Area man violates 2-day old probation

VW Common Pleas Court information

A Willshire man who was placed on probation just two days ago was in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Friday on charges he violated that probation.

Michael Speakman, 22, appeared before Judge Charles D. Steele for a probation violation hearing. Speakman at first denied, but later admitted that he violated his probation in this case, and an earlier case, by requesting work release August 20 because he ostensibly had two jobs. In reality, the defendant was not employed at either business.

Following Speakman’s admission that he had lied, Judge Steele sentenced him to serve nine months in prison on a 2012 theft charge (with credit for three days already served), and a 12-month prison term on a telecommunications fraud charge brought earlier this year.

The two sentences were to run concurrently.