GH teen given jail time on sex charge

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Grover Hill teen will spending six months in jail and will have to register as a sex offender for the next 25 years after he was sentenced Wednesday on sex-related charge in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Austin K. Zuver, 18, who pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a felony of the fourth degree, on July 22, was given five years of community control, including 180 days in jail by Judge Martin Burchfield.

The judge also classified him as a Tier 2 sexual offender, which means he must register with a county sheriff’s office where he lives, works and goes to school, if applicable, every 180 days for the next 25 years.

Prior to sentencing, Christina Eversole, director of Van Wert County Crime Victims Services, read a statement from the victim’s mother.

“You’ll never know how much pain your choices caused my child and her family,” the mother wrote, adding that while Zuver was an adult, her daughter was just 13 years old when he had sex with her.

The mother also criticized Zuver for continuing to “date” girls her daughter’s age.

Also Wednesday, Dion Kantner, 41, of Lima, was given 12 months in prison on a probation violation charge. Kantner, who was originally convicted of trafficking in a counterfeit substance, a felony of the fourth degree; and trafficking in cocaine, admitted he violated his probation by refusing a drug screen and failing to show for appointments with his probation officer.

Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor gave Kantner credit for 38 days already served.

Sara M. Boroff, 32, of Van Wert, changed her plea to guilty to a charge of possession of heroin, a felony of the fifth degree. She then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction, and the charge against her was stayed for a year until she successfully completes a substance abuse treatment program.

Cody Teman, 31, of Delphos, admitted violating his personal surety bond by using heroin back in August. Teman said he would prefer to be incarcerated, since he feels that would better help him get off drugs, and Judge Burchfield placed him in jail until he is sentenced on September 15 on a charge of trafficking in cocaine.