10 arraigned in Common Pleas Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Ten people were arraigned and four sentenced in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.

Among those arraigned was Dirk Russell, 34, of Van Wert, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of corrupting another with drugs, a felony of the second degree. Russell was ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 19.

Brandon Turner, 28, of Sidney, entered a not guilty plea to one count each of trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony, and possession of drugs, a felony of the third degree. He was also held on a $10,000 bond and a pretrial conference set for 8 a.m. March 19.

Ethan Mezuk, 23, of Convoy, pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of heroin, a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference scheduled for Wednesday, March 26, at 8 a.m.

Roger Hibbard, 37, of Paulding, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony offense. He was released on a surety bond, but ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim. He will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. March 26.

Anthony Oliver, 19, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of burglary, a third-degree felony offense. No bond was set in the case, since Oliver is already being held for a bond violation in an unrelated case. A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. March 19.

Kari Hatfield, 24, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to one count each of burglary, a second-degree felony, and breaking and entering, a felony of the fifth degree. She was ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond, with a pretrial conference set for 8 a.m. March 26.

Kyle Goodwin, 25, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a drug possession charge, a felony of the fourth degree. He was ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. March 19.

Sean Sprouse, 34, of Paulding, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of possession of drugs, a felony of the fourth degree. He was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. March 26.

Mary Showman, 52, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony offense. She was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. March 26.

Etta Huffine, 36, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of attempted deception to gain a dangerous drug, a felony of the fifth degree. She was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. March 26.

Those sentenced include the following:

Jeremy Detwiler, 22, of Delphos, was given three years of community control, including up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, on a charge of trafficking in heroin, a felony of the fourth degree. The WORTH Center sentence will start after a sentence he is serving from Putnam County. His driver’s license was also suspended for six months.

Amber Baker, 24, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control and a six-month driver’s license suspension on a charge of possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree.

Shane Carroll, 23, of Convoy, was sentenced to three years of community control on a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a felony of the fourth degree. Carroll was also categorized as a Tier 1 sex offender.

Zach Brinkman, 25, of Middle Point, was given three years of community control and up to six months in the WORTH Center on a charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense. His driver’s license was also suspended for six months.

Also Wednesday, robbery suspect Trent Webster, 49, of Van Wert, waived his right to a speedy trial and then requested a postponement for his trial so an expert witness could be obtained.

Christopher Day, 41, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his probation by using drugs. He was resentenced to three years of community, with an additional 74 days of jail time included.

Harley Maroney, 18, of Ohio City, was found competent to stand trial during a hearing held Wednesday. He then changed his plea to guilty to two counts of gross sexual imposition, both felonies of the third degree. A charge of rape, a felony of the first degree, was dropped in exchange for his guilty plea.