TO:   LOCAL NEWS MEDIA

 

FROM:    VAN WERT COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT

 

DATE:   Wednesday, March 12, 2008

 

Re:   Grand Jury Arraignments – Criminal Hearings

 

Twelve individuals were arraigned in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court before Judge Charles D. Steele on Wednesday morning.   The Van Wert County Grand Jury met in regular session last Friday to consider the indictments.

 

Robert Gent, Jr., 45, Decatur, Indiana entered a not guilty plea to a two count indictment charging him with Involuntary Manslaughter a felony of the first degree and Reckless Homicide a felony of the third degree. 

 

A Van Wert City Police Department investigation alleges that Gent allegedly provided drugs to his nineteen year old son Zachary.  Zachary Gent reportedly died from an overdose of drugs on January 27th of this year. 

 

Gent was released on a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond with a pretrial hearing scheduled for March 26, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..

 

 

Timothy Fedele, 42, presently housed in an Ohio prison entered a not guilty plea to a Burglary a felony of the first degree and Grand Theft of Motor Vehicle a felony of the fourth degree.

 

According to a Delphos Police Department investigation Fedele broke into an attached garage of a Delphos home and was attempting to steal a vintage sports car.

 

Fedele continued to ask the Judge to enter a guilty plea to all the charges and get the process over with since he was already serving a five year term in an Ohio prison. 

  

                                                                                                                               

Judge Steele entered a not guilty plea to the charges on Fedele’s behalf and scheduled a pretrial hearing for March 26th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m.. 

 

 

Willie M. Manley, 48, Lima, Ohio entered a not guilty plea to an indictment charging him with Theft a felony of the fifth degree.

 

According to a Van Wert City Police Department investigation Manley allegedly shoplifted a Dell Computer from the Van Wert Super Walmart Store on February 17th of 2008.

 

Manley was released on a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond with a pretrial scheduled for April 2nd, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..

 

 

Randy Michaelson, 42, Lima, Ohio entered a not guilty plea to a three count indictment charging him with Possession of Cocaine, Having a Weapon While Under Disability, and Possession Of A Dangerous Ordnance.  Michaelson was released on a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond with a pretrial hearing scheduled for March 26th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m.

 

 

Christopher Harlamert, 20, Van Wert, Ohio, entered a not guilty plea to an indictment charging him with two counts of Unlawful Sexual Conduct With A Minor both felonies of the fourth degree.  Harlamert was released on a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond with a condition that he have no contact with alleged victim.  A pretrial hearing has been scheduled March 26th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..

 

 

Timothy Adam Wollet, 27, Van Wert, Ohio entered a not guilty plea to an indictment charging him with Attempted Burglary a felony of the fifth degree.  Wollet was released on a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond with a pretrial hearing scheduled for March 26th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..  

                                                                                            

 

John McGinnis, 26, Van Wert, Ohio entered a not guilty plea to an indictment charging him with Theft a felony of the fifth degree.   McGinnis didn’t set bond since McGinnis is presently serving a jail sentence in the Van Wert County Correctional Facility on other charges.  A pretrial conference has been scheduled for March 26th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..

 

 

Nathan Culler, 21, Paulding, Ohio entered a not guilty plea to an indictment charging him with Domestic Violence a felony of the fourth degree.   Culler was released on a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond with a condition that he have no contact with the victim.  A pretrial hearing was scheduled for March 26th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..

 

 

Jeffrey Moore, 40, presently the Mercer County Jail, had his arraignment continued until Thursday morning.

 

 

Christopher McMillen, 20, Van Wert, Ohio entered a not guilty plea to an indictment charging him with one count of Possession of Drugs a felony of the fifth degree.   McMillen was released on a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond with a pretrial hearing scheduled for March 26th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..

 

 

Donald S. Hammons, 30, Delphos, Ohio entered a not guilty plea to a charge of Grand Theft Of An Automobile a felony of the fourth degree.   Hammonds was released on a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond with a pretrial hearing scheduled for March 26th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m..

 

****The criminal sentencing hearings will follow later.