Area man faces 9-count felony indictment

Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department info

Sheriff Stan D. Owens released Friday that the February session of the Van Wert County Grand Jury has returned several indictments on a rural Mercer County man for his alleged involvement in several break-ins at Van Wert County businesses.

Douglas N. Fonner, 27, was indicted on four counts of breaking and entering, three counts of safecracking and two counts of felony theft, all of the charges being felonies of the fourth and fifth degree.

The sheriff advised that county detectives worked the case in conjunction with police officers and deputies in Auglaize and Mercer counties where there were similar break-ins to the ones in Van Wert County.

Property from some of the Van Wert County businesses broken into was located in Mercer and Auglaize counties and recovered at various locations there.

The charges stem from break-ins, safecracking and theft to four businesses located within Van Wert County.

On December 12, 2011, a break-in and safecracking occurred at Mercer Landmark in Elgin, a break-in at the Elgin Post Office, and a break-in and safecracking at Mercer Landmark in Ohio City.

On January 16, there was a break-in and safecracking at Pure Line Food in Middle Point, which is the grain elevator in Middle Point.