City man ordered held on $500,000 bond

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Van Wert man was arraigned on felony assault counts, while a city woman was sent to prison on drug-related charges during hearings held Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Robert Ericson, 51, pleaded not guilty to one count each of felonious assault, a first-degree felony, and assault on a peace officer, a fourth-degree felony offense.

Judge Charles D. Steele set a $500,000 cash bond in the case and scheduled a pretrial conference for 8 a.m. Wednesday, December 11.

Stephanie Fannon, 31, also of Van Wert, was given 12 months in prison on one count each of trafficking in drugs, and possession of drugs, both felonies of the fifth degree. Judge Steele ordered the sentences to run concurrently to each other, and also gave Fannon credit for 82 days already served.

Also Wednesday, Jean Sweet, 38, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control, with up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, when sentenced on two counts of trespass in a habitation, each a felony of the fourth degree, and one count of theft, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Judge Steele also ordered Sweet to pay $49 in restitution to the local Rural King store and banned her from Rural King. She is also to have no contact with a victim in the case and was ordered to undergo a substance abuse assessment and any recommended treatment.

Michael Carter Jr., 30, of Dayton, was sentenced to three years of community control, including up to six months in the WORTH Center, on a charge of probation violation.

Nathaniel Diltz, 30, of Delphos, denied violating his probation by failing a drug test and not completing counseling. He was ordered held without bond until a hearing can be scheduled on the allegations.

Korey Briggs, 28, of Fort Jennings, pleaded guilty to trafficking in drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, January 15, 2014.

Two people, Jeremy Baer, 30, and Jesse Stemen, 24, both of Van Wert, also had their work release privileges revoked after they admitted to violating work release by not returning to jail after work.