Keipper sentenced to 15 years in prison

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A man convicted of stabbing three people, including his estranged wife, was given 15 years in prison, while six people were arraigned in front of new Van Wert County Common Pleas Judge Martin Burchfield during hearings held Wednesday.

Retired Van Wert County Common Pleas Judge Charles D. Steele cited Michael Keipper’s long criminal history as both a juvenile and as an adult in deciding not to take the recommendation of the County Prosecutor’s Office to sentence Keipper to what would amount to eight years in prison.

Instead, Judge Steele sentenced Keipper, 25, to concurrent 10-year prison terms on one count each of attempted murder and aggravated burglary and concurrent five-year sentences on two counts of felonious assault, with the 10-year and five-year prison terms to run consecutive to each other for a total of 15 years in prison.

The judge also stated that Keipper would also have to spend five years on post-release control after being released from prison.

Keipper was convicted stabbing his estranged wife, Megan A. Gillette, 24, in her apartment at 106 S. Wall St. Also stabbed were Kody N. Detwiler, 24, of Ohio City, an alleged boyfriend of Gillette’s at the time, and Raenita L. Hibbard, 32, who lived downstairs in Gillette’s apartment building.

Gillette was also in court Wednesday to provide a victim’s statement prior to sentencing, while Judge Steele ordered Keipper to pay $51,343.93 in restitution to Detwiler for medical expenses incurred because of the stabbing.

It was a four-judge day Wednesday as Van Wert County Probate-Juvenile Court Judge Kevin Taylor and retired Champaign County Common Pleas Judge Roger Wilson joined Judges Burchfield and Steele in handling a variety of cases.

Those arraigned include the following:

Zachariah Young, 28, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of domestic violence, a felony of the fourth degree. He was released on a personal surety bond, with the stipulation he have no contact with the alleged victim in the case. A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 18.

Chad Kouts, 25, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. He was released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. March 18.

Adam Partin, 22, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, both felonies of the fourth degree. He was released on a surety bond, with the stipulation he have no contact with the alleged victim. A pretrial conference was set for 8 a.m. March 18.

Tyler Lovette, 21, of Maria Stein, pleaded not guilty to one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony, and two counts of importuning, both felonies of the fifth degree. He was released on a surety bond, but is to have no contact with the alleged victim in the case. He will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. March 18.

Carl Gheen Jr., 68, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of importuning, a fifth-degree felony. He was released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 25.

Ashley Burk, 25, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. She was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. March 25.

Other cases heard Wednesday are as follows:

Sentencing

Ernie Teman, 40, of Delphos, was given one year of community control, to include 30 days in jail, on a first-degree misdemeanor theft charge. Work release was also granted, if Teman is eligible, while Teman has already made restitution to the victim of the theft.

Austin Coyne, 22, of Convoy, was given three years of community control, to include up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, on a charge of attempted illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, a fourth-degree felony. Coyne’s driver’s license was also suspended for six months.

Changes of Plea

David Boff Jr., 22, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented performance, a felony of the fourth degree. A charge of pandering, also a fourth-degree felony, was dismissed in exchange for Boff’s guilty plea on the other charge. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 1 p.m. March 18.

Roy Densel Jr., 40, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. He then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction.

Richard Stegaman, 48, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of illegal use of Supplemental Nutrition or WIC benefits, a felony of the fifth degree. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

Travis Potter, 27, of Celina, pleaded guilty to a prosecutor’s bill of information charging him with breaking and entering, a felony of the fifth degree. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 1.

Judicial Release

Ethan Mezuk, 24, of Convoy, was granted a motion for early release from prison. He was placed on three years of community control.

Probation violation

Bethany Wreath, 25, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her probation by moving to Tennessee without permission, failing to submit to a drug test and failing to complete counseling. She was sentenced to 12 months in prison, with credit given for 23 days already served.

Judge Wilson presided over a change of plea by Quentin Schmenk, 32, of Van Wert, who pleaded guilty to an amended charge of domestic violence, this one a misdemeanor of the first degree, rather than the original fourth-degree felony offense. Sentencing was scheduled for 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 1.