2 convicted of Amvets, Legion break-ins

VW independent/submitted information

Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach announced that suspects in break-ins at Middle Point Amvets Post 698 and Willshire American Legion Post 207 recently pleaded guilty to those offenses in Seneca County.

Sheriff Riggenbach said Robert E. Tackett, 77, and Roger A. Hemry, 51, both of Lima, were each indicted in Seneca County on September 2 on 14-count indictments that included the offenses committed in Van Wert County, as well as a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the second degree.

Charges in the indictment included 11 counts of breaking and entering, as well as one count each of possession of criminal tools, safe cracking, and the engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity charge.

Tackett was arrested August 16 in New Riegel after a police officer saw him breaking into the New Riegel Moose lodge.

Seneca County Prosecuting Attorney Derek W. DeVine prosecuted the cases, which included break-ins in Hancock, Van Wert, Miami, Darke, Putnam, Allen, and Ottawa counties.

“Most of the crimes involved fraternal organizations, but there were a couple of small bars broken into as well,” DeVine said.

He added that Tackett has a long history of criminal activity, with felony convictions in at least seven Ohio counties.

“Mr. Tackett was convicted of his first felony in 1958, and, despite numerous efforts at rehabilitation, has continued to engage in criminal activity,” DeVine noted.

DeVine noted that, while the break-ins were investigated by law enforcement in all the above counties, the Van Wert and Allen County sheriff’s offices and Lima Police Department were essential in the coordination of the effort to end Tackett and Hemry’s crime spree. Those departments successfully obtained a court order to place a GPS transponder on Hemry’s vehicle, and on August 16 followed Hemry and Tackett from Lima to various locations in Findlay, and finally to New Riegel, where they were caught breaking into the Moose lodge.

“Detective Clark from Van Wert County brought me a binder with all of the information from every county ready to prosecute,” DeVine said. “He and the other officers did an excellent job insuring that this crime spree came to an end.”

“The cooperation of numerous law enforcement agencies working together was key to the success of this case,” said Sheriff Riggenbach.

The Seneca County prosecutor added that it is important for people to understand that crime doesn’t stop at a boundary on a map, and that good criminal investigation into activities like these “require dedicated effort from officers in many agencies.”

Hemry pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to a total prison term of 59 months on October 26. Tackett also pleaded guilty on all charges on November 16, but has not yet been sentenced.

“We are hoping for a longer sentence for Mr. Tackett, based on all of his prior convictions,” DeVine said.