TO:  LOCAL NEWS MEDIA

FROM:   VAN WERT COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT  

DATE:   Monday, May 23, 2011

Re:   Murder suspect arraigned

Chad D. Phillips, 31, Middle Point was arraigned before Judge Charles D. Steele amid very tight security in the courtroom and about the courthouse.

The hearing lasted approximately five minutes with Phillips speaking very little, only answering the Judge’s questions very briefly.  

Phillips appeared in court with attorney Michael J. Camera of Lorain, Ohio who will be co-counsel along with Leif B. Christman of Cleveland, Ohio.

Phillips entered a not guilty plea to all four counts of the indictment which was handed down by the Van Wert County Grand Jury last Friday that met in special session to consider the case.

Phillips was indicted for the alleged murder of Christopher McMillen, 24 of Van Wert that took place at a south side apartment on May 12^th.   McMillen later died from gunshot wounds at a Fort Wayne Hospital after being liftflighted there from Van Wert County Hospital.

Count one of the indictment was for Aggravated     Murder an unspecified felony with a specification that Phillips had a firearm on or about his person or under his control while committing the offense and displayed, the firearm, brandished the firearm, indicated that he possess the firearm, or used it to facilitate the offense. 

The indictment read, “that on or about the 12^th day of May, 2011, at Van Wert County, Ohio, Chad D. Phillips did purposely, and with prior calculation and design, cause the death of another, to-wit:  Christopher D. McMillen.

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Phillips faces a sentence of life in prison without chance of parole and a mandatory sentence of three years of prison to run consecutive to the life sentence if convicted on the Aggravated Murder charge, there is a maximum fine of $25,000.

Count two of the indictment was for Attempted Murder a felony of the first degree.

This count carries a maximum of ten years in prison along with a maximum fine of $20,000 along with a specification that Phillips used a firearm in the commission of the offense which carries a mandatory sentence of three years to run consecutive to the Attempted Murder sentence, if convicted.

Count two read, “Chad D. Phillips did purposely attempt to cause the death of another, to-wit:  Ryan Schisler”. 

Count three of the indictment was for a charge of Aggravated Burglary a felony of the first degree which carries a maximum prison sentence of ten years along with a maximum fine of $20,000, if convicted.

This count also had a specification of the use of a firearm and a specification that he used a 1999 Ford motor vehicle in the commission of the offense.

Count four of the  indictment was for a charge of Felonious Assault which carries a maximum prison sentence of eight years and a maximum fine of $15,000, the indictment also had a firearm specification which was used in the commission of the offense.

The indictment read, “on or about the 12^th day of May, 2011, at Van Wert County, Ohio Chad D. Phillips did knowingly cause or attempt to cause serious physical harm to another by means of a deadly weapon, to-wit Ryan Schisler”

Phillips entered not guilty pleas to all four counts in the indictment

Ms. Eva Yarger, Van Wert County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney asked that the $1,000,000 cash bond set in Municipal Court be continued.

Judge Steele continued the $1,000,000 cash bond and set a pretrial hearing for June 6^th, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.

Judge Steele asked the handful of spectators on hand remain in the courtroom, for security reasons, until  Mr. Phillips was whisked away from the courthouse by Sheriff Owens.