TO:   LOCAL NEWS MEDIA

FROM:  VAN WERT COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT

DATE:   Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Re:  Arraignment Hearings

Nine individuals appeared for arraignment in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday morning.   All entered pleas of not guilty to their indictments when appearing before Magistrate Joseph E. Quatman.

Chad Kouts, 18, Van Wert, Ohio was indicted on two counts of Burglary both counts were felonies of the second degree.

Kouts was arrested by the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department after their investigation found that he had been involved with a Jonathan Fulk in the burglaries of the Clint Lautzenheiser residence on November 29^th, 2007 and the burglary of the Kimberly A. Blankemeyer residence on December 7^th, 2007.

Bond was set at $100,000 cash with a ten percent privilege along with a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond.   Kouts is presently being held in the Paulding County Jail on other charges.

A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for January 23, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..

Jonathan M. Fulk, 24, Van Wert, Ohio entered not guilty pleas to a four count indictment charging him with three counts of Burglary and one count of Receiving

Stolen property.

Fulk and Chad Kouts were arrested as a result of a Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department investigation.  Fulk allegedly broke into two residences and the Lincolnview School.   Fulk also received stolen property from the Professional Touch Tattoo with that incident taking place on October 24^th of 2007. 

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Fulk is being held in the Van Wert County Jail on a $100,000 cash bond with a ten percent privilege along with a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond of $5,000.   A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for January 30^th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m.. 

Michael J. Averill, 46, Van Wert, Ohio entered a not guilty plea to a charge of Possession of Cocaine a fifth degree felony. 

Averill was arrested after a Van Wert City Police Office made a traffic stop in December of 2007 at which time it was found that Averill had crack cocaine in his vehicle.

Averill was released on a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond with a pretrial hearing being scheduled for January 23^rd, 2008 at 8:00 a.m.

Eric Seekings, 25, Van Wert, Ohio entered a not guilty plea to a charge of Assault a misdemeanor of the first degree.

According to a Van Wert City Police Department investigation Seekings allegedly assaulted a Ryan Karhoff  on November 29^th, 2007 at the Karhoff residence.  Karhoof required treatment at the Van Wert County Hospital as a result of the facial injuries he received.

Seekings was released on a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond with a stipulation that he have no contact with the victim.   A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for January 23, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..

Johnnie D. Ruffner, Jr., 30, Van Wert, Ohio entered a not guilty plea to a charge of Possession of Drugs a felony of the fifth degree.

According to a Van Wert City Police Department investigation Ruffner was in possession of cocaine at his residence on October 24^th, 2007.

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Ruffner was released on a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond with a pretrial hearing scheduled for January 30^th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..

Joshua Moniz, 28, Van Wert, Ohio entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of Attempted Burglary a felony of the third degree.

Moniz was arrested by the Delphos Police Department on January 2^nd, 2008 after he was observed jumping a privacy fence at a residence in the 400 block of West Fourth Street.  Delphos Police allege that Moniz attempted to gain entry to the residence at that location.

Moniz was ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond with a pretrial conference scheduled for January 30^th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..

Matthew L. Peffley, 34, Convoy, Ohio entered a not guilty plea to a two count indictment charging him with Aggravated Arson and Insurance Fraud.

According to a State Fire Marshall’s Office investigation Peffley allegedly set fire to a home that he owned in Ohio City, Ohio on September 21^st, 2008 and then on September 28^th, 2008 he filed a claim to collect insurance on the fire. 

Peffley was released on a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond with a pretrial hearing being scheduled for January 30^th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..

Robert Thomas, Jr., Van Wert, Ohio entered a not guilty plea to a charge of  Illegal Processing Of A Drug Document.

According to a Van Wert City Police Department investigation Thomas alleged altered a prescription that had been given to him by a local physician and then attempted to have the prescription filled at a local pharmacy.  

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Thomas was released on a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond with a pretrial hearing scheduled for January 30^th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..

Donald E. Hammons, III,  Ft. Jennings, Ohio entered a not guilty plea to a charge of Domestic Violence a felony of the fourth degree.

According to a Delphos Police Department Hammons allegedly assaulted a Jessica Brown on January 3, 2008.  Brown was allegedly living with Hammons at a Delphos residence at the time.

Hammons was released on a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond with a stipulation that he have no contact with Jessica Brown.   A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for January 30^, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..