Man gets prison term for drug trafficking

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Four people were sentenced, one man was arraigned on sex-related charges and two others also appeared for hearings in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Thursday.

Elmico Crisp, 39, of Van Wert, was sentenced to a total of 24 months in prison on two counts of trafficking in drugs, each a felony of the fifth degree. Retired Judge Charles D. Steele, who heard the case on assignment, also gave Crisp credit for 218 days already served.

Others sentenced include the following:

Ashley McKee, 31, of Van Wert, was resentenced to three years of community control on a probation violation, with the additional stipulation that she serve 60 days in jail.

Kasey Schisler, 26, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control, including up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima. His driver’s license was also suspended for six months and he was ordered to pay restitution of $320 to the West Ohio Crime Task Force.

Andrew Taylor, 29, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control on two counts of trafficking in drugs, both felonies of the fifth degree. His license was also suspended for six months.

Malcom OIiver, 18, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to charge of rape, felony of the first degree, and sexual batter, a third-degree felony, during an arraignment hearing presided over by retired Greene County Common Pleas Judge Timothy Campbell, who heard the case on assignment from the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Oliver was released on a personal surety bond, with the stipulation he have no contact with the alleged victim in the case, and a pretrial conference was scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, May 8.

Danielle Johnson, 27, of Van Wert, was found competent to stand trial on a charge of trafficking in counterfeit substances in the vicinity of a school, a felony of the fourth degree. Judge Steele reviewed a mental health evaluation of Johnson conducted by Court Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Toledo prior to making his decision on her competency.

A pretrial conference has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, on the charge.

Also Thursday, Dezmond Bywaters, 23, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his probation by entering a guilty plea in a criminal case. The case was continued for sentencing at 1 p.m. April 1.