11 arraigned on grand jury indictments

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Eleven people were arraigned on grand jury indictments during hearings held this week in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

A Piqua man apprehended in Fremont earlier this week, Andrew Hoskinson, 46, was arraigned on two counts of aggravated robbery, each a felony of the first degree, as well as one count of attempted escape, a third-degree felony, with a specification as a repeat violent offender, in connection with an armed robbery that occurred last Thursday at a Washington Township residence. 

Hoskinson entered a not guilty plea to the charges, and Judge Martin D. Burchfield set a $500,000 cash bond in the case. Hoskinson will appear for a pretrial conference at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 1.

Kevin Browning, 43, of Willshire, pleaded not guilty to one count of rape, a first-degree felony, and four counts of sexual battery, each a felony of the third degree. The judge set a $25,000 cash bond in the case and Browning will appear for a pretrial conference at 3 p.m. Friday, March 20.

Taylor Vannett, 21, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to one count each of robbery, a felony of the second degree, and a third-degree robbery count.

Judge Burchfield set a $250,000 cash bond in the case and scheduled a pretrial conference for 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 25.

Colby Black, 36, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count each of illegal conveyance of drugs into a government facility, a felony of the third degree, and aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. Black was released on an unsecured personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 9 a.m. April 1.

Brian Schlegel, 36, of Marion, entered not guilty pleas to three counts of operating a vehicle while impaired (OVI), each a felony of the third degree. No bond was required, since Schlegel is currently serving time in prison. A pretrial conference will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 31.

Mark Eberle, 41, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count each of OVI, a felony of the fourth degree, and a citation for driving while under an OVI suspension, a misdemeanor of the first degree. A $10,000 cash bond was set in the case, while the court may substitute electronically monitored house arrest for incarceration.

A pretrial conference will be held at 8 a.m. Friday, April 3.

Dustin Stuckey, 34, of Middle Point, entered a not guilty plea to one count of possession of a Fentanyl-related compound, a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. April 1.

Kyle Clark, 26, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count of grand theft-motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and three counts of grand theft of a firearm, each a felony of the third degree. He was released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 29.

John Patterson, 34, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to one count of possession of a Fentanyl-related compound, a felony of the fifth degree. A surety bond was set in the case and Patterson will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. April 1.

Coy McConnell, 23, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count each of aggravated trafficking in drugs, a felony of the fourth degree, and aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. Judge Burchfield set a surety bond in the case and McConnell will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. April 1.

William Crutchfield, 47, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to one count of failure to provide notice of a change of address as required of a registered sex offender. A surety bond was set in the case and Crutchfield will appear for a pretrial conference at 9 a.m. April 1.

Four people were sentenced in Common Pleas Court.

Tristan Wehner, 20, of Van Wert, was sentenced to 36 months in prison on one count each of sexual battery and tampering with evidence, each a felony of the third degree, and two counts of extortion, each also a felony of the third degree, all to run consecutive to one another (120 months/10 years total). He was also classified as a Tier 3 sexual offender and must register every 90 days for life.

David Youngpeter, 38, of Delphos, was sentenced to a term of 4-6 years in prison on one count of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, with credit given for 170 days already served. As a convicted arson offender, Youngpeter must also register annually for life.

Christopher Carpenter, 19, of Decatur, Indiana, was sentenced to 36 months in prison on each of two counts of gross sexual imposition, each a felony of the third degree. Carpenter was given credit for 206 days already served, and he was also classified as a Tier 2 sexual offender who must register with the sheriff’s office every 180 days for the next 25 years.

Justin Reilly, 38, of Van Wert, was sentenced to 180 days in jail on one count each of aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree, and one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Reilly was given was credit for 59 days already served on the drug count, with zero days served on the unauthorized use of a motor vehicle charge. Both sentences are to run concurrently (at the same time), while the court may consider an inpatient drug treatment program after he serves 90 days in jail.

Five people also changed their pleas in hearings held this week in Common Pleas Court.

Kenneth Dunaway, 47, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree, and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with credit for nine days already served.

Randy Maze, 60, of Lima, changed his plea to guilty to charges of passing bad checks, a felony of the fifth degree. He was sentenced to a year of community control and ordered to pay an unidentified amount as restitution in the case.

Adam Grogg, 29, of Convoy, changed his plea to guilty to an amended charge of domestic violence, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Sentenced was scheduled for 9 a.m. April 29.

Brandon Potter, 34, of Van Wert, changed his plea to trafficking in heroin, a felony of the fifth degree. Judge Burchfield ordered a presentence investigation and set sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 15.

Jason Zamora, 42, of Payne, changed his plea to guilty to one count of each of conveying illegal drugs into a government facility, a felony of the third degree, and aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. He was sentenced to 24 months in prison on the illegal conveyance charge and 12 months on the possession charge, with both sentences to run concurrent with one he is currently serving on a conviction in Williams County. 

A total of $4,310.65 in cash must be forfeited to the Van Wert Police Department as being used in the commission of a crime.

A probation violation hearing and two bond violation hearings were also heard this week.

James Troyer, 24, of Millersburg, admitted to violating his probation by being convicted of more felonies and sent to prison by Muskingum County Common Pleas Court. He was then sentenced to 18 months in prison, with credit for 133 days already served, to be served consecutively to his current prison sentence.

Kimberly Miller, 54, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her bond by testing positive for drugs. A new $5,000 cash bond was set in the case, with a pretrial conference set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 18.

Mark Eberle, 41, of Van Wert, denied violating his bond by consuming alcohol. A hearing is scheduled for 8 a.m. April 3 to hear the case.

Three people also signed waivers of their constitutional right to a speedy trial during hearings held this week.

Kendra Keesler, 24, of Van Wert, signed a time waiver and requested additional time to prepare her case, which was granted. A pretrial conference was scheduled for 9 a.m. March 25.

Brooke Schwamann, 20, of Decatur, signed a time waiver and requested additional time to prepare her case. The request was granted and a pretrial conference set for 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 8.

Faith Sevitz, 40, of Van Wert, signed a time waiver and requested additional time to prepare her case. The request was granted and a pretrial conference will be held at 9 a.m. April 1.