VW man found competent to stand trial

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

One person was sentenced, another was found competent to stand trial, three others changed their pleas to guilty and another had his bond violated during hearings held this week in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Judge Martin Burchfield heard all six cases, including a sentencing hearing for Brandon Barnes, 33, of Van Wert.

Judge Burchfield sentenced Barnes to five years of community control, including up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, on a charge of possession of heroin, a felony of the fifth degree.

Barnes also had his driver’s license suspended for six months by Judge Burchfield.

Adam Partin, 22, of Van Wert, was also found competent to stand trial during a hearing on Wednesday in Common Pleas Court.

Partin had filed a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity to two charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Judge Burchfield made the ruling that Partin is competent to stand trial following his review of an evaluation made by Court Diagnostic & Treatment Center in Toledo.

A pretrial conference was then set for Wednesday, June 10, on the two charges.

Three people also changed their pleas on Wednesday. They include:

Haley Ehrsam, 22, of Ohio City, pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated trafficking in drugs, a felony of the fourth degree, with the added specification that she used a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser in the commission of the crime. Three other counts of trafficking and permitting drug abuse were dismissed in exchange for her guilty plea to the aggravated trafficking charge.

A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 22.

Kyle Sterrett, 35, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of aggravated trafficking in drugs, a felony of the fourth degree. A presentence investigation was ordered by Judge Burchfield and Sterrett will appear for sentencing at 9 a.m. July 22.

Logan Miller, 19, of Middle Point, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction. His case was stayed pending successful completion of a substance abuse treatment program.

Bobby Burnett, 20, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his personal surety bond by failing a drug test. Judge Burchfield upped his bond to $500 cash and scheduled the case for a hearing on June 10.