Kenton counterfeiter enters guilty plea

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Kenton man who was part of a multi-county counterfeiting ring pleaded guilty to a related charge during hearings held Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Anthony W. Whitt, 27, entered a guilty plea to a three-count indictment charging him with forgery, all felonies of the fifth degree.

According to Van Wert Police and Van Wert County Sheriff’s departments, Whitt and another person were passing counterfeit $100 bills in Van Wert and Ohio City.

Whitt is awaiting sentencing in Auglaize County on a similar offense, while sentencing here was set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 28.

A Van Wert man who was part of a trio involved in a burglary at the Century Bar on East Central Avenue entered a guilty plea to a theft charge on Wednesday.

Gregory A. Jackson Jr., 31, entered the plea to the fifth-degree felony and also filed a request for treatment in lieu of conviction. Judge Charles D. Steele approved the motion.

Jackson and two others were involved in the November 2011 burglary at the local bar, in which cash and alcoholic beverages were taken. Jackson must also share in making $1,978.99 in restitution to owners of the bar for the items taken.

Jackson will be under the supervision of the Adult Probation Department while he is undergoing a substance abuse treatment program.

John R. McGinnis, 30, of Convoy, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in heroin, one count a fourth-degree felony and the other a felony of the fifth degree.

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for 8 a.m. March 28.

Joseph N. Suever, 58, of Lima, entered a guilty plea to a charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol, a third-degree felony offense.

A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. March 28.

Michael A. Speakman, 20, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 14.

During a sentencing hearing held Wednesday, Dyllen A. Redding, 20, of Convoy, was placed on three years of community control on a charge of theft, a felony of the fifth degree.

Redding was charge by Van Wert police with stealing a license plate from a local residence. Redding had the plate on his vehicle when he was stopped by an officer on patrol.

As part of his sentence, Redding was placed on 30 days of electronically monitored house arrest.

Donald Sharp of Van Wert was found guilty of violating the terms of his community control sentence and will be serving a 12-month prison term originally meted out in January, with credit for 60 days already served.

Sharp violated his community control by being terminated from the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, a substance abuse treatment facility.

Damian J. Smith, 19, of Van Wert, entered a plea of guilty to a misdemeanor charge of theft, which was downgraded from a felony as part of a plea negotiation.

As part of the agreement, Smith will make restitution of $1,000 to the local Walmart store.

A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 7.

Zachariah Williams, 23, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one each of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and illegal manufacturing of drugs, a felony of the second degree.

Williams is currently being held in prison on a weapons violation and no bond was set on the current charges. A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. March 7.

Kasey Schisler, 23, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to two counts of trafficking in heroin during an arraignment hearing held Wednesday.

Schisler was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference was set for 8 a.m. March 7.