Several appear in CP Court this week

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

One person was sentenced, five made plea changes and there were several probation violation hearings held this week in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

During hearings held Tuesday, Joshua Rager, 29, of Van Wert, was given a nine-month prison term, with credit for 211 days already served, after he admitted violating his probation by being terminated from the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima before completing the treatment program there.

Jordan Vickery, 30, of Middle Point, denied violating his probation by being terminated from the WORTH Center during a hearing Tuesday and a hearing on the case will be scheduled at a later date. He was ordered held without bond until that hearing.

Kyle Goodwin, 25, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control, including up to six months at the WORTH Center, in three separate cases: one count each of theft, a felony of the fifth degree, from the first case; possession of drugs, a fourth-degree felony, in the second case; and trafficking in drugs and complicity to trafficking in counterfeit controlled substances, both fifth-degree felonies, in the third case.

His driver’s license was also suspended for six months.

Five people changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty during hearings held Wednesday in Common Pleas Court.

Justin Snyder, 34, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of assaulting a police officer, a fourth-degree felony. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 30.

Trinity J. Snyder, 33, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of attempted abduction, a fourth-degree felony – reduced from a charge of abduction, a felony of the third degree – and domestic violence, a misdemeanor of the first degree. A presentence investigation was ordered and Snyder will appear for sentencing at 9 a.m. July 30.

Joshua Kessler, 25, of Hamilton, Indiana, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of attempted carrying a concealed weapon, a felony of the fifth degree, which was reduced from carrying a concealed weapon, a fourth-degree felony. A presentence investigation was ordered by Judge Charles D. Steele and sentencing set for 9 a.m. July 30.

Etta Huffine, 37, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of attempted deception to obtain dangerous drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. She then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction.

Joshua Sargent, 32, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a charge of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony. A second domestic violence charge was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea. Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and Sargent will appear for sentencing at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 16.

Two people also appeared in court Wednesday on probation violation charges.

Drew Kenny, 21, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his probation by associating with known felons and failing to report to his probation officer. He was resentenced to three years of community control, with 76 days in jail added to his sentence.

Tausha Walsh, 41, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her treatment in lieu of conviction program by being arrested, not reporting to probation and being found in possession of bath salts. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. July 30. She was released on a conditional surety bond.

Also Wednesday, Dezmond Bywaters, 22, of Van Wert, was granted judicial release from prison after serving approximately eight months on a theft charge. He was then placed on three years of community control.

Paul Grandsko, 38, of Middlebury, Connecticut, waived his right to a speedy trial and his case was continued for a pretrial conference at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 18.