Johnson sentenced on bad check charge

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The former manager of the Black Swamp Bistro was among those who appeared Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court. Three different judges heard cases in the renovated Common Pleas Courtroom.

Michael Gregory Johnson, 55, of Van Wert, was sentenced to three years of community control on a felony bad check charge. Former Champaign County Common Pleas Judge Roger Wilson, who heard the case on assignment from the Ohio Supreme Court, also gave Johnson a 180-day jail sentence, with credit for 104 days already served and then suspended the remaining 76 days.

Judge Wilson noted some concerns with sentencing Johnson to community control, but also said he had few options, since Ohio sentencing guidelines preclude a prison term for Johnson.

While Johnson had stated he was “extremely remorseful” about his crimes, Judge Wilson said the Van Wert County Adult Probation Department presentencing report didn’t support that.

“The probation department doesn’t think you’re remorseful,” the judge said, while adding the presentence report also stated: “The offender may prove to be difficult to supervise on community control, given his highly manipulative personality and his history of taking advantage of others’ trust.”

As part of his community control, Johnson must make restitution for a $4,000 bad check written on a Black Swamp Bistro account, as well as pay returned check fees, court costs and a $150 fine.

An 11-month prison term was deferred pending Johnson’s successful completion of his community control.

Van Wert County Common Pleas Judge Charles D. Steele also heard a number of cases on Wednesday, sending one man to prison on a probation violation charge.

Dyllen Redding, 23, of Convoy, who was sentenced on two separate cases, was given 12 months in prison, with credit for 83 days already served, on one charge and 11 months in prison, with credit for 30 days already served, on the second. The sentences are to run consecutively, giving Redding approximately 19 months total time in prison.

Redding admitted to violating his probation by failure to provide a current address to the probation department and for not reporting to his probation officer.

Ashley Burk, 25, of Van Wert, was resentenced to three months of community control, including up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, after she admitted to violating her probation by associating with known felons and by not reporting to her probation officer.

She was released on a personal surety bond until ordered to report for transport to the WORTH Center.

Two people were also arraigned on Wednesday on grand jury indictments.

Terry Warren Jr., 27, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft, a felony of the fifth degree. Warrant was ordered held on a $25,000 bond, with 10 percent of that amount paid in cash, which he posted, and he will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 2.

Nathan Braun, 31, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference scheduled for 9 a.m. April 2.

Also Wednesday, Kyle Goodwin, 25, of Van Wert, signed a waiver of his right to a speedy trial and then requested that his April 10 trial be continued.

In a case heard by Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor, Larry Brincefield, 51, of Delphos, was sentenced to one year of community control, with 30 days in jail and 21 days credit for time already served, on a charge of domestic violence, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Brincefield’s jail term will begin Friday, March 28. A substance abuse assessment was also ordered, with Brincefield to then undergo any treatment recommended.