Pair receive prison sentences in CP Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Two people were sentenced to prison Wednesday during hearings held in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Bradley W. Sheets, 29, of Van Wert, received concurrent sentences of nine months each on counts of breaking and entering and felony theft, and 180-day jail terms on two misdemeanor theft counts during a sentencing hearing held Wednesday.

Sheets was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims of the thefts.

In deciding Sheets was not amenable to community control, Judge Charles D. Steele noted that the defendant had two previous felony convictions and had also violated community control sanctions on both of those charges.

A Lima man, Zachariah Williams, was sentenced to a year in prison for violating the terms of his community control, including testing positive for the use of opiates and marijuana and failing to report as required since July 17 of this year.

Williams noted in his defense that he had no driver’s license, which made it difficult to report as required, but had no answer for the judge’s question on why he tested positive for drug use.

Judge Steele did give Williams credit for 194 days already served while awaiting final disposition of the case.

A former Van Wert resident who previously pleaded guilty to non-support of dependents was given up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima as part of a three-year community control sentence.

Nathan C. Deam, 35, who now lives in Carmel, Ind., had a nine-month prison term deferred until his successful completion of the community control sanctions.

Three other people were given community control sentences on Wednesday.

Nancy J. Pontius, 44, of Van Wert, was sentenced to three years of community control on a charge of attempted driving while under the influence, a fifth-degree felony offense. Pontius, who has been in a alcohol treatment program for several months, was also fined $1,350 and was ordered to spend 60 days on electronically monitored house arrest.

Christopher Adkins, 31, of Van Wert, was placed on three years of community control and ordered to spend 60 days on electronically monitored house arrest on a charge of assault of a police officer, a fourth-degree felony offense.

Adkins was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and undergo psychological and substance abuse assessments and complete any programs recommended.

Robert J. Olszewski, 43, of Van Wert, was placed on three years of community control on a charge of endangering children, a third-degree felony offense, as well as cultivation of marijuana, a fifth-degree felony.

As part of his sentence, Olszewski was ordered to spend 90 days on electronically monitored house arrest and undergo a substance abuse assessment.

Three people also changed their pleas to various charges during hearings held Wednesday.

Ryan E. Homier, 31, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony offense.

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, December 21.

Nicholas K. Wheeler, 26, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of burglary, a felony of the third degree. A presentence investigation will also be conducted and he will be sentenced at 9 a.m. December 21.

Donald E. Robar Jr., 19, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from an elderly person, a fourth-degree felony offense, and was granted a request to seek treatment in lieu of conviction by Judge Steele.

Robar will be under the supervision of the Van Wert County Adult Probation Department for the next year while he is undergoing treatment for a substance abuse problem.