12 arraigned on drug trafficking counts

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A total of 12 people indicted as part of the latest local drug enforcement investigation were arraigned in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Monday. The indictments were handed down by a special session of the grand jury this past Friday.

Those arraigned include the following:

Cody Bigham, 28, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, the first a felony of the first degree, and the second a third-degree felony. He was ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond, plus a personal surety bond, and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, October 3.

Patricia Bigham, 29, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to four counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, with two counts second-degree felonies and two counts felonies of the third degree. She was also ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond, while she will appear for a pretrial hearing at 8 a.m. Wednesday, October 10.

Robert Thompson, 28, of Van Wert, was charged with three counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, with those counts being, respectively, felonies of the second-, third- and fourth degree. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was also ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond, although he will be allowed work release. A pretrial conference will be held at 8 a.m. October 3.

Natasha Masters, 27, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to three counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, with counts being, respectively, felonies of the second-, third- and fourth degree. Masters, whose case is related to that of Robert Thompson, was also ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond, while a pretrial conference was set for 8 a.m. October 10.

Jessica Thompson, 26, of Van Wert, was charged with three counts of trafficking in drugs, and three counts of complicity to trafficking in drugs, all fifth-degree felony offenses. She entered  not guilty pleas to the charges and was ordered released on a personal surety bond. She will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. October 3.

Susan Shawley, 43, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to three counts of trafficking in marijuana, all fourth-degree felonies. She was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. October 3.

Deana Ladd, 42, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to four counts of trafficking in drugs, each a felony of the fourth degree. She was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. October 3.

Sam Whisman, 20, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count of trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference set for 8 a.m. October 3.

Daniel Myrick, 22, of Delphos, entered a not guilty plea to one count of trafficking in marijuana, a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. October 3.

Kip Hartman, 50, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs, each a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. October 10.

Michael Coombs Jr., 29, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs, with two of those counts fifth-degree felonies and the third a felony of the fourth degree. He was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. October 10.

Robert Ladd, 43, of Van Wert, entered a plea of not guilty to an indictment charging him with three counts of trafficking in drugs, with one of those counts a fifth-degree felony and the other two felonies of the fourth degree. He was released on a surety bond and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. October 10.

The indictments are the result of an undercover investigation conducted by the West Ohio Crime Task Force, working in conjunction with the Van Wert Police Department. Members of the task force include the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department and the Delphos Police Department.