The Van Wert County Courthouse

Friday, Mar. 29, 2024

10 appear for hearings in Van Wert Court

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A Van Wert man appeared for sentencing last Friday, another person was sentenced on Tuesday, and eight more people appeared for a variety of criminal hearings on Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Christopher Bird, 40, of Van Wert, was sentenced to five years of community control, including up to six months at the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima, on a charge of possession of LSD, a felony of the fifth degree. He must also undergo a substance abuse assessment and any treatment recommended.

On Tuesday, William Todd Vance, 36, of Paulding, was given 18 months in prison on a charge of aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the third degree. He was also charged with a specification that a firearm was used in commission of the offense, and the firearm was ordered forfeited. Judge Martin D. Burchfield also gave Vance credit for 27 days already served.

Three people were sentenced on Wednesday.

Ashley McKee, 34, of Van Wert, was given 16 months in prison on a charge of aggravated trafficking in drugs, a felony of the fourth degree. Judge Burchfield gave her credit for 197 days already served.

Beth Wright, 48, of Convoy, was given three years of community control, including 90 days in jail, on a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a felony of the fifth degree. She must also undergo a substance abuse assessment and any recommended treatment.

Trinity Thurston, 38, of Van Wert, was given three years of community control on a charge of domestic violence, a misdemeanor of the first degree. She must also spend 60 days on electronically monitored house arrest or report to jail by 10 a.m. this Saturday, February 5.

Two people appeared on Wednesday for violations of bond or other programs.

Percy Huffman, 35, of Lima, admitted to violating his bond and treatment in lieu of conviction program by failing to provide an address to probation and failing to report. A $5,000 cash bond was set in the case and sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 7.

Frank Bill, 62, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his bond and treatment in lieu of conviction program by testing positive for alcohol use and by failing to report for testing. He was released on a personal surety bond, with sentencing set for 9 a.m. March 7. He then denied violating his bond and treatment program a second time by resting positive for several drugs on a separate date. A hearing was set on the matter for 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 14.

Two people entered changes of plea on Wednesday.

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

Tera Hernandez, 38, of Ohio City, changed her plea to guilty to a charge of possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony offense, and also requested, and was granted, intervention in lieu of conviction. Her case was stayed pending completion of a substance abuse program. She also entered a guilty plea to driving while under suspension, a first-degree misdemeanor, and she was given 30 days in jail, all suspended, and a $250 fine, plus one year of community control, on that offense.

Also Wednesday, Eric Bowers, 31, of Van Wert, requested a change to his bond order, and his bond was modified to electronically monitored house arrest, with an order to have no contact with the alleged victim in his case. A pretrial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, February 14.

POSTED: 02/01/18 at 8:15 am. FILED UNDER: News