Jury finds city man guilty of drug counts

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Eight people appeared for criminal hearings Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court, while a Van Wert man was convicted earlier in the week of drug-related charges following a jury trial.

A jury found Jeremy Workman, 35, guilty of one count each of possession of heroin, and aggravated possession of drugs, both felonies of the fifth degree. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

Two people were sentenced on Wednesday. They include:

William Estle, 30, of Delphos, 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 one count each of theft from a person in a protected class and forgery, both felonies of the fifth degree.

David Meeker Sr., 53, of Van Wert, was given 180 days in jail, with credit for five days served, on a first-degree misdemeanor count of theft. The sentence will be served concurrently with a sentence he received in Van Wert Municipal Court.

Four people entered plea changes on Wednesday.

Donald O’Day, 39, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of possession of cocaine. Judge Martin Burchfield ordered a presentence investigation and set sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, September 7. The defendant was also released from prison on the condition that he not operate any vehicle, that he not possess any intoxicant, legal or illegal, including alcohol, and that he obey a curfew from 10 p.m. until 8 a.m.

Jeremy Grenzebach, 35, of Van Wert, changed his plea to domestic violence, a misdemeanor of the first degree (reduced from a fourth-degree felony). Sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, August 26.

Harold Callahan Jr., 46, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to trespass in a habitation, a felony of the fourth degree. He then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction and his case was stayed, pending his successful completion of a substance abuse treatment program.

He is to have no contact with the alleged victim in the case, except in accordance with Domestic Relations Court orders or to facilitate visitation or communication regarding his children, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., unless it is an emergency.

Nicholas Krick, 29, of Decatur, Indiana, changed his plea to guilty to one count of attempted failure to comply with an order of a law enforcement officer (fleeing and eluding), a felony of the fourth degree (reduced from a third-degree felony).

He then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction and his case was stayed pending completion of a treatment program.

Two people also appeared in Common Pleas Court on bond violation charges.

Eric Kangas, 19, of Delphos, denied violating his bond by failing to arrange electronic house arrest or report to jail on August 9. A hearing was set for 8 a.m. today.

Justin Taylor, 31, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his bond by failing to report to probation. A $25,000 cash or commercial surety bond was set in the case and the matter was continued for a pretrial conference at 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 22.