Woman gets prison for positive drug test

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Van Wert woman sent to prison for violating her probation was one of 10 people appearing in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on a variety of criminal cases.

Lacey Warren, 24, admitted to violating her probation by testing positive for drugs, failing to report for probation, and failing to complete counseling programs at Westwood Behavioral Health Center.

Judge Kevin Taylor ordered Warren to serve her previously deferred sentence of 11 months in prison, but also gave her credit for 178 days already served.

Judge Taylor also heard another case involving probation violation. Brandon Salyer, 28, of Delphos, admitted violating his probation by failing to report to probation and refusing to take a drug test. He was ordered to serve the remaining 41 days of his deferred sentence.

Judge Martin Burchfield heard eight cases on Wednesday. Those included the following:

Brittany Pessefall, 18, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control on a charge of assault, a fourth-degree felony offense. She was also ordered to complete high school or earn a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.

Five people changed their plea during hearings Wednesday.

Jeremy Whitaker, 35, of Delphos, pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in heroin in the vicinity of a school, a fourth-degree felony offense. A second count for the same offense was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea. A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, January 27, 2016.

Amanda Ogle, 27, of Toledo, changed her plea to guilty to one count of attempted aggravated possession of drugs, a first-degree misdemeanor. She was then sentenced to 30 days in jail, concurrent with a sentence in Lucas County, and a year of community control, also concurrent with a similar term meted out in Lucas County.

Kierstin Pollock, no age of address listed, 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 her case was stayed until her successful completion of a substance abuse treatment program.

John Swanner, 65, of Winslow, Arkansas, changed his plea to guilty to one count of having a weapon under disability, a felony of the third degree; and two counts of aggravated menacing, both first-degree misdemeanors. One count each of abduction (third-degree felony) and receiving stolen property (fourth-degree felony) were dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing set for 9 a.m. January 27, 2016.

Brett Fortney, 29, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of sexual imposition, a misdemeanor of the third degree, just prior to a jury trial scheduled for today on a charge of illegal sexual conduct with a minor, a felony of the third degree. A presentencing investigation was ordered and Fortney will appear for sentencing on January 27, 2016.

Also appearing Wednesday was Logan Miller, 19, of Middle Point, who admitted to violating his treatment in lieu of conviction program by testing positive for marijuana. He was resentenced to continue his treatment program.

David Seibert, 22, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his personal surety bond by testing positive for drug use. He was ordered released under the same bond conditions.