1 gets prison, 5 arraigned in CP Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

One man was sentenced to prison and five others were arraigned on grand jury indictments handed down on Friday during hearings held Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Dale Wright Jr., 22, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his probation in two prior cases by being unsuccessfully terminated from the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima.

Judge Charles D. Steele sentenced Wright to two nine-month prison terms, to run consecutive to each other, but also gave Wright credit for 62 days served in one case and 111 days served in the other, meaning Wright will actually serve approximately a year in prison on the two charges.

Five people were also arraigned on Wednesday. They include:

Joshua Kessler, 25, of Hamilton, Ind., pleaded not guilty to a charge of carrying a concealed weapon, a felony of the fourth degree. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 30.

Tyler Mohr, 19, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of grand theft, a felony of the third degree. A $50,000 bond, with 10 percent to be paid in cash, was set in the case and a pretrial conference was set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 16.

Matthew Southerland 31, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count of trafficking in drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. April 30.

Ryan Schaadt, 29, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of possession of heroin, a felony of the fourth degree. He was released on a surety bond and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. April 30.

Raymond Washington, 32, of Lima, pleaded not guilty to a charge of violating a civil protection order, a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a surety bond, with the additional stipulation that he have no contact with the alleged victim in the case, and was ordered to appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. April 30.

Three people changed their pleas in Common Pleas Court. They were:

Roger Hibbard, 37, of Paulding, changed his plea to guilty to a first-degree misdemeanor charge of domestic violence. Hibbard was originally charged with a fourth-degree felony count of domestic violence. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. April 30.

Timothy Schlatman, 32, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to two counts of possession of drugs, each of those a felony of the fifth degree. He then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction and his case was stayed following successful completion of treatment.

Terry Warren Jr., 27, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of theft, a felony of the fifth degree. A presentence investigation was ordered and he will appear for sentencing at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 21. His bond was revoked until he qualifies for electronically monitored house arrest, due a recent failed drug test.

Also Wednesday, Alisha Stemen, 22, of Van Wert, was resentenced to three years of community control, with an additional 58 days in jail, after she was found in violation of her original community control sentence.