7 arraigned, 9 others appear in CP Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Seven people were arraigned on indictments handed down during last Friday’s session of the Van Wert County Grand Jury, while nine others appeared on a variety of hearings Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Retired Judge Charles D. Steele heard the following arraignments:

Joshua Lane, 29, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to one count each of complicity to burglary, a felony of the second degree; complicity to burglary, a third-degree felony; and having weapons while under disability, also a third-degree felony. A $100,000 bond, with 10 percent of that amount to be paid in cash, was set in the case and Lane will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 13.

Hector Leal, 44, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to operating a vehicle while impaired, a third-degree felony since the offense is Leal’s sixth offense. A $25,000 bond, with 10 percent of that amount in cash, was continued from Van Wert Municipal Court and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 20.

Kyle Sterrett, 29, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of aggravated trafficking in drugs, a felony of the fourth degree. Sterrett was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. May 20.

Haley Ehrsam, 22, of Ohio City, pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, both felonies of the fourth degree, and two counts of permitting drug abuse, each a fifth-degree felony offense. She was released on a surety bond and will appear for pretrial conference at 8 a.m. May 20.

Amanda Buzzard, 31, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to one count of possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. She was released on a surety bond and a pretrial conference set for 8 a.m. May 20.

Andria Temple, 33, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count of theft, a felony of the fifth degree. She was released on a surety bond and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. May 20.

Troy Christman, 26, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, entered a not guilty plea to one count of aggravated possession of drugs. He was released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. May 20.

Three people were also sentenced by Judge Steele. They include:

Eddie Peabody Jr., 26, of Defiance, was given five years of community control, including 90 days jail time and 90 days of electronically monitored house arrest following his release from jail on two counts of corrupting another with drugs, each a felony of the fourth degree. He also had his driver’s license suspended for six months.

Danielle Johnson, 27, of Van Wert, was given one year of community control and 30 days in jail on a charge of attempted trafficking in a counterfeit controlled substance, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Travis Potter, 27, of Celina, was given three years of community control, including up to six months at the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, on a charge of breaking and entering, a fifth degree felony.

Two people also appeared for bond violation hearings.

Grant Albright, 38, of Van Wert, admitting to violating his bond by leaving Ohio without permission, failing to keep his address, not reporting to probation and failing to complete a treatment program. A $50,000 bond, with 10 percent to be paid in cash, was set in the case, a presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing to be scheduled at a later date.

Erica Hatfield, 28, of Middle Point, admitted to violating her bond by failing to report to probation and failing to report for a court hearing. A $50,000 bond, 10 percent to be paid in cash, was set and a pretrial conference will be scheduled in the case.

Also Wednesday, Andrew Graham, 19, of Delphos, was granted judicial release from prison and placed on three years of community control, to include spending up to six months in the River City Correctional Center in Cincinnati.

Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor also heard three cases in Common Pleas Court.

Tawnie Johnson, 26, of Van Wert, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after admitting she violated her probation by being in possession of a controlled substance and not completing treatment. Judge Taylor gave her credit for 153 days already served.

Norman Haynie, 36, of Middle Point, changed his plea to guilty to one count each of trafficking in heroin and possession of heroin, each a fifth-degree felony; trafficking in heroin in the vicinity of a juvenile, a felony of the fourth degree; and endangering children, a misdemeanor of the first degree. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 10.

Nicholas Comment, 26, of Preble, Indiana, entered a plea of guilty to a prosecutor’s bill of information charging him with trespass in a habilitation, a felony of the fourth degree. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, August 26.