TO:   LOCAL NEWS MEDIA

FROM:   VAN WERT COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT   

DATE:    Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Re:   Criminal Hearings

SENTENCING HEARINGS:

Nancy J. Pontius, 44, Van Wert, Ohio was sentenced to three years of community control on a charge of Attempted Driving While Under the Influence a felony of the fifth degree.  Pontius was ordered to spend 60 days on electronic monitored house arrest, pay a fine of $1,350, and court costs. 

Judge Steele also gave Ms. Pontius a basic prison term of nine months but deferred the imposition of the prison term pending the successful completion of the community control program.

Christopher Adkins, 31, Van Wert, Ohio was placed on three years of community control and ordered to spend 60 days on electronic monitored house arrest on a charge of Assault  (police officer)  a felony of the fourth degree.

Adkins was also ordered to spend 30 days in the Van Wert County Jail at a time to be determined by his supervision officer, perform 200 hours of community service, under go a psychological and substance abuse assessment and completing any programs recommended.

Judge Steele gave Adkins a basic prison term of twelve months but deferred the imposition of the prison sentence pending the successful completion of the community control program.

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Robert J. Olszewski, 43, Van Wert, Ohio was placed on three years of community control on a charge of Endangering Children a felony of the third degree and three years of community control on a charge of Cultivation of Marijuana a felony of the fifth degree, the community control will run concurrently with one another.

Olszewski was ordered to spend 90 days on electronic monitored house arrest, undergo substance assessment and complete any programs recommended.  Olszewski was ordered to pay $250 as partial reimbursement for his court appointed attorney and other court costs.

Judge Steele also sentenced Olzewski to a one year prison sentence on the Child Endangering  charge and twelve months on the  Cultivation of Marijuana charge but deferred imposition of the prison sentence pending the successful completion of the community control program.

Nathan C. Deam, 35, Carmel, Indiana was placed on three years of community control and ordered to spend up to six months at the WORTH Center on a charge of Non-Support of Dependents a felony of the fifth  degree. 

Deam was ordered to spend 30 days in the Van Wert County Jail at a time to be determined by his supervision officer, be on two years of intensive supervision, pay $250 as partial reimbursement for his court appointed attorney and  court costs.

Judge Steele also sentenced Deam to a nine month prison sentence but deferred the imposition of the prison sentence pending the successful completion of the community control program.

Bradley W. Sheets, 29, Van Wert, Ohio was sentenced to a prison sentence of twelve months on a Breaking and Entering charge,  and two 180 days jail on two misdemeanor counts of Theft and a  nine month prison sentence on a felony count of Theft.  

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Sheets was ordered to make restitution to the victims for the thefts.

CHANGE OF PLEA HEARINGS

Ryan E. Homier, 31, Van Wert, Ohio entered a plea of guilty to a charge of Aggravated Burglary a felony of the first degree.   

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for December 21^st, 2011 at 9:00 a.m..

Nicholas K. Wheeler, 26, Van Wert, Ohio entered a  plea of guilty to a charge of Burglary a felony of the third degree.  

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for December 21^st, 2011 at 9:00 a.m..

Kristopher Markley, 28, Van Wert, Ohio entered a guilty plea to a charge of Cultivation of Marijuana a felony of the fourth degree.

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for December 21^st, 2011 at 9:00 am..

Donald E. Robar, 19, Van Wert, Ohio entered a plea of guilty to a charge of Theft From an Elderly Person a felony of the fourth degree.   

Robar had filed a motion to seek treatment in lieu of conviction which was approved by Judge Steele. 

Robar will spend up to one year in a treatment program, if successful in the treatment program his record could be sealed.      

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Robar will be supervised by the Van Wert County Adult Probation Department while he is attending the treatment program.