5 arraigned in Common Pleas Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Five people were arraigned as part of hearings held Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Dallas Fortner, 18, of Mendon, entered not guilty pleas to one count each of burglary, a second-degree felony, and theft, a third-degree felony offense. Judge Charles D. Steele ordered Fortner held on a $50,000 cash bond and scheduled a pretrial conference in the case for 8 a.m. Wednesday, January 16.

Joel Crawford, 24, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft from an elderly person, a fifth-degree felony offense. He was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. January 16.

Beth McCarthy, 43, of Convoy, entered a plea of not guilty to two counts of possession of heroin, one count a felony of the fourth degree and the other a fifth-degree felony. She was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. January 16.

Tiffany Wolford, 22, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and set sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 6.

William Crutchfield, 40, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of having weapons under disability. The charge is in connection with state and federal laws prohibiting convicted felons from having a weapon in their possession at any time. Judge Steele said a pretrial conference would be scheduled after an evaluation is completed in connection with another pending case. Crutchfield is being held on a cash bond in the other case and that bond was continued for the new charge.

Also Wednesday, three people appeared on bond or probation violations, with one person headed to prison after admitting probation violations. Those appearing included:

• Ryan Schaadt, 28, of Van Wert, was sentenced to serve a nine-month prison term handed down previously after he admitted to violating his community control sentence by testing positive for a controlled substance, failed to report to probation, failed to pay court costs, and also didn’t complete assessments and treatment ordered by the court. He was given credit for 143 days already served while awaiting disposition of the case.
• Stephanie Farmer, 31, of Van Wert, was ordered re-released on a personal surety bond until a pretrial conference on January 16 after she admitted to charges she failed to report to probation and didn’t provide a change off address to the probation department.
• Patricia Bigham, 29, of Van Wert, was re-released on a personal surety bond until a pretrial conference January 16 after she admitted to not reporting to her probation officer while out on bond.

Three people also changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty during Wednesday’s court hearings. They include:

• Daniel Myrick, 23, of Delphos, pleaded guilty to a charge of trafficking in marijuana, a fifth-degree felony, and then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction.
• Brittnie Garwood, 24, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs, both fifth-degree felonies. Three similar charges were dismissed in exchange for her guilty pleas. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. March 6.
• Casey McMillen, 28, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, January 23.

One sentencing hearing was also conducted on Wednesday. Kenneth Michael Imler, 33, of Ohio City, was given three years of community control and must undergo an anger management assessment and any recommended treatment in connection with a charge of violating a civil protection order. Imler must also abide by all Van Wert County Juvenile Court orders concerning visitation.

A Van Wert man also waived his right to a speedy trial during a hearing held Wednesday. Kyle Caldwell, 33, was granted a continuance of a jury trial originally scheduled to start today in connection with a robbery charge stemming from an armed robbery at Klosterman Pizza in Van Wert.