Mendon man pleads guilty to 9 charges

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Mendon man pleaded guilty on Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court to a nine-count indictment related to a string of break-ins at mostly agriculture-related businesses in three county villages.

Douglas Fonner, 27, pleaded guilty to felony charges of breaking and entering and theft (all fifth-degree felonies) and safecracking (felonies of the fourth degree) related to an investigation by the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department.

According to county detectives, Fonner and several other people broke into the Mercer Landmark offices in Ohio City, the Elgin post office, Mercer Landmark in Elgin and Pure Line Foods in Middle Point. Cash and other items were taken, while safes were also broken into.

The break-ins occurred in December 2011 and January of this year.

Fonner, who was also involved in similar break-ins in Mercer County, told Judge Charles D. Steele that he was recently sentenced to 58 months in prison in that county. The Mendon resident also faces charges in Auglaize and Darke counties for similar offenses.

Assistant County Prosecutor Kevin Taylor said that restitution for the break-ins would be in excess of $19,700.

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

Also Wednesday, Haley N. Jones, 18, of Buckland, was sentenced to nine months in prison on a charge of breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony offense. The term will be served concurrently with other sentences handed down in Allen and Auglaize counties, where similar charges are pending. Jones was given 14 days credit for time served while awaiting sentencing.

According to a sheriff’s department investigation, Jones and others broke into the Ohio Electric Polishing Company in Venedocia.

Shannon S. Hartman, 30, of Convoy, was given a 15-month prison sentence on a charge of trafficking in heroin.

According to a Van Wert Police Department investigation, Hartman sold heroin to an undercover agent working for city police. Prior to sentencing, Hartman said she had been addicted to heroin for five years.

Judge Steele did note that he would recommend that Hartman be placed in the intensive prison program to aid in her substance abuse treatment.

She was given credit for 41 days served in jail while awaiting sentencing.

Several people changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty during hearings held Wednesday in Common Pleas Court.

Jennifer R. Burk, 21, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony, for an incident that took place in October 2011. Burk also filed a motion for treatment in lieu of conviction, which was granted by Judge Steele.

She will be under the supervision of the Adult Probation Department for a year while she undergoes treatment at the Nova House.

Alonzo J. Munoz, 19, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony offense.

According to Van Wert police, Munoz assaulted a family member. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. Monday, April 2.

Timothy A. Wollet, 31, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a charge of trafficking in heroin, a felony of the fifth degree.

Wollet was charged with selling heroin to an undercover agent working for the city police in May 2010.

A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 3.

Zachary Springer, 20, of Van Wert, entered guilty pleas to a three-count indictment charging him with trafficking in heroin. The charges are all fifth-degree felony offenses.

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation in the case and set sentencing for 9 a.m. April 3.

Two people admitted to violating bond or community control conditions.

Kenneth E. Myers III of Van Wert was found to have violated his personal surety bond by using marijuana and heroin on February 22.

Judge Steele revoked Myers’ personal surety bond and set a $10,000 cash bond in the case. A pretrial will be scheduled in the next two weeks.

Curtis Boroff of Dayton admitted to violating the terms of his community control program by failing to make child support payments.

Assistant Prosecutor Eva Yarger said Boroff was more than $25,000 behind in his child support payments.

Boroff’s previously deferred 12-month prison sentence was implemented by Judge Steele.

A third person, Brandon L. Murphy, admitted to violating the terms of his community control program by failing to report as ordered. Murphy said he had found employment in a foundry in Dayton as the reason he hadn’t reported.

Sentencing was continued for two weeks.

An arraignment hearing was also held for Cyle Black, 25, of Van Wert, who entered not guilty pleas to three counts of trafficking in drugs. One trafficking count is a fourth-degree felony, while the other two are felonies of the fifth degree.

Black was ordered held on a $1,000 bond, with a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 7.

Another Van Wert resident, Adam Stripe, waived his right to a speedy trial. Another pretrial conference was to be scheduled in approximately 120 days for Stripe, who is entering a substance abuse treatment program.