Wilder gets prison on rape, DV charges

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Van Wert man who fired two attorneys and delayed a jury trial for months was sentenced to prison in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

County Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor sentenced Moses Wilder, 32, to nine years in prison on a rape charge, a first-degree felony, and 18 months on one count of domestic violence, a felony of the third degree, during a hearing held Monday. The prison terms are to run consecutive to each other, for a total prison term of 10 years, 6 months.

Judge Taylor did give Wilder credit for 166 days already served and also classified him as a Tier 3 sex offender, which means he must register with the sheriff’s office where he lives and works every 90 days for the rest of his life.

Wilder was originally indicted in January on the rape and domestic violence counts, with the domestic violence charge upgraded to a third-degree felony because Wilder had previously been convicted of felony domestic violence. Wilder was accused of attacking a former girlfriend and forcing her to have sex at a local motel.

He was first represented by local attorney Scott Gordon, who he later fired. Lima attorney William Kluge was then appointed to represent him, but Wilder fired Kluge in February, noting that both Gordon and Kluge had lied to him about rape kit results.

During a hearing held February 25, Kluge said he had asked Assistant County Prosecutor Eva Yarger for a copy of the results, which he then gave to Wilder.

“And, apparently, he’s still not satisfied,” the Lima attorney told the judge at that time.

Wilder was later convicted by a jury on the charges.