Trio given prison sentences in CP Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Three people who appeared in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court for sentencing on Wednesday are headed to prison.

James Vinson, 43, of Van Wert, was ordered to serve three 12-month prison sentences after he admitted to violating his community control by leaving Ohio without permission. The sentences will be run concurrently, and Vinson was also given credit for 214 days already served in jail.

Jerad Caldwell, 26, of Van Wert, was given a 12-month prison term on a drug possession charge and a nine-month prison term related to the probation violation on Wednesday. Judge Charles D. Steele ordered that the terms run consecutively to each other, giving Caldwell a total of 21 months to serve in prison, although the judge also gave the defendant credit for 145 days served.

Terry Warren Jr., 26, of Van Wert, was given six months in prison on a charge of possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. He was also given credit for 36 days served in the case.

Two people had community control violation hearings continued after they denied violating their community control terms. Kelsey Frye, 22, of Rockford, and Desma Chesbro, 21, of Van Wert, both denied violating their community control. Frye allegedly failed to report to probation and for failing to report a new address, while Chesbro allegedly failed to attend counseling at Westwood Behavioral Health Center.

A fourth person, Matthew Parr, 20, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his personal surety bond by know providing his address to his probation officer. He was re-released on a surety bond, with the added specification that he not enter 103 Daniel St. in Van Wert for any reason.

Two other people appeared in Common Pleas Court to enter plea changes to felony charges.

Dale Wright Jr., 21, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of illegal conveyance of a deadly weapon into a school safety zone, a felony of the fifth degree.

Paula Wilder, 58, of Van Wert, changed her plea to guilty to a charge of endangering children, a felony of the third degree. The charge was downgraded from a felony of the third degree in exchange for her guilty plea.

Judge Steele ordered presentence investigations in both cases and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, August 21, for Wright and 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 31, for Wilder.