Phillips arraigned for McMillen murder

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Middle Point man charged with murdering another man at a Van Wert apartment complex entered pleas to four charges Monday morning in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Chad D. Phillips, 31, pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated murder, attempted murder, aggravated burglary and felonious assault. He was advised by attorney Michael J. Camera of Lorain, one of two attorneys representing the Middle Point resident. Cleveland attorney Leif B. Christman was also retained to provide legal counsel to Phillips.

Phillips, who is charged with the shooting death of Christopher McMillen, 24, of Van Wert, on May 12, faces life in prison without parole on the aggravated murder charge, while the other three charges carry a total maximum prison sentence of 28 years and a fine of up to $80,000 for the four counts. Because each of the four charges also involves a firearms specification, that would add another 12 years to Phillips’ sentence if he is convicted on all four counts.

The aggravated burglary charge also specified that a 1999 Ford motor vehicle was used in commission of that offense, which could lead to forfeiture of the vehicle if Phillips is convicted of that offense.

The first three charges were filed in connection with McMillen’s death, while the felonious assault count stated that Phillips also caused, or attempted to cause, serious physical harm to Ryan Schisler.

A $1 million cash bond set in Van Wert Municipal Court was again continued in Common Pleas Court by Judge Charles D. Steele.

Security was tight for the arraignment hearing and a handful of spectators who attended the hearing were asked by Judge Steele to remain in the courtroom while Phillips was transported from the Courthouse by Sheriff Stan Owens and his staff.

A pretrial conference was scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, June 6, in the case.

Phillips is charged with the deliberate slaying of McMillen at the Fox Run Apartments the evening of May 12. The Middle Point man was alleged to have broken into apartment 2-H where McMillen was at and then reportedly shot the Van Wert man three times before running out of ammunition. Although seriously wounded, McMillen reportedly was able to get into the bathroom of the apartment and lock the door while Phillips reloaded his firearm. The Middle Point man then fired through the door of the bathroom, further wounding McMillen before fleeing from the apartment.

Police were called to the residence about 8:52 p.m. that day and crime scene technicians from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation were also called in to help process the crime scene. Meanwhile, fire department EMS personnel treated McMillen and transported him to Van Wert County Hospital. He was later life-flighted to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind., where he died early the morning of May 13.

Also Monday, two men were given prison terms on drug trafficking charges during sentencing hearings in Common Pleas Court.

Chad Diltz, 35, of Delphos, was sentenced to two years in prison on a third-degree felony charge of trafficking in drugs. Diltz was arrested for selling Oxycodone to an undercover agent working for the West Central Crime Task Force within the vicinity of a minor in July 2010.

Judge Steele gave Diltz credit for 41 days served while awaiting sentencing.

Nathan Dunn, 28, of Van Wert, was given an 18-month prison term on a fourth-degree drug trafficking charge, while Judge Steele credited him with 75 days served awaiting sentencing.