5 sentenced, 2 change pleas in CP Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Seven people appeared in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday for hearings on a variety of charges.

Five people were sentenced, including three by Judge Martin Burchfield and two by retired Judge Charles D. Steele, while two others appeared before Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor later in the day.

Grant Albright, 38, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control by Judge Steele, including up to six months in the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima on a charge of possession of methamphetamines, a felony of the fifth degree. He also had his driver’s license suspended for six months.

Dan Neiford, 37, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control, 60 days in jail and a six-month driver’s license suspension on charges of attempted child endangering and illegal cultivation of marijuana, both felonies of the fourth degree. Judge Steele did make work release a possibility during Neiford’s jail stay.

Steven Diltz, 30, of Delphos, was given five years of community control, up to six months in the MonDay Community Correctional Institution in Dayton, a rehabilitation center operated by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, on two counts of breaking and entering.

He must also not have any illegal drugs and alcohol in his possession and must come up with a payment plan to pay for restitution ordered by Judge Burchfield for two victims of his break-ins, and for court costs.

Tyler Lovette, 21, of Maria Stein, was given three years of community control, including 90 days in jail, on a first-degree misdemeanor count of attempted importuning. He will also be considered for work release during his jail time, but have no contact with the victim in the case, who was 13 at the time of the incident, or her family. He was also classified as a Tier 1 sex offender who must register every 180 days for 15 years.

Brady Etzler, 26, of Van Wert, was given two years of community control, including 60 days of electronically monitored house arrest, if eligible (jail otherwise), on a charge of aggravated trespass, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Etzler must also have no contact with victims without written consent of the Van Wert County Adult Probation Department.

Two other people appeared before Judge Taylor in Common Pleas Court to enter changes of plea.

Jason VanOver, 34, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of trafficking in heroin, a fifth-degree felony offense. Three other similar counts were dismissed in exchange of his guilty plea. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 15.

Joshua Lane, 29, of Van Wert, also entered a plea of guilty to complicity to burglary, a felony of the third degree. A second count of burglary was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea.

A presentence investigation was ordered and Lane will appear for sentencing at 9 a.m. July 15.