Strunkenburg arraigned on felony counts

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Former Van Wert County dog warden Richard Strunkenburg pleaded not guilty Wednesday during his arraignment on felony charges related to operation of the county Humane Shelter.

Strunkenburg was indicted last Friday by the County Grand Jury on four counts of prohibitions concerning companion animals (essentially, cruelty to pets), all of which are felonies of the fifth degree.

Judge Charles D. Steele released Strunkenburg on a personal surety bond and scheduled a pretrial conference for 8 a.m. Friday, October 9, in the case.

Strunkenburg was charged following an investigation by the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office into a complaint reported July 20 that animals were being neglected and had died at the Humane Shelter while under Strunkenburg’s care.

Sheriff Thomas Riggenbach had noted that conditions at the shelter when he visited on July 20 were substandard, in his opinion. Special Prosecutor Joseph R. Burkhard, who is also Paulding County prosecutor, was later appointed by Judge Steele to determine whether criminal charges would be filed in the case.

Burkhard also appeared on behalf of the state during Wednesday’s arraignment hearing, while Strunkenburg has retained Lima attorney William Kluge to represent him.

A total of 10 other people were arraigned on Wednesday. They include:

Andrew Graham, 19, of Delphos, entered a not guilty plea to unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony. He was released on a surety bond, with the condition he have no contact with the alleged victim in the case, and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. Wednesday, October 1.

April Diltz, 36, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony offense. She was released on a surety bond, with a pretrial conference set for 8 a.m. October 1.

Ruth Ann Napier, 22, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to one count of vandalism, a felony of the fifth degree; three counts of burglary, all third-degree felonies; and five counts of theft, all first-degree misdemeanor offenses. She was ordered held on a $5,000 cash bond, while a pretrial conference will be scheduled at a later date.

Darren Stutz, 25, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. He was released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. October 1.

Ike Lewis Jr., 29, of Detroit, Michigan, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of identity fraud, a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a surety bond, with a pretrial conference scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Thursday, September 25.

Logan Linton, 21, of Van Wert, appeared on a charge of abusing harmful intoxicants. He did not enter a plea, but his attorney announced that a not guilty by reason of insanity plea was being contemplated in the case. No bond was set because Linton was already in jail on another charge. A pretrial conference will be set after necessary evaluations are completed.

Kaury Thiebaut, 25, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count of felonious assault, a felony of the second degree. He was ordered held on a $100,000 bond, and is to have no contact with the alleged victim in the case. A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. September 25.

Tawnie Johnson, 25, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. She was released on a surety bond and a pretrial conference set for 2:30 p.m. September 25.

Brandon Salyer, 26, of Delphos, pleaded not guilty to a fifth-degree felony count of possession of heroin. He was released on a personal surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 2:30 p.m. September 25.

Ales Chorvas, 19, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of breaking and entering, a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a surety bond and a pretrial conference scheduled for 1:30 p.m. September 25.

Two people were also sentenced on Wednesday.

Michael Whisman, 23, of Van Wert, was sentenced to four years in prison on a second-degree charge of burglary. Judge Steele gave him credit for 41 days already served and also ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $200 to the burglary victim.

Kari Hatfield, 24, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control on charge of burglary, a felony of the third degree, and possession of drugs, a fourth-degree felony offense. Hatfield must also serve 90 days of electronically monitored house arrest or jail with work release, and had her driver’s license suspended for six months.

Also Wednesday, Justine Jerome, 28, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her probation by testing positive for drugs. Her bond was revoked and she was ordered held in jail until her sentencing on September 25.

Stacy Young, 37, of Van Wert, also admitted to violating her probation by testing positive for drugs. She was resentenced to three years of community control and will be held in jail until her Vivitrol program begins.

Elmeco Crisp, 38, of Van Wert, signed a waiver of his right to a speedy trial and was granted a continuance of his trial, originally scheduled for September 29.

Four people changed their pleas on Wednesday. They include:

Austin Coyne, 21, of Convoy, changed his plea to guilty to an amended charge of attempted illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the production of drugs, a felony of the fourth degree. He was originally charged with illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the production of drugs, a third-degree felony offense. After his plea change, Coyne requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction.

Like Coyne, Jack Eddy, 28, of Payne, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of attempted illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the production of drugs, a fourth-degree felony, which was reduced from a third-degree felony charge. He also requested and was granted treatment in lieu of conviction.

Gregory Tackett, 31, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, changed his plea to guilty to one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a misdemeanor of the first degree. A second count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, December 17.

Zane Germann, 24, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. He then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction.