Defiance man arraigned on felonies

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The second person charged in a “home invasion” burglary was arraigned during hearings held Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Michael Brown, 20, of Defiance, entered not guilty pleas to one count each of aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, and felonious assault, a felony of the second degree. Judge Charles D. Steele ordered Brown held on a $100,000 cash bond and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Tuesday, February 19.

Dominique Brown 27, also of Defiance, was arraigned last Wednesday on similar charges. She was released on a personal surety bond, with the added stipulations that she have no contact with the alleged victim in the case and that she stay out of Van Wert County except to check in with her probation officer.

Two others were also arraigned this week.

Jeremy Kent, 29, of Delphos, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a charge of assault through a prosecutor’s bill of information. Kent was previously charge with harassment by bodily substances, a felony of the third degree. A presentence investigation was ordered in the case and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 6. Kent was released on a personal surety bond, with the stipulation he have no contact with the alleged victim in the case.

On Tuesday, Kevin Clay, 27, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a prosecutor’s bill of information charging him with two counts of breaking and entering, both felonies of the fifth degree. Clay was charged in connection with break-ins at Van Wert Glass Company and Elmco Engineering. A $10,000 cash bond was set in the case and sentencing scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 20.

Three people were sentenced this week, with one woman’s sentencing coming after a request to withdraw her guilty plea was rejected by Judge Steele.

Kim Coplin Mileto, 55, of Van Wert, had filed a motion to withdraw her guilty plea to a charge of attempted forgery, a first-degree misdemeanor. After the motion was denied, Mileto was sentenced to a year of community control and must pay restitution totaling $1,036 by August 15.

Others sentenced included the following:

• Nicole Raines, 32, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control on a charge of trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony. She also must spend 30 days on electronically monitored house arrest or an additional 30 days in jail, if she does not qualify for house arrest. Her driver’s license was also suspended for six months and a vehicle used in the commission of the crime was ordered forfeited.
• Dewey Hammons, 46, of Fort Jennings, was given three years of community control on a charge of theft, a felony of the fifth degree. He was also ordered to pay restitution and court costs.

Three probation violation hearings were also held over the past two days in Common Pleas Court.

William Shinnaberry, 20, of Van Wert, admitted on Tuesday to violating his probation by being terminated from the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima and was ordered to serve a 12-month prison term previously handed down in the case. He was also given credit for 208 days already served while awaiting final disposition of the case.

On Wednesday, Rodney Walker, 41, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his probation by consuming alcohol and was resentenced to three years of community control, with an additional 60 days in jail. Work release was also granted, if Walker qualifies.

Jessica Thompson, 27, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her probation by testing positive for heroin use and being out past curfew. She was resentenced to three years of community control, to include up to six months in the WORTH Center.

Several plea changes were taken on Wednesday morning. They include:

• Tanya Turner, 32, of Payne, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft, a misdemeanor of the first degree, which was reduced from a felony theft charge in exchange of her guilty plea. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 3.
• Michael Coombs Jr., 29, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of trafficking in marijuana, a fifth-degree felony offense. In exchange for his guilty plea, two additional trafficking charges were dismissed. A presentence investigation was ordered and Coombs will appear for sentencing at 9 a.m. April 3.
• Zachary Brinkman, 24, of Middle Point, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. He then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction.