3 people get prison terms in CP Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A man sent to prison after multiple drunk driving convictions was one of six people who appeared Wednesday for hearings in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

David Schnelle, 52, of Convoy, was sentenced by Judge Martin Burchfield to operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a felony of the third degree because of prior drunk driving convictions. Schnelle’s driver’s license was also suspended for life, although Judge Burchfield gave him credit for two days already served. He was also fined $1,350 and court costs.

Other cases heard by Judge Burchfield are as follows:

Jeremy Baer, 32, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of theft, a fifth-degree felony. In exchange for his guilty plea, 15 other counts of forgery, also felonies of the fifth degree, were dismissed. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, January 20, 2016.

Kiersten Pollock, 24, of Convoy, admitted to violating her surety bond by testing positive for drugs. Judge Burchfield then set a $2,400 cash bond in Pollock’s case.

Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor also heard three cases on Wednesday.

Robert Hibbard, 39, of Paulding, admitted to violating his probation by being terminated from the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima. He previously deferred sentence, which included two consecutive 12-month prison terms, was imposed, with credit for 35 days already served.

Brian Neeley, 31, of Eau Claire, Michigan, was given 18 months in prison, with credit for 99 days already served, on a charge of attempted gross sexual imposition, a felony of the fourth degree.

Neeley was also classified as a Tier 3 sex offender, and must register with the county sheriff’s office every 90 days during his lifetime.

Brandon Foust, 20, of Delphos, was sentenced to three years of community control on each of two counts of possession of marijuana. The counts were each a felony of the fifth degree.

Judge Taylor also ordered Foust to pay $200 in restitution to the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force and mandated that he continue to be employed.