3 arraigned, 4 sentenced in CP Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Three more arraignments and four sentencing hearings were part of Wednesday’s docket in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Among those arraigned was Ricky Girod, 51, of Grover Hill, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of illegal assembly or possession of chemicals to manufacture drugs, a felony of the third degree. An $80,000 cash bond was set in the case and he will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 26.

Robert Seibert, 26, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to an indictment charging him with two counts of possession of heroin, one a fourth-degree felony and the other a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. June 26.

Lester Sulfridge Jr., 54, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to two counts of driving under the influence, each a felony of the third degree. He was released on a personal surety bond, with the added condition that he not operate a motor vehicle, and he will also appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. June 26.

In sentencing hearings held Wednesday, Stephanie Farmer, 32, of Van Wert, was sentenced to nine months in prison on a charge of possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony, with credit for one day served while awaiting sentencing. Because the drug possession offense was committed while Farmer was on community control, Judge Charles D. Steele also imposed previous sentences of one year and two years in prison, which will run concurrently with each other, but consecutively to the drug possession sentence. Farmer was given credit for 273 days served on those charges.

In addition to the prison terms, Farmer’s driver’s license was suspended for a year.

Ruth Ann Napier-Caldwell, 21, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control on a charge of attempted conveyance of illegal drugs onto the grounds of a government facility, a felony of the fourth degree. Her sentence also included 180 days in jail, to be served consecutively to a jail term she is currently serving, as well as a substance abuse assessment and any recommended treatment.

Tyler Kast, 21, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control, to include 90 days in jail, on a charge of attempted conveyance of illegal drugs onto the grounds of a government facility, as well as substance abuse assessment and any treatment recommended.

Jonathan Maxwell, 26, of Oakwood, was sentenced to three years of community control, with up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, on a charge of possession of dangerous ordnance.

Also Wednesday, Cyle Black, 27, of Van Wert, was re-sentenced to three years of community control, with the addition of 30 days in the county jail, after he was found guilty of violating his original community control sentence.

Ryan Woodall, 39, of Willshire, was granted judicial release from prison, where he was serving time on convictions for robbery and driving under the influence. He was placed on three years of community control, including up to six months in the WORTH Center.