17 appear, 8 sentenced in local CP Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Wednesday was a busy day in Van Wert Count Common Pleas Court, with 17 people appearing for a variety of hearings.

Of those, Judge Martin Burchfield sentenced eight people on Wednesday. Those sentenced include the following:

Amanda Buzard, 32, of Van Wert, was sentenced to 11 months on a charge of heroin possession, a felony of the fifth degree, with four days credit given for time served, and 11 months in prison for violating her probation on another heroin case, with 94 days credit. Judge Burchfield ordered the sentences to be served at the same time (concurrently).

Wesley Elam, 23, of Celina, was given 16 years in prison on a charge of trespass in a habitation, a felony of the fifth degree. He was given credit for 77 days already served.

Bobby Burnett, 21, of Van Wert, 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 a charge of trespass in a habitation, a fourth-degree felony offense.

Charles Purdy II, 27, of St. Marys, was given five years of community control on a charge of importuning, a felony of the fifth degree. Judge Burchfield also ordered Purdy to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18 who was not a family member, and classified him as a Tier 1 sex offender, meaning he must register with the sheriff’s office annually for the next 15 years.

Kierstin Pollock, 24, of Convoy, was given five years of community control, including up to six months in the WORTH Center, on one count of possession of heroin, a felony of the fifth degree. Her driver’s license was also suspended for six months.

Lorenzo Frye, 27, of Van Wert, was given two years community control, including 90 days in jail on work release, on a charge of domestic violence, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Joshua Sargent, 34, of Van Wert, was sentenced to a year of probation, including 60 days in jail on work release, on a charge of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. He was also fined $100.

Sara Boroff, 33, of Van Wert, was given five years of community control, with up to six months in the WORTH Center, on a charge of trafficking in heroin, a felony of the fifth degree. Her driver’s license was also suspended and Judge Burchfield ordered her to pay $50 as reimbursement to the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force.

Three people also changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty during hearings held Wednesday.

Phillip Cross, 27, of Delphos, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of possession of heroin, a felony of the fifth degree (a charge of possession of cocaine was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea). Judge Burchfield ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 27.

Ronald Cobb, 25, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of importuning, a felony of the fifth degree (one count of disseminating material harmful to juveniles was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea. A presentence investigation will take place at 9 a.m. April 27.

Frederick Blessing, 21, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty on a charge of importuning, a felony of the fifth degree (a charge of disseminating material harmful to juveniles was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea to the importuning count). A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for Wednesday, May 11.

Judge Burchfield also presided over two probation violation hearings.

Kitti Johnson, 28, of Convoy, denied violating her treatment in lieu of conviction treatment program by not completing counseling. A hearing will be set at a later date.

Jeremy Whitaker, 36, of Delphos, admitted to violating his probation by being unsuccessfully terminated from the WORTH Center. He was re-sentenced to five years of community control and must serve 32 days in jail. He will then be readmitted to the WORTH Center on or after May 2.

Judge Burchfield also heard four probation violation hearings on Wednesday.

Van Wert County Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor also presided over four probation violation hearings on Wednesday.

Stephanie Semer, 29, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her probation by having a positive drug test and by not completing community service. She was re-sentenced to five years of community control.

Jill Diller, 41, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her community service probation by having a positive drug test. She was re-sentenced to three years of community control under the same conditions, plus up to six months in the WORTH Center.

Joshua Sargent, 34, of Van Wert, denied violating his probation by destroying property at the jail. The matter will be set for further hearing.

Amber Smith, 34, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her treatment in lieu of conviction program by having a positive drug test, failing to attend counseling, and not reporting to probation. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 1.