Man trades WORTH Center for prison

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A man who refused to go to the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima will be going to prison instead.

Christopher Lindeman, 25, of Delphos, was sentenced Wednesday to nine months in prison after he admitted to violating his community control probation program by refusing to be transported to the WORTH Center. Judge Charles D. Steele gave Lindeman credit for 28 days already served in jail while awaiting sentencing on the probation violation.

Two others also appeared on probation violations Wednesday.

Kelcey Frye, 22, of Rockford, admitted to violating his probation by failing to report to probation and fleeing from his probation officer. Sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, October 30.

Jeffrey Craft, 29, of Van Wert, admitted violating his probation by being terminated from the WORTH Center program. He will be sentenced at 9 a.m. October 30.

A Convoy man was also sentenced Wednesday on a drug possession charge. Dyllen Redding, 22, was given three years of community control on the fifth-degree felony charge, as well as 30 days on electronically monitored house arrest. He must also undergo substance abuse and psychological assessments and his driver’s license was suspended for six months.

Jacqueline Fortman, 24, of Ohio City, also appeared on charges she violated her bond by testing positive for drugs. She admitted the violation and her personal surety bond was revoked, with a $20,000 cash bond set in its place. She was appear for a pretrial conference on October 30.

One person was also arraigned Wednesday. Kristen Heath, 25, of Rockford, entered not guilty pleas to one count each of burglary and grand theft, both third-degree felonies, and a fourth-degree felony count of failure to appear. She was released on a personal surety bond, since she is currently being held on unrelated charges in the Allen County (Ohio) Jail. A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. October 30.

Seven people also changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty on a variety of charges. They include the following:

• Jami Renner, 30, of Willshire, pleaded guilty to a charge of handling firearms while intoxicated, a misdemeanor of the first degree. The charge was reduced from a fourth-degree felony count of improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle in exchange for his guilty plea. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, December 11.
• Jeremy Cole, 22, of Wren, pleaded guilty to complicity to breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony. A second count of receiving stolen property was dismissed in exchange for his plea of guilty. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. December 11.
• Joshua Cole, 24, of Wren, entered guilty pleas to two counts of burglary, each a felony of the third degree, and one count of breaking and entering a fifth-degree felony offense. A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing hearing set for 9 a.m. December 11.
• Beth McCarthy, 44, of Convoy, pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted forgery, a first-degree misdemeanor, reduced from fifth-degree felony count of forgery. A presentence investigation was ordered in the case, and she will appear for sentencing at 9 a.m. Wednesday, November 20.
• Nicollette Collins, 33, of Oakwood, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, while a second similar count was dismissed in exchange for her guilty plea. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, November 27.
• Catherine Wilson, 25, of Lima, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in heroin in the vicinity of a school, each a felony of the fourth degree. Two additional counts of the same charge were dismissed in exchange for her guilty plea. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. December 11.
• Shawn Thomas, 28, of Van Wert, entered a plea of guilty to one count of trafficking in drugs, a felony of the fourth degree. A second count of trafficking in drugs was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. December 11.