3 judges hear 10 cases in CP Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Three judges heard a total of 10 cases on Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

County Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor heard six cases, including a sentencing hearing for Lisa Langenkamp of Van Wert.

Langenkamp, 27, was given five years of community control and must obtain her General Educational Development (GED) certificate and undergo a drug an alcohol assessment as part of her sentence. Langenkamp also had her driver’s license suspended for six months.

Judge Taylor also heard plea changes from two individuals.

Daniel Hunnaman, 38, of Convoy, changed his plea to guilty to possession of heroin, a felony of the fifth degree. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 10.

Chad Kouts, 25, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of possession of heroin, also a fifth-degree felony. Kouts also appeared for a bond violation hearing that alleges he failed to report to the probation office as ordered. He admitted to the violation and was ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond, with work release granted.

A presentence investigation was ordered in the case and Kouts will appear for sentencing on the heroin possession charge at 9 a.m. June 10.

Todd Wheeler, 44, of Elida, also appeared in court and requested an extension of time to complete his treatment in lieu of conviction program. Judge Taylor granted him a six-month extension.

Matthew Foehl, 29, of Van Wert, was also sentenced on Wednesday by Judge Taylor on a charge of possession of heroin, a felony of the fourth degree.

Judge Taylor sentenced Foehl to three years of community control, including a 30-day jail sentence to be served immediately. Foehl must also undergo and substance abuse assessment and his driver’s license was suspended for six months.

Ryan Miller, 25, of Van Wert, admitted violating his probation in two 2013 cases by being in possession of a controlled substance, failing to report to the probation office and failing to complete counseling. He was resentenced to three years of community control and will have to serve an additional 54 days in jail. His driver’s license was also suspended for six months.

Judge Martin Burchfield heard two changes of plea on Wednesday.

Jeremy Showalter, 31, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of attempted operating a vehicle while impaired, a felony of the fifth degree, reduced from a fourth-degree felony offense, and to driving under suspension, a misdemeanor of the first degree. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. June 10.

Anthony Oliver, 20, of Van Wert, changed to plea to guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 13.

Retired Judge Charles D. Steele also heard two cases on Wednesday.

Judge Steele accepted a change of plea from Dan Neiford, 37, of Van Wert, who pleaded guilty to attempted endangering of children, a felony of the fourth degree (reduced from endangering children, a third-degree felony), and illegal cultivation of marijuana, a felony of the fourth degree.

A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 27.

Rodney Adams, 22, of Van Wert, was sentenced to two years of community control, to run concurrently, on each of two counts of attempted trafficking in marijuana, which are first-degree misdemeanors. As part of his community control, Adams was given 60 days of electronically monitored house arrest and his driver’s license was suspended for six months.