7 arraigned in VW Common Pleas Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Seven people were arraigned on grand jury indictments, while seven other people appeared for a variety of hearings Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Those arraigned include the following:

Frederick Blessing, 21, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to one count each of importuning and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, both felonies of the fifth degree. A $25,000 cash bond was set in the case and a pretrial conference scheduled for Tuesday, March 22. A final pretrial will be held on Wednesday, March 30, and a trial date has been scheduled for Monday, April 18.

Danny Ruiz, 41, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of domestic violence, a felony of the third degree. Judge Martin Burchfield ordered Ruiz held on a $50,000 cash bond, with electronically monitored house arrest ordered if Ruiz makes bond. A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 23.

Thomas Keller, 49, of Delphos, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of theft, a fifth-degree felony offense. He was released on a personal surety bond, with a pretrial conference set for 8 a.m. March 23.

Danielle Roberts, 33, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of trafficking in drugs, a felony of the fourth degree. She was released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. March 23.

Alisha Elder, 37, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to one count each of forgery and theft, both felonies of the fifth degree. She was released on a surety bond, with the condition that she not enter Walmart except to pick up a prescription once a month. A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 16.

Candice Huffman, 30, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted deception to obtain a dangerous drug, a felony of the fifth degree. She was released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. March 23.

Levar Reed, 18, of Atlanta, Georgia, entered not guilty pleas to one count each of trafficking in marijuana, a fifth-degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree. A $100,000 cash bond was set in the case and a pretrial conference scheduled for 9:30 a.m. March 22. A trial date of April 28 was also set in the case.

Also Wednesday, Melissa Nihiser, 29, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea through a prosecutor’s bill of information to a charge of possession of heroin, a felony of the fifth degree. She then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction, and her case was stayed pending successful completion of a substance abuse treatment program.

Two changes of plea hearings were also held Wednesday.

Joshua Sargent, 34, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of domestic violence, a misdemeanor of the first degree (downgraded from a third-degree felony). Judge Burchfield ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 30.

Drew Kenny, 22, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of trafficking in heroin, a felony of the fourth degree. He was then sentenced to 10 months in prison, to run concurrently with a prison sentence he is currently serving.

Two people were also sentenced during hearings held Wednesday.

Aaron Deffenbaugh, 20, of Van Wert, was given five years of community control, including 90 days in jail or on electronically monitored house arrest, on a charge of trespass in a habitation, a felony of the fourth degree. He was also ordered to seek employment in a business that does not serve alcohol, and not to contact the victim in the case or her family without permission from his probation officer. He was also ordered to pay restitution of $331 to the victim.

Justin Murphy, 28, of Van Wert, was sentenced to 17 months in prison on a charge of failure to register as a sex offender, a fourth-degree felony offense. Judge Burchfield gave him credit for 70 days already served.

Van Wert Count Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor also heard two probation violation hearings on Wednesday.

Justine Jerome, 30, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her probation by failing a drug test. She was sentenced to 11 months in prison, with credit given for 156 days already served.

Alex Chorvas, 20, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his probation by failing a drug test, failing to report to probation, and failing to complete counseling. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison, with credit for 291 days already served.