Defendants appear for court hearings

VW independent staff

A dozen hearings were held between March 19-April 1 for defendants facing various charges in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court. Judge Martin D. Burchfield presided over all of the hearings. 

Bond/intervention in lieu violations

Adam Stripe, 48, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his bond by failing to appear at a court hearing. Judge Burchfiel set bond at $25,000 cash or surety and a pre-trial conference was set for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 15.

Jeffrey Kallas, 25, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his bond by failing to appear to probation and failure to provide change of address. Bond was set at $25,000 cash or surety and a pre-trial set conference was scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 15.

Nicholas Burgoon, 26, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his bond and intervention in lieu for receiving an additional charge. Judge Burchfield ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for 9 a.m. May 13.

Brandon Cooper, 28, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his bond by failing to appear for a court hearing. His surety bond was continued and sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 22.

Haley Capetillo, 25, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her bond and intervention of lieu by failing to appear in court and failing to complete her treatment program. Judge Burchfield ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for 9 a.m. May 20.

Logan Linton, 33, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his bond and intervention of lieu by failing a drug test and failure to engage in treatment. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and sentencing was set for 9 a.m. May 20.

Emily Apple, 39, of Paulding, admitted to violating her bond by failing a drug test, but denied violating her intervention in lieu. She was released on a surety bond and a further hearing was set for 9 a.m. April 7.

Arraignment

Morgan Warford, 29, of Van Wert, plead not guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth degree felony. Warford was released on a surety bond and a pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 22.

Plea changes

Zachary Smith, 27, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to domestic violence, a felony of the third degree. Judge Burchfield ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for 9 a.m. May 13.

Johnny Nunemaker, 38, of Ohio City, changed his plea to guilty to assault, a first degree misdemeanor. He was then sentenced to one year of community control, six days in jail with credit for six days already served, and 30 days in jail at a later date. He is to consume no alcohol or possess drugs without a prescription, undergo random screens, complete mental health and substance abuse assessment and any treatment and was ordered to pay a $100 fine and court costs.

Competency hearing

Michael Whisman, 35, of Van Wert, was found competent to stand trial after an evaluation at Court Diagnostic in Toledo. He then changed his plea to guilty of aggravated assault, a fourth degree felony, and endangering children, a first degree misdemeanor. Judge Burchfield ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for 9 a.m. May 3.

Time waiver

Cainan Burnett, 28, of Van Wert, signed a time waiver in open court and requested additional time to prepare his case A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. April 22. Burnett is facing one count of aggravated possession of drugs and one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs, both second degree felonies.