Lima man gets prison on sex charge

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Lima man was sentenced to 15 months in prison during hearings held Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Jason Warnement, 36, was sentenced by Judge Charles D. Steele on one count of gross sexual imposition, a fourth degree felony offense. Judge Steele also gave Warnement credit for 124 days served in jail while awaiting final disposition of the case.

Warnement was also classified as a Tier 1 sexual offender, which means he must register with the sheriff’s office in any county in which he resides, works or goes to school for the next 15 years.

Two other people were sentenced on Wednesday, while another two people had sentencing hearings on Tuesday. Wednesday sentencings include:

Beth McCarthy, 44, of Convoy, was given three years of community control on a charge of possession of heroin, a fourth-degree felony. McCarthy must also serve 90 days in jail, had her driver’s license suspended for six months and must undergo a substance abuse assessment and any treatment recommended.

Samuel Geckle, 44, of Convoy, was given three years of community control, including 90 days in jail with work release, on a charge of attempted having weapons under a disability, a felony of the fourth degree. He must also undergo a substance abuse assessment and any treatment recommended.

Those sentenced Tuesday include:

Jesse Stemen, 24, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control on a charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense. As part of his sentence, Stemen must also spend 60 days on electronically monitored house arrest, undergo substance abuse evaluation and any treatment recommended and had his driver’s license suspended for six months.

Zach Craig, 33, of Van Wert, was sentenced to three years of community control, including 180 days in jail, on a charge of domestic violence, a felony of the fourth degree. He was also ordered to continue counseling at Westwood Behavioral Health Center and to take medication.

Three people also changed their pleas during hearings held Wednesday in Common Pleas Court.

Megan Fischbach, 22, of Delphos, entered a guilty plea to a charge of attempted unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor of the first degree, which was downgraded from a felony charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in exchange for her guilty plea. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 8.

Rodney Pulfer, 31, of Convoy, entered a plea of no contest to a charge of possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree, and was found guilty by Judge Steele. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 29.

Amber Wollet, 32, of Ohio City, changed her plea to guilty to a charge of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing will occur at 9 a.m. May 29.

Zach Young, 26, of Van Wert, also appeared Wednesday for a probation violation hearing. Young admitted to violating his probation and a previously suspended sentence of 180 days in jail was reinstated, along with a $1,000 fine. Judge Steele gave Young credit for 132 days served in jail prior to Wednesday’s hearing.