City man arraigned on 16 felony counts

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A total of six people appeared in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday for a variety of criminal hearings.

A Van Wert man was arraigned on 16 counts of theft and forgery on Wednesday before Judge Martin Burchfield.

Jeremy Baer, 32, entered not guilty pleas to one count of theft and 15 counts of forgery, all felonies of the fifth degree. A $5,000 cash bond was set in the case and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, October 21.

Judge Burchfield also sentenced a Celina man on four counts of vehicular assault during a hearing on Wednesday.

Aaron Livingston, 20, was given five years of community control, including up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, and must undergo alcohol abuse assessment and treatment. He must also not drink alcohol or drive during his community control period. His driver’s license was suspended for four years and he was ordered to pay partial restitution of $437 for attorney fees, plus court costs.

Also Wednesday:

David Schnelle, 52, of Convoy, changed his plea to guilty to an amended charge of operating a vehicle while impaired, with no specifications, a felony of the third degree. A specification that Schnelle had five prior offenses was dropped in exchange for his guilty plea to the OVI charge.

Judge Burchfield ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for 8 a.m. Wednesday, November 25.

Frederick Blessing, 20, of Van Wert, waived his right to a speedy trial before Judge Burchfield in order to file a motion to sever his two cases and have two separate trials. Blessing is charged with two counts of rape, both felonies of the first degree, with the victim allegedly under the age of 12. He is currently being held in the Van Wert County Correctional Facility on a $100,000 cash bond.

Brittany Pessefall, 18, of Van Wert, was found competent by Judge Burchfield to stand trial following his review of an evaluation conducted by Court Diagnostic in Toledo. Pessefall, who is charged with assault of a police officer, a felony of the fourth degree, will appear for further hearing in the matter in the near future.

Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor also heard a case in Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.

Brandon Foust, 20, of Delphos, admitted to violating his bond and his treatment in lieu of conviction program by failing to report to probation and failing to complete counseling. Judge Taylor ordered a presentence investigation in the case and set sentencing for 9 a.m. November 25.