TO:  LOCAL NEWS MEDIA

 

FROM:  VAN WERT COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT

 

DATE:   Wednesday, January 23, 2008

 

Re:  Criminal Hearings

 

Two individuals were arraigned Wednesday morning before Judge Charles D. Steele in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court, both were recently indicted by the Grand Jury.

 

Nathaniel Thomas, 29, Van Wert, Ohio entered a not guilty plea to a charge of Tampering With Evidence a felony of the third degree.

 

According to a Van Wert City Police Department Thomas attempted to flush marijuana down a toilet while they were attempting to execute a search warrant in late October of last year.

 

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

 

 

Rex A. Keysor, 38, Lima, Ohio entered a not guilty plea to a charge of Burglary a felony of the second degree.

 

A Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department investigation alleges that Keysor entered his mother’s Middle Point, Ohio residence in October of last year at which time he took checks and credit cards.

 

Keysor was ordered held on a $5,000 cash bond along with a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond.   A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for January 30th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..

 

 

 

 

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CHANGE OF PLEA HEARINGS

 

Steven J. Diltz, 23, Delphos, Ohio entered a plea of guilty to one count of Possession of Drugs a fifth degree felony.

 

Diltz was indicted as the result of  morphine being found in his vehicle during a traffic stop by the Van Wert City Police Department on September 29, 2007.

 

A presentence investigation was ordered with sentencing to be scheduled later.

 

 

Eric M. Seekings, 25, Van Wert, Ohio entered a 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 Ryan Karhoff on November 29th, 2007 at Karhoff’s residence.

 

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation with sentencing to be scheduled for a later date.

 

 

Rodney C. Pulfer, 26, Convoy, Ohio entered a plea of guilty to a charge of Domestic Violence a misdemeanor of the first degree.

 

According to an investigation conducted by the Convoy Marshall, Pulfer allegedly assaulted or attempted to cause physical harm to Lisa Lagenkamp a family or household member on November 29th, 2007.

 

A presentence investigation was ordered with sentencing to be scheduled at a later date.  

 

 

 

 

 

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SENTENCING HEARING

 

Janera Knuckles, Lima, Ohio was placed on one year of community control on a charge of Attempted Identity Fraud a misdemeanor of the first degree.

 

Knuckles allegedly attempted to use a friend’s identification during a traffic stop which was made by the Ohio State Highway Patrol during September of 2007.

 

Judge Steele ordered that Knuckles pay court costs.  Knuckles was also sentence to a 180 day jail sentence and fined $1,000 with the imposition of the sentence being deferred pending the successful completion of the community control program.  She will have 30 days jail to be served at a time to be determined by her supervision officer and must complete 200 hours of community service which can be reduced to 100 hours if fully employed.

 

 

PROBATION VIOLATION HEARING

 

Richard N. Griggs, was found to be in violation of his community control for not reporting to hi s supervision officer as required. 

 

Griggs was on community control as the result of a charge related to a breaking and entering which occurred in 2005. 

 

Griggs was ordered to prison for one year with credit given for 184 days which had been served awaiting disposition of the original charges.