TO:   Local News Media

FROM:   Van Wert County Common Pleas Court     

DATE:   Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Re:  Criminal Hearings

Common Pleas Court had a lighter than normal agenda Wednesday morning.

Benjamin Hurley, 27, Van Wert, Ohio was placed on a year of community control and ordered to spend 180 days in the Van Wert County Jail on a charge of Theft a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Judge Steele ordered Hurley pay restitution in the amount of $249.23 to the victim, $250 as partial reimbursement for his court appointed attorney and court costs.  Hurley was given credit for 105 days jail which he had served on the charge awaiting final disposition of his case.

Cody J. Edwards, 21, Saginaw, Texas entered a guilty plea to a charge of Vandalism a felony of the fourth degree for his part in the destruction of construction equipment at a windmill site in July of this year.   Two other individuals along with Edwards were arrested for the destruction of a crane along with other lighting equipment which was property of Blattner Energy Company.

Edwards will be ordered to make $58,000 restitution along with the other two parties for the damage done to the lighting equipment.  

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for March 14^th, 2012 at 9:00 a.m..   Edwards is being held in jail on a cash bond.

Ford C. Wilson, 28, Van Wert, Ohio was granted judicial release from prison and placed on community control for a period of three years.  

                                                                                                Page #2

Wilson along with  others were arrested for a series of thefts from vehicles parked at the Van Wert County Fair Grounds, the breaking and entering of Fair Ground Buildings along with buildings owned by the Van Wert County Foundation. 

Ford was ordered to make restitution to the victims of the thefts.

Dontrey E. Cooper, 29, Beechnut, Texas entered a guilty plea to a bill of information charging him with a Theft a felony of the fifth degree.

According to a statement made, Cooper allegedly pulled a phone scam on an elderly lady in Van Wert County where he was able to get a large sum of money.

Judge Steele ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for February 29^th, 2012 at 9:00 a.m..