Former Bistro manager enters guilty plea

Van Wert independent

A former manager of the Black Swamp Bistro entered a guilty plea to a charge of passing bad checks, a felony of the fifth degree, during hearings held Thursday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Michael Gregory Johnson, 55, of Van Wert, made the plea in front of former Champaign County Common Pleas Judge Roger Wilson, who was hearing the case on assignment.

Judge Wilson ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing in the case for 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 19.

Six other charges, two theft counts and four forgery counts, were dismissed in exchange for Johnson’s guilty plea.

Also Thursday, Joshua Cole, 25, of Wren, was given six years in prison on burglary and breaking and entering charges.

Cole was sentenced to 30 months in prison on each of two burglary counts, both felonies of the third degree, and 12 months on the breaking and entering charge, a felony of the fifth degree. The sentences were all to be served consecutively to one another.

Judge Charles D. Steele gave Cole credit for 46 days already served toward his prison sentence and also ordered him to pay restitution of $1,169 and $512 to the two victims in the case.

Chad Caldwell, 36, of Van Wert, admitted violating his community control and was resentenced to another three years of community control and an additional 30 days in jail. He was given credit for five days already served.

William L. Smith, 37, of Rockford, admitted to violating his community control program by refusing treatment at the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima. His case was continued for sentencing.