Teen arraigned for theft, burglary spree

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A teenager was arraigned in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday on 11 separate felony counts related to a string of thefts from local residences and vehicles.

Ian D. Taylor, 18, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to five counts of theft (all fifth-degree felonies), four counts of breaking and entering (also fifth-degree felonies), as well as trespassing in a place of habitation, a fourth-degree felony, and second-degree felony count of burglary.

Taylor and his brother, Justin, 26, were arrested by the Van Wert Police Department for a series of city thefts and burglaries that occurred in February. Both brothers were ordered held on $100,000 cash bonds by Van Wert Municipal Court Judge Jill Leatherman when they appeared before her for their initial court appearances.

Ian Taylor’s cash bond was continued by Common Pleas Judge Charles D. Steele, along with a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond, and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 14.

Also arraigned on Wednesday was Michael D. Closson, 62, of Delphos, who pleaded not guilty to two counts of gross sexual imposition.

According to Delphos police, Closson had sex with a young girl twice last year. Each charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 60 months in prison.

He was released on a personal surety bond, with the stipulation that he have no contact with the alleged victim, and a pretrial conference was set for 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 21.

Shay Ringwald, 23, of Middle Point, was also arraigned Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of heroin, a fourth-degree felony offense.

He was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. March 21.

Several sentencing hearings were also held on Wednesday.

Jimmy D. Vibbert of Van Wert was sentenced to 180 days in the Van Wert County Correctional Facility on a charge of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Judge Steele found that Vibbert was not a candidate for community control because of his past record, but granted the man work release if he is fully employed and qualifies for the program.

Tanisha Agler, 21, of Buckland, was sentenced to 12 months in prison on a charge  of breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony offense.

According to the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department, Agler and others broke into the Electric Polishing Company in Venedocia in July 2011. Judge Steele ordered the prison term to run consecutively with sentences handed down in Allen and Auglaize counties for similar offenses.

A former Van Wert Walmart employee was sentenced to 30 days in jail on a charge of theft, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Damian J. Smith, 19, of Elgin, was charged in connection with a Van Wert Police Department investigation that showed that Smith, while working at Walmart, stole merchandise from the store in November 2011.

Smith was also given a year of community control and ordered to make restitution totaling $1,000 to Walmart.

Larry R. Brown, 63, of Delphos, was sentenced to three years of community control on a charge of assault of a police officer.

Brown admitted assaulting a Delphos police officer in July 2011 when officers were called to his residence in connection with a domestic altercation.

Judge Steele also placed Brown on 60 days of electronically monitored house arrest.

Ryan J. Schaadt of Van Wert had his personal surety bond revoked and was ordered held on $10,000 cash bond after the Adult Probation Department said he had violated his bond by testing positive for opiate use and failing to report to a rehabilitation clinic.

Judge Steele ordered Schaadt held in jail until he is ready to be transported to the rehab clinic.

Cyle J. Black, 25, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty on a negotiated plea of trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense. Black was arrested after he sold drugs to an undercover agent working for the Van Wert Police Department in August 2011.

A presentence investigation was ordered in the case and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 3.