7 people appear in Common Pleas Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Seven people appeared for hearings Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court, while a jury acquitted a city man of child endangering following a two-day trial earlier in the week.

Two people were sentenced on Wednesday. They include:

Jesse Blackburn, 22, of Delphos, was sentenced to three 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 trafficking in heroin, a felony of the fourth degree. Blackburn’s driver’s license was also suspended for six months.

Matthew Southerland, 32, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control on a charge of trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense. Southerland must also spend 30 days on electronically monitored house arrest and his driver’s license was suspended for six months.

Two people admitted to violating their treatment in lieu of convictions programs.

Tristan Boaz, 22, of Van Wert, was found to have violated her treatment plan by failing to report to probation, having positive drug tests, and canceling appointments at Westwood Behavioral Health Center. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, August 20. She was ordered held without bond until sentencing.

Grant Albright, 37, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his treatment plan by having two positive drug tests. Judge Charles D. Steele continued the case until a status conference to be held in 30 days, and released Albright on a personal surety bond.

Two defendants also changed their pleas to guilty during hearings Wednesday in Common Pleas Court.

Eric Shaffer, 28, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to a charge of grand theft, a fourth-degree felony. HE was then granted a request to be placed in the prosecutor’s diversion program, which calls for him to reimburse $12,540 to the State of Ohio.

Justine Jerome, 28, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. A second possession charge, also an F-5, was dismissed in exchange for her guilty plea on the first charge. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. August 20.

Also Wednesday, a Fort Wayne, Indiana, man, Gregory Tackett, 31, signed a waiver of his right to a speedy trial on a charge of possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree.

On Tuesday, a jury found Tracy Hartman, 39, of Van Wert, not guilty of child endangering, a second-degree felony offense, following a two-day trial in Common Pleas Court.