17 appear in VW Common Pleas Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Five people who were arraigned on grand jury indictments were among the 17 people who appeared for hearings Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Those arraigned include the following:

David Schnelle, 52, of Convoy, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of operating a vehicle while impaired, a felony of the third degree. He was released on a surety bond on the condition he consume no alcohol or operate a motor vehicle while on bond. A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, September 23.

Joshua McGinnis, 33, of Delphos, pleaded not guilty to a re-indictment on a charge of endangering children, a felony of the third degree. McGinnis was released on a personal surety bond, with the condition that he obey all orders from Van Wert County Juvenile Court concerning the children involved. McGinnis will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. September 23.

Crystal Protsman, 21, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of theft, a fifth-degree felony. She was released on a surety bond and a pretrial conference was set for 8 a.m. September 23.

Dawnja Sol Fuentes, 27, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree. Fuentes was released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. September 23.

Aaron Deffenbaugh, 20, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to one count of burglary, a second-degree felony offense. He was released on a surety bond, with the condition he have no contact with the alleged victim in the case, and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. September 23.

Four people were also sentenced during hearings held Wednesday in Common Pleas Court.

Ian Taylor, 21, of Van Wert, was given 12 months in prison on a charge of attempted grand theft, a felony of the fifth degree. Judge Martin Burchfield gave Taylor credit for 93 days already served, while also requiring that Taylor pay restitution of $75, plus court costs.

Christopher Lindeman, 27, of Delphos, was given five years of community control, including up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, on eight counts of receiving stolen property, five of which were misdemeanors and three felonies of the fifth degree. He was also fined $1,000.

Adam Partin, 22, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control, including 90 days in jail, on a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Rebecca Greber, 34, of Van Wert, was given five years of community control on a charge of trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense. Her driver’s license was also suspended for six months and she must pay $180 in restitution to the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force.

Judge Burchfield also heard two changes of plea on Wednesday.

Aaron Livingston, 20, of Celina, changed his plea to no contest to four counts of vehicular assault, each a fourth-degree felony, reduced from felonies of the third degree. Judge Burchfield found Livingston guilty of the charges and then ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, October 14.

Michael Reichert, 32, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to theft, a felony of the fifth degree. A presentence investigation was ordered and Reichert was ordered to appear for sentencing at 9 a.m. October 14. Reichert also admitted to violating his bond by failing to report to the probation office as required. He was re-released on a surety bond, but with stricter requirements.

Frederick Blessing, 20, of Van Wert, entered into a stipulation to take a polygraph examination related to his case.

County Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor also heard five cases on Wednesday: four probation violations and a change of plea.

Kenneth J Smith, 57, of Hudson, Florida, changed his plea to guilty on a charge of failure to support dependents, a fifth-degree felony offense. He then requested, and was granted, entry into the prosecutor’s deferral program and the case will be dismissed if he meets the program’s requirements.

Tracy Metzger, 33, of Delphos, admitted to violating his probation by being in possession of a controlled substance. Metzger was given 18 months in prison, with credit for 195 days. He will report to the Van Wert County Correctional Facility at 8 a.m. Friday for transport to prison.

Alisha Stemen, 23, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her probation by being in possession of a controlled substance and by failing to report to probation. She was resentenced to three years of community control, with an additional 30 days in jail.

Danielle Johnson, 28, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her probation by associating with a known felon and using a controlled substance. She was resentenced to one year of community control, with an additional 30-day jail sentence tacked on.

Ronald Cobb, 25, of Van Wert, appeared for sentencing after previously admitting that he violated his probation. He was resentenced to three years of community control and was ordered to have no contact with any juvenile.