Man gets prison for violating probation

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A man who failed to return to Van Wert County after being given temporary permission to see his son in Columbus three years ago was sentenced to serve his original nine-month prison term handed down in 2007 during a hearing in Common Pleas Court Wednesday afternoon.

Blair Gordon said he has rehabilitated himself since he left the county three years ago to see his son in Columbus. Gordon said he is a general manager for a company franchise in Columbus and is also caught up completely on his child support.

Although not all that sympathetic to Gordon’s excuses, Judge Charles D. Steele did question why it took so long for the man to be brought back to Van Wert County. County Adult Probation Officer Stacy Widmer noted that a warrant was issued on Gordon soon after he failed to report back to the county back in 2008, but it was only recently that he was located so the warrant could be served.

In sentencing Gordon, Judge Steele did give him credit for 132 days already served while awaiting sentencing.

The wife of a Middle Point man who escaped from Van Wert County sheriff’s deputies while being transported to jail after his arrest on rape charges pleaded guilty to a perjury charge during a hearing Wednesday.

Victoria Roberts, 39, also of Middle Point, entered a guilty plea to the perjury charge as part of a plea negotiation. In exchange for her guilty plea, the prosecution agreed to dismiss a charge of intimidation of a victim filed against her.

In addition to dismissing one count, prosecutors also recommended that Roberts receive community control when sentenced on Wednesday, July 13. A presentence investigation was also ordered in the case.

Roberts’ husband, Thomas Roberts Jr., escaped from a moving sheriff’s department cruiser after first feigning illness to get the deputy driving the vehicle to open a window to give him air. Roberts then opened the door from the outside while wearing handcuffs as the cruiser slowed to cross railroad tracks and jumped out of the vehicle. He was found later at a residence in Mercer County.

Also on Wednesday, a Van Wert man pleaded guilty to his fourth drunk driving charge in six years. Eric Byer, 26, faces up to 18 months in prison on the fourth-degree felony offense when he is sentenced on July 13.

Another Van Wert man pleaded guilty to a lesser offense related to his falsifying information in an attempt to obtain a firearm. Eric Byer, 26, admitted to a charge of attempted falsification of information to purchase a firearm, a first-degree misdemeanor offense.

A Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department investigation accused Byer of attempting to provide false information on January 22 while trying to purchase a firearm. He will also be sentenced July 13.

Seven people were also arraigned during hearings held Wednesday in Common Pleas Court. Those arraigned include the following:

April Diltz, 32, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession of drugs, both fourth-degree felony offenses. She was released on an unsecured personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 6.

Clinton D. Ingledue, 48, of Fort Jennings, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony offense. Convicted felons are not allowed to have weapons in their possession, a requirement Ingledue allegedly violated. He was released on a personal surety bond and a pretrial conference scheduled for 8 a.m. June 13.

Michael Coombs Jr., 27, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of illegal use of nutrition benefits, a fourth-degree felony offense. He will appear Wednesday, June 29, for a pretrial conference.

Amanda Buzard, 27, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of possession of heroin, a felony of the fifth degree. She will also appear June 13 for a pretrial conference.

William E. Shinnaberry, 19, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony. He was released on a personal surety bond, but is to have no contact with the alleged victim in the case. A pretrial conference was scheduled for June 29.

Jose A. Sanchez, 33, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of domestic violence, a felony of the fourth degree. He was also released on a personal surety bond and was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim in his case. A pretrial conference will be held June 13.

Scott B. Chesbro, 29, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony offense. A no contact order was waived in the case by the alleged victim and Chesbro was released on a personal surety bond. A pretrial conference was scheduled for June 29.

Other cases on Wednesday included the following:

Changes of plea

• Theresa Wood, 39, Van Wert, changed her plea to guilty to a charge of receiving stolen property, a first-degree misdemeanor as part of a plea negotiation. Wood was originally charged with three felony counts stemming from an incident that occurred February 17. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for July 13.

Sentencings

• Kori A. Glossett, 19, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control on a charge of forgery, a fifth-degree felony for stealing a check and then attempting to cash it.
• Christie L. Kerner, 34, of Fort Jennings, was sentenced to three years of community control on a charge of passing bad checks. Kerner wrote a $1,100 check to pay for rent and a security deposit, which later was returned for insufficient funds. She was ordered to pay restitution of $1,100 to the mobile home park to which she wrote the check.
• Jeremy G. Baer, 27, of Antwerp, was sentenced to three years of community control, which will include 90 days of electronically monitored house arrest, for stealing aluminum molds from El Monte Plastics in Ohio City while he worked there. Baer reportedly sold the molds for salvage so that he could buy drugs with the money. As part of his sentence, Baer will have to pay close to $5,000 in restitution for the value of the molds.
• Ryan M. King, 25, of Scott, was sentenced to 90 days in jail as part of a community control sentence handed down on Wednesday on a charge of trafficking in drugs. Van Wert police alleged that King sold an undercover agent Fentanyl in May 2010. He was also ordered to pay a mandatory $5,000 fine.
• Brandon Barnes, 29, of Van Wert, was given a three-year community control sentence that includes up to six months at the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima. Barnes was accused of selling heroin to an undercover agent working for city police in October 2010. He was also given a six-month driver’s license suspension.

Treatment in Lieu of Conviction

Three people were given treatment in lieu of conviction on Wednesday. They include:

• Lauren Rupert, 19, of Sidney, who pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense.
• Spencer Stein, 20, of Van Wert, who entered a guilty plea to a charge of possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony offense.
• Tiffany L. Alltop, 31, of Bellevue, who pleaded guilty to one count each of identity fraud and deception to obtain dangerous drugs, both fifth-degree felony offenses.

Speedy Trial Waiver

• Allan Pierce, 43, of Van Wert, waived his right to a speedy trial through his attorney, William Kluge of Lima. Pierce is charged with one count of gross sexual imposition for allegedly fondling someone under the age of 13. A pretrial conference was scheduled for July 13.