Van Wert man gets prison in CP Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Van Wert man who received a prison term when sentenced on a charge of vandalism was one of six cases heard in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.

Judge Charles D. Steele declared Joel Crawford, 25, not amenable to community control and sentenced him to 12 months in prison on a charge of vandalism, a felony of the fifth degree. Crawford, who was damaged an ankle bracelet he was wearing while on electronically monitored house arrest, was given 82 days credit for time already served.

In addition to that sentence, Judge Steele also noted that Crawford’s conviction on the vandalism charge violated a community control sentence he was serving. The judge sentenced him to a cumulative 12 months in prison on that charge, to be served consecutively to the vandalism sentence, but also credited him with 209 days already served, leaving him with approximately 14½ months to serve.

Joshua Rager, 29, also of Van Wert, received community control, along with up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima. Rager’s driver’s license was also suspended for six months.

Robert Seibert, 27, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his treatment in lieu of conviction program by failing to report an arrest, not reporting to his probation officer and failing to attend counseling at Westwood Behavioral Health Center.

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing in the case for 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 19.

Also Wednesday, Ryan Agler, 22, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a prosecutor’s bill of information charging him with two counts of possession of drugs, each a felony of the fifth degree. He then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction.

Logan Linton, 21, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of using harmful intoxicants, a felony of the fifth degree. He also requested treatment in lieu of conviction, and his request was granted.

Derek Gaskill, 26, of Van Wert, appeared Wednesday for a competency hearing. After reviewing a report from Court Diagnostic Services of Toledo, Judge Steele ruled that Gaskill was competent to stand trial. Gaskill then pleaded guilty to one count each of breaking and entering and possession of criminal tools, each a felony of the fifth degree. A third count of assault was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea.

Gaskill then also requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction. His case was also stayed pending is completion of a substance abuse treatment program.