during hearings held Wednesday.

Emily Leisure, 23, of Van Wert, changed her plea to guilty on a charge of receiving stolen property, a felony of the fifth degree. A presentence investigation was ordered in the case and sentencing set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 13.

Anthony  Pavlides, 30, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony. A second drug trafficking count was dismissed as part of a plea negotiation. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 3.