Area man arraigned on sex charges

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Spencerville man entered pleas to seven sex-related charges during arraignment hearings held Tuesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Fredrick Helman, 34, entered a plea of not guilty to five counts of importuning, each a felony of the second degree; one count of attempted rape, also a second-degree felony offense, and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a felony of the fifth degree.

Helman faces nearly 50 years in prison and fines of up to $92,500 if convicted of all the charges. Judge Charles D. Steele was initially going to release Helman on a personal surety bond, with the stipulation that he have no contact with juveniles, but then changed that to a $25,000 cash bond when Helman indicated he could not abide by that stipulation.

A pretrial conference was set in the case for 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 26.

Helman was one of nine people arraigned on Tuesday, with another nine scheduled for arraignment today. Others arraigned on Tuesday include the following:

Amber Somerton, 20, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of grand theft, a felony of the third degree. She was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 10.

James Steele IV, 22, of Delphos, entered a plea of not guilty to a three-count indictment charging him with theft, each a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a personal surety bond, with a 10 p.m. curfew, and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. July 10.

Matthew Parr, 20, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to one count each of breaking and entering and possession of criminal tools, each a felony of the fifth degree, and a charge of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony offense. He was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. July 10.

Dale Wright Jr., 21, of Van Wert, entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of illegal conveyance of a weapon into a school zone, a fifth-degree felony. A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. July 10.

Tyler Levos, 28, of Paulding, pleaded not guilty to a charge of illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for manufacturing of drugs, a felony of the third degree. He was also released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. July 10.

Derek Gaskill, 25, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault on a police office, a fourth-degree felony; and one count each of breaking and entering and possession of criminal tools, both felonies of the fifth degree. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference was set for 8 a.m. July 10.

Kenneth Michael Imler, 33, of Ohio City, entered a not guilty plea to telecommunications harassment, a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a personal surety bond, with the stipulation he have no contact with the alleged victims, and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. July 10.

Lacey Warren, 22, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count each of breaking and entering and possession of criminal tools, each a fifth-degree felony. She was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. July 10.

Also Wednesday, Katie Zimmerman, 27, of Van Wert, was found guilty of violating her treatment in lieu of conviction program. She was ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond and sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 24.

Patrick Sweeten, 56, of Van Wert, had his surety bond revoked and was ordered held on a $20,000 cash bond after he violated bond terms by becoming intoxicated.

Michael Whisman, 22, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control, including up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, on one count each of trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony, and felony 5 charge of possession of drugs. He also had his driver’s license suspended for a year.