Pair avoids CP trials with guilty pleas

Van Wert independent

Two trials scheduled for next week were averted on Friday when both defendants pleaded guilty to weapons-related charges in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Forest Gordon, 49, of Van Wert, entered a guilty plea to a charge of attempted complicity to falsification to obtain a concealed handgun license, a felony of the fifth degree. The charge was reduced from complicity to falsification to obtain a concealed handgun license, a felony of the fourth degree.

Judge Charles D. Steele ordered a presentence investigation in the case and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, October 29.

Also Friday, Dain Stauffer, 37, of Cairo, pleaded guilty to a prosecutor’s bill of information charging him with falsification, a first-degree misdemeanor. He was originally charged with falsification to obtain a concealed handgun license, a fourth-degree felony offense, but that charge was dismissed in exchange for his plea to the lesser charge.

A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. October 29.

Two other hearings were held on Friday.

Melissa Frasl, 33, of Delphos, was found competent to stand trial after an evaluation completed by Court Diagnostic Treatment Center of Toledo. A pretrial conference will be scheduled at a later date.

Shad Boyd, 38, of Lima, changed his plea to guilty to a drug possession charge, a felony of the fifth degree. Two other drug possession counts were dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea to the first charge.

A presentence was ordered and Boyd will appear for sentencing at 9 a.m. October 29.