Man sent to prison for child endangering

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Van Wert man received a three-year prison sentence and 13 people were arraigned on grand jury indictments during hearings Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Cody McGinnis, 29, of Van Wert, was sentenced to 36 months in prison on a charge of endangering children, a felony of the third degree.

McGinnis was also ordered to pay court costs in connection with the sentence.

Another Van Wert man, Robert Thompson, 29, was sentenced to 18 months each two counts of aggravated trafficking drugs, one count a third-degree felony and the other a felony of the fourth degree. Judge Charles D. Steele ordered that the sentences run concurrently – at the same time – and gave Thompson credit for six days served while awaiting final disposition of the case.

 A mandatory fine of $5,000 was also imposed in the case.

Those arraigned on Wednesday include the following:

Paul Susralski, 48, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to four counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving minors, each a second-degree felony; four counts of illegal use of minors in nudity oriented material, also felonies of the second degree; four counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, all second-degree felonies; and possession of criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony.

His bond was set at $500,000, with 10 percent of that amount to be paid in cash, and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 24.

Amber Baker, 23, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to two counts of possession of drugs, each a felony of the fifth degree. She was released on a surety bond, with a pretrial hearing scheduled for Wednesday, July 31.

Kristin Heath, 25, of Rockford, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her with two counts of burglary, one a second-degree felony and the other a felony of the third degree. She was released on a personal surety bond, with a pretrial conference set for 8 a.m. July 31.

Stephanie Fannon, 25, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her with three counts of trafficking in drugs, each a fourth-degree felony. She was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. July 31.

Ryan Miller, 23, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to two counts of receiving stolen property, two counts of theft, and one count each of theft by deception and possession of drugs – all felonies of the fifth degree. He was released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. July 31.

Eva Leiendecker, 27, of Venedocia, pleaded not guilty to five counts of harassment by an inmate, each a felony of the fifth degree. Her bond was set at $50,000 cash, with a pretrial date yet to be scheduled.

Stephanie Semer, 26, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of burglary, a felony of the third degree. She was released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 24.

Adam Partin, 20, of Delphos, pleaded not guilty to one count of possession of cocaine, a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. July 24.

Dezmond Bywaters, 21, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of theft, a fifth-degree felony offense. He was released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. July 31.

Drake Hitchcock, 30, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. Wednesday, August 7.

Christopher Lindeman, 25, of Delphos, entered a not guilty plea to one count of receiving stolen property, a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a surety bond and a pretrial conference was set for 8 a.m. August 7.

Roger Risner, 49, of Rensselaer, Ind., pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault, a fourth-degree felony offense. He was released on a surety bond and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. August 7.

Walter Stephens, 59, of Vero Beach, Fla., entered a not guilty plea to two counts of importuning, each a felony of the third degree. Stephens was ordered held on a $100,000 cash bond and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. August 7.

Also Wednesday, Rhonda Kline, 52, of Delphos, changed her plea from not guilty to guilty to four charges: two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, both third-degree felony offenses (downgraded from felonies of the second degree), trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony (with the specification that she used a 1989 Dodge Caravan minivan in the commission of the offense; and aggravated trafficking, a third degree felony offense. A fifth charge of trafficking, a fifth-degree felony, was dismissed in exchange for her guilty plea to the other four offenses.

A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, August 28.