The Van Wert County Courthouse

Friday, Mar. 29, 2024

14 people appear in Common Pleas Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Four sentencings were among the 14 cases heard Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

John Swanner, 65, of Winslow, Arkansas, was sentenced to 36 months in prison on a charge of having weapons under disability, a felony of the second degree, and two first-degree misdemeanor counts of aggravated menacing.

Judge Martin Burchfield, who heard all cases on Wednesday, gave Swanner credit for 184 days already served.

Court artwork 12-2013 copyJeremy Baer, 32, of Van Wert, was sentenced to 12 months in prison on a charge of theft, a felony of the fifth degree. Judge Burchfield also gave Baer credit for 111 days already served and he was ordered to pay restitution to US Bank and First Financial Bank.

Jeremy Whitaker, 35, of Delphos, was given three years of community control on a charge of trafficking in heroin, a fourth-degree felony, and was also ordered to spend up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima. His driver’s license was also suspended for six months and he was ordered to pay $120 in restitution to the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force.

Brett Fortney, 30, of Van Wert, was sentenced to 60 days in jail on a charge of sexual imposition, a third-degree misdemeanor. Fortney was also classified as a Tier 1 sex offender, which means he must register as a sex offender with the county sheriff’s office where he lives, works, or goes to school once a year for the next 15 years.

Six people also changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty and were also granted treatment in lieu of conviction. They include:

Chancellor Nelson, 20, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, on a charge of possession of marijuana, a fourth-degree felony (reduced from a felony of the third degree).

Tye Harris, 28, of Decatur, Indiana, on a charge of attempted tampering with evidence, a fourth-degree felony (reduced from a felony of the third degree).

Jacinto Carvajal, 31, of Van Wert, on a charge of aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree.

Kristi Trejo, 38, of Van Wert, on a charge of identity fraud, a fifth-degree felony.

Andrew Klingler, 23, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, on a charge of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

Gary VanMetre, 52, of Van Wert, on a charge of attempted illegal cultivation of marijuana, a felony of the fourth degree (reduced from a charge of illegal cultivation of marijuana, a third-degree felony).

All six people had their cases stayed until they successfully complete substance abuse treatment programs.

Also Wednesday, Michael Kenny Jr., 42, of Vandalia, admitted to violating his bond by not reporting to probation. He was rereleased on a surety bond, with a pretrial conference scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, February 10.

Brandon Potter, 30, of Van Wert, signed a waiver of his constitutional right to a speedy trial and requested a delay in his trial on a charge of burglary originally scheduled for February.

POSTED: 01/28/16 at 9:22 am. FILED UNDER: News