3 arraigned in VW Common Pleas Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Seven people appeared in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court, including three people arraigned on charges handed down in the February session of the county grand jury.

Those arraigned include the following:

Zachary Schaeffer, 19, of Delphos, pleaded not guilty to one count each of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, a felony of the second degree; and burglary, a third-degree felony. He was ordered released on electronically monitored house arrest on the condition he have no contact with the alleged victims in the case. A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, February 24.

Ronald Cobb, 25, of Van Wert, entered not guilty pleas to one count each of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a first-degree misdemeanor, and importuning, a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a personal surety bond on the condition he have no unsupervised contact with any minor and no access to the Internet. He will appear for a pretrial conference at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 2.

Joel Crawford, 27, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with possession of heroin, a felony of the fifth degree. He was released on a surety bond and will appear for a pretrial conference at 8 a.m. February 24.

Also Wednesday, three people entered changes of plea during hearings in Common Pleas Court.

Justin Murphy, 28, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of failure to register as a sex offender, a felony of the fourth degree (downgraded from a third-degree felony). Judge Martin Burchfield ordered a presentence investigation and set sentencing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 9.

Jared Caldwell, 29, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of trafficking in heroin, a fifth-degree felony (a second count of trafficking was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea). A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 16.

Michael Kenny Jr., 43, of Vandalia, changed his plea to guilty to a fifth-degree felony charge of possession of drugs. He then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction, and his case was stayed pending his successful completion of a substance abuse treatment program.

Amanda Buzard, 32, of Van Wert, also appeared in court to execute a waiver of her constitutional right to a speedy trial. The waiver would allow her more time to evaluate options in her case. Buzard was arraigned on December 20, 2015, on one count each of possession of heroin and aggravated possession of drugs, both felonies of the fifth degree.