TO:    LOCAL NEWS MEDIA

 

FROM:   VAN WERT COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT

 

DATE:   Wednesday, February 27, 2008

 

Re:   Criminal Hearings

 

CHANGE OF PLEA HEARINGS:

 

Cody McGinnis, 24, Van Wert, Ohio entered a plea of guilty to two counts of Unlawful Sexual Conduct With A Minor a felony of the fourth degree.

 

According to a Van Wert City Police Department investigation McGinnis was having sexual conduct with a seventeen year old female during  July of 2007 and November of 2007.  

 

McGinnis also had a hearing on a violation of his personal surety bond.  McGinnis had originally been released on a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond with the condition that he have no contact with the alleged victim.   McGinnis allegedly was found by the City Police Department hiding under a bed at the alleged victim’s residence this past weekend. 

 

Judge Steele found McGinnis to be in violation of his personal surety bond which he revoked and then set bond at $10,000 cash.

 

A presentence investigation was ordered with sentencing scheduled for April 9th, 2008 at 9:00 a.m..

 

 

Joshua Saraceno, 20, Van Wert, Ohio entered a plea of guilty to a charge of Breaking and Entering a felony of the fifth degree.    A presentence was ordered with sentencing scheduled for April 9th, 2008 at 9:00 a.m..

 

                                                                                        

 

Jason Lamb, 26, Van Wert, Ohio entered a plea of guilty to a charge of Possession of Drugs a felony of the fifth degree.  A presentence investigation was ordered with sentencing scheduled for April 9th, 2008 at 9:00 a.m..

 

 

Joshua Franklin, 23, Van Wert, Ohio entered guilty pleas to two counts of Receiving Stolen Property and two counts of Forgery, all four counts were felonies of the fifth degree.   A presentence investigation was ordered with sentencing scheduled for April 9th, 2008 at 9:00 a.m..   

 

 

Ricky J. Secrist, 23, Van Wert, Ohio entered guilty pleas to charges of three counts of  Breaking and Entering, one count of Possession Of A Controlled Substance and a misdemeanor count of Sexual Imposition.  

 

Secrist allegedly broke and entered Mum’s Café three times during June and July of 2007 according to a Van Wert City Police Department investigation.  The arrests for the drug charge and sex charge were for incidents that took place during the summer of 2007.  

 

A presentence investigation was ordered with sentencing scheduled for April 9th, 2008 at 9:00 a.m..

 

 

Robert Thompson, 24, Van Wert, Ohio entered a guilty plea to a charge of Possession of Cocaine a felony of the fifth degree.   A presentence investigation was ordered with sentencing scheduled for April 9th, 2008 at 9:00 a.m..

 

 

Adam Showalter, 24, Van Wert, Ohio entered a guilty plea to a charge of Possession Of A Controlled Substance and had filed a Motion For Treatment In Lieu Of Conviction.   

                                                                                           

 

The motion for treatment was granted.   Showalter is presently enrolled in a drug treatment rehabilitation program and will be under the supervision of the Van Wert County Adult Probation Department for a period of one year.  

 

 

COMMUNITY CONTROL VIOLATION:

 

Cyle J. Black, 21, Van Wert, Ohio admitted to being in violation of his community control sanctions by testing positive for the use of THC and Cocaine on February 22, 2008.   Black was resentenced to three years of community control with the additional condition that he serve up to six months at the WORTH Center in Lima, Ohio. 

 

Robert Hartman, 18, Van Wert, Ohio admitted to being in violation of his community control sanction by consuming alcohol.   Hartman was resentenced to three years of community control with the additional condition that he serve up to six months at the worth center in Lima, Ohio.