Pair get prison for probation violations

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Two people were given prison terms for violating probation, while three others also appeared in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday for sentencing and to change pleas.

Austin Zuber, 20, of Grover Hill, admitted to violating his probation by being convicted in Paulding County of failing to register as a sex offender. Judge Martin D. Burchfield then sentenced him to serve his previously deferred 16-month prison sentence, consecutive to the Paulding County sentence, with credit for 252 days already served.

Ethan Mezuk, 25, of Convoy, admitted to violating his probation by testing positive for marijuana and cocaine. County Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor sentenced him to serve a previously deferred nine-month prison term in the Van Wert County Jail, while also giving him credit for 188 days already served.

Judge Burchfield also presided over a change of plea hearing on Wednesday and two sentencings.

Deanna Lugabihl, 55, of Willshire, was given two years of community control on a charge of attempted identity theft, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Janet St. John, 33, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced to five years of community control on a charge of possession of heroin, a felony of the fifth degree.

She also had her driver’s license suspended for six months.

Joaquin Estrada, 41, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. He then requested, and was granted, treatment in lieu of conviction and his case was stayed pending the successful completion of a substance abuse treatment program.