Paulding man receives 4 years in prison

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Paulding man received several prison terms during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Derek Showalter, 32, was sentenced to 12 months in prison on two counts of trafficking in heroin, and 24 months in prison on one count of possession of heroin, a felony of the third degree. Those sentences are to run concurrent to each other and to a sentence pending in Paulding County.

Showalter was also sentenced to 24 months in prison on a charge of having a weapon under disability, also a felony of the third degree. That sentence is to run consecutively to the other sentences, making a total of 48 months in prison. Judge Charles D. Steele also gave him 60 days credit for time already served.

Alex Chorvas, 19, of Van Wert, was also scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday, but he requested instead that he be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea to two counts of attempted corrupting another wit drugs, each a felony of the fourth degree. Chorvas also asked to have his court-appointed attorney removed from the case and to allow him to hire a new attorney.

Judge Steele continued his case for a hearing on Chorvas’ requests. Another count of attempted breaking and entering was also continued as well.

Rhonda Risley, 45, of Convoy, was also sentenced Wednesday on a charge of possession of drugs a fifth-degree felony. Judge Steele sentenced Risley to three years of community control, and ordered her to spend up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima.

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

Also Wednesday, three people changed their pleas to guilty on Wednesday, with two of those opting for substance abuse treatment programs in lieu of conviction.

Tiffany Riley, 25, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft, a felony of the fifth degree. She then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction.

Darren Stutz, 25, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. He also requested treatment in lieu of conviction and Judge Steele approved the request, staying all proceedings in his case for the next year while he undergoes substance abuse treatment.

Melissa Frasl, 33, of Delphos, changed her plea to guilty to a charge of domestic violence, a misdemeanor of the first degree, reduced from a fourth-degree felony offense during plea negotiations.

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation in the case and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, December 10.