10 people appear for CP Court hearings

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A total of 10 people appeared in Van Wert County Common Pleas over the last week, with most of the cases dealing with probation and bond violations.

Three people appeared before Magistrate Joseph Quatman on Friday, June 29, for bond violation hearings.

Milo Holt, 19, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his unsecured personal surety bond by failing to report to probation. His bond was then set at $5,000 cash or commercial surety.

Cyle Black, 32, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his surety bond by failing to report to probation. A $5,000 cash or commercial surety bond was set in the case.

Donald O’Day, 41, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his bond by using drugs. A $7,500 cash or commercial surety bond was set.

Two probation violation cases were among four cases heard by Judge Martin D. Burchfield on Monday.

Christopher Bird, 40, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his probation by signing himself out of the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, resulting in Bird’s probation being terminated unsuccessfully.

Justin Watkins, 33, of Convoy, admitted to violating his probation by failing to report to probation for several months on his original conviction on a charge of attempted weapons under disability, a felony of the fourth degree. He was sentenced to 180 days in prison, with credit for 68 days already served.

Nicole Conn, 41, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count each of possession of heroin, possession of cocaine, and aggravated possession of drugs, all felonies of the fifth degree. She was released on a personal surety bond, and a pretrial conference will be scheduled at a later date.

Christina Donate-McClure, 29, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her surety bond by failing a drug test. A $7,500 cash/commercial surety bond was continued and a suppression hearing set in the case for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 24.

Three cases were heard on Tuesday by Judge Burchfield.

James Neumeier, 27, of Celina, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of gross sexual imposition, a felony of the third degree. Judge Burchfield ordered a presentence investigation in the case and scheduled sentencing for Wednesday, August 8.

Dwaine Watts, 32, of Ottawa, admitted to violating his probation by possessing drugs and failing to report to probation. He was sentenced to four years of community control, plus up to six months at the WORTH Center. Following his stay in the WORTH Center, Watts will then be evaluation for participation in Drug Court.

Keli Pontius, 31, of Van Wert, signed a waiver of her constitutional right to a speedy trial and requested more time to prepare her case.