City man gets prison term on drug count

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Five people appeared in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, with four of the cases heard by Judge Martin Burchfield.

Two hearings involved changes of plea by two Venedocia residents.

Jacqueline Forthman, 26, changed her plea to guilty to complicity to trafficking in heroin, a felony of the fifth degree.

Randal Michaelson Jr., 26, entered a guilty plea to one count each of trafficking in heroin, a fifth-degree felony, and endangering children, misdemeanor of the first degree.

A presentence investigation was ordered in both cases and sentencing was scheduled for both defendants at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 17.

Anthony Oliver, 20, of Van Wert, was sentenced to 10 months in prison on a charge of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense. Judge Burchfield gave Oliver credit for 29 days already served, and ordered that the sentence run concurrently with a previous prison term. Oliver was given a “risk reduction” sentence that could lead to early release from prison if he completes all requirements while incarcerated.

Carl Gheen Sr., 68, of Van Wert, was found competent to stand trial following a hearing that included a evaluation by Court Diagnostic Center in Toledo.

Van Wert County Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor accepted a plea change from Joshua Lane, 29, of Van Wert.

Lane changed his plea to guilty to a charge of trafficking in heroin, a felony of the fifth degree, which was amended from trafficking in drugs in the vicinity of a juvenile, a fourth-degree felony.

A second count of trafficking in drugs in the vicinity of a juvenile was dismissed in exchange for Lane’s guilty plea.

A presentence investigation was ordered in the case and sentencing was scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 1.