Woman pleads to marijuana cultivation

Van Wert independent

Two people were arraigned in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court, while a woman involved in cultivating marijuana near the village of Willshire pleaded guilty to a related charge during hearings held Wednesday.

Kelli Duval, 31, of Spencerville, entered a plea of guilty to a charge of illegal cultivation of marijuana, a felony of the fourth degree. Duval, along with Brandi Myers and Glenn Duval, were charged with the cultivation of marijuana near Willshire. The charges were filed after the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department acted on a tip received on the possibility that marijuana was being grown in the area. A large number of marijuana plants was confiscated in August.

Judge Charles Steele ordered a presentence investigation conducted in the case and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, December 14.

Austin S. Bortel, 19, of Paulding, pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft, a misdemeanor of the first degree.  Bortel was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference was set for 8 a.m. Wednesday, November 9.

Jeffrey T. Stocklin, 30, of Delphos, entered a not guilty plea to a two-count indictment charging him with burglary, a third-degree felony offense, and theft from an elderly person, a fifth-degree felony offense.

Stocklin was ordered held on a $2,500 bond, with 10 percent of that amount to be paid in cash, along with a personal surety bond.

A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. November 9.