Several given prison terms in CP Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Seven people were sentenced out of a total of eight people who appeared for hearings Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Joseph Mohr Jr., 40, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to attempted felonious assault, a felony of the third degree (reduced from felonious assault, a felony of the second degree), and possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. In addition, two counts of assault (felonies of the fourth degree), and one count each of possession of heroin (a third-degree felony) and possession of cocaine (a fourth-degree felony), were dismissed in exchange of his guilty pleas.

Judge Martin Burchfield then immediately sentenced Mohr to 36 months in prison on the attempted felonious assault charge and 12 months on the possession of drugs charge, both to run consecutively to each other.

Judge Burchfield also gave Mohr credit for 282 days already served. A total of $3,600 seized at his arrested was to be applied to his back child support obligations.

Jose Sanchez, 37, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of domestic violence, a felony of the fourth degree (reduced from a third-degree felony). Judge Burchfield then sentenced him to 14 months in prison, with 16 days credit for time already served. The prison term is to be served concurrently with a sentenced handed down last week on an unrelated case.

Also sentenced Wednesday were the following:

Alec Thomas, 32, of Convoy, was given three years of community control on a charge of possession of heroin, a felony of the fifth degree. He must also attend drug court and had his license suspended for six months.

Jeremy Busby, 36, of Lima, was given five years of community control on a charge of possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. He must also serve 30 days in jail, with work release granted.

David Seibert, 23, of Van Wert, was given five years of community control, including up to six months at the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, on a charge of attempted corrupting of another with drugs (a felony of the fifth degree, reduced from corrupting another with drugs, a fourth-degree felony.

Cyle Black, 30, of Van Wert, was sentenced to 60 days in jail, beginning August 2, with work released, on a charge of possession of drug abuse instruments, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Van Wert County Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor presided over a probation violation hearing and ruled that Joshua Sargent, 34, of Van Wert, violated his probation by being convicted of theft in Mercer County. Judge Taylor sentenced Sargent to 18 months in prison, with credit for 348 days served.

Joshua Williams, 22, of Van Wert, signed a speedy trial waiver in open court and then requested a continuance in his case.