2 get prison time in Common Pleas court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Two people were given prison sentences and two others ordered held on cash bonds during an otherwise light day in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.

Chris Lane, 49, of Van Wert, was sentenced to 12 months in prison on a charge of trafficking in drugs, a felony of the fourth degree. Lane was given credit for one day already served in jail.

Attorney Todd Wolfrum asked for leniency for Lane, who reportedly suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and walked slowly with a cane while in court, noting that Lane could hardly move, let alone get into trouble in future.

However, Judge Charles D. Steele was not moved by the plea and, after reading off a long list of convictions dating back to the 1990s that includes drunk driving, drug trafficking and domestic violence offenses, sentenced Lane to prison.

Also given a prison term was Brandon Barnes, 30, of Van Wert, who admitted to violating his community control program after testing positive for opiates and marijuana. He also failed to report to his probation officer for more than a month and didn’t complete a substance abuse treatment program at Westwood Behavioral Health Center in Van Wert.

Judge Steele reinstated a nine-month prison sentence on a charge of trafficking in heroin, but also gave Barnes credit for 166 days already served while awaiting sentencing, leaving a little over three months left to serve on the sentence.

Two men were also held on cash bonds after admitting to bond violations on Wednesday.

Shane R. Seekings, 27, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his bond by consuming intoxicants and having drug paraphernalia in his possession when police went to his North Tyler Street residence on August 18.

Seekings, who is charged with two counts of trafficking in drugs, both fourth-degree felony offenses, was ordered held on a $20,000 cash bond and will appear for a pretrial conference on Wednesday, August 29.

Shay Ringwald, 23, of Middle Point, was ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond, plus a personal surety bond, after he admitted to violating the conditions of his personal surety bond following his arrest and citation for driving under suspension.

However, Judge Steele said he would consider electronically monitored house arrest or work release if Ringwald qualifies. The defendant will appear for a pretrial conference on August 29.

Also Wednesday, Alisha Monroe, 29, of Van Wert, changed her plea from not guilty to guilty to a charge of theft, a fifth-degree felony offense. A presentence investigation was ordered in the case and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, September 26.