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The Crescent-News
Driver in fatal Defiance County crash enters plea and is sentenced
The driver charged in a two-vehicle crash that killed his passenger has entered a plea in Defiance County Common Pleas Court and has been sentenced and is facing deportation. Brayan Cabanzo-Cano, 21, who had had a Hicksville address, but was recovering from injuries at Flower Hospital, Sylvania, pleaded no contest to a bill of information charging him with aggravated vehicular homicide, a third-degree felony, and was found guilty by Judge Joseph Schmenk. ...
Defiance common pleas
Ayden Arnold, 25, Shelbyville, Ind., appeared for sentencing on charges of trafficking in marijuana, a third-degree felony, and was placed on community control for three years. Paul Cook Jr., 26, Stryker (CCNO), appeared for sentencing on charges of menacing by stalking, a fourth-degree felony; and violating a protection order, a fifth-degree felony. He was placed on community control for three years with conditions, including that he complete the SEARCH program. ...
Defiance County grand jury
A Defiance County grand jury has returned indictments against 23 persons, according to Prosecutor Morris Murray’s office. Indicted were: • Lee Mathys, 78, 1609 E. Second St., for aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a third-degree felony. • Jeffery Rodesiler, 43, Hicksville, for tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; and aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a...
Williams County grand jury returns attempted murder indictment
BRYAN — A Williams County grand jury here has returned indictments against a number of persons, including a Bryan man charged attempting to cause the death of another person. Jacob Pettit, 39, is charged with attempted murder, a first-degree felony; two counts of strangulation, second- and third-degree felonies; and domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony. The indictment alleges that on Feb. 3 he attempted to cause the death of another person,...
Williams common pleas
Zachary Miller, 30, Stryker, was granted a motion for drug treatment in lieu of conviction on a charge of possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. He was placed under supervision for three years, and the criminal case proceedings were stayed pending completion of his intervention program.
Paulding County Municipal Court 3-14-24
Sentenced: Taryn Stiltner, 41, Paulding, assault, two days jail, $250 fine; John Rickels Sr., 68, Paulding, littering, two days jail, $200 fine; Ruthann Swary, 49, Paulding, theft, four days jail, $200 fine, no contact with Paulding County Health Department; Tiffini Aldrich, 32, Antwerp, disorderly conduct, $75 fine; Amanda Saylor, 41, 19292 County Road 198, Defiance, driving under suspension, $250 fine suspended. William Vance, 31, Paulding, disorderly conduct, three days jail, $100 fine, no contact with victim; disorderly conduct, dismissed. Bradyn Shull, 21, Antwerp, OVI, three days jail (driver intervention program in lieu of jail days), $375 fine, 40 hours community service; underage consumption and left of center, dismissed.
Woman enters NGRI defense claim in Williams County assault case
BRYAN — An Edon woman charged with trying to inflict harm upon a Williams County sheriff’s deputy during an arrest attempt in which shots were fired has entered a not guilty by reason insanity plea. Nicole Schmig, 23, withdrew her not guilty plea in Williams County Common Pleas Court and entered a plea of not guilty by reason on insanity on a charge of felonious assault, a first-degree felony; two counts of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, third-...
Charges pending in separate courts following big fentanyl bust in Henry County
NAPOLEON — Charges are pending in separate courts here against a Liberty Center couple implicated in the sale of a large amount of fentanyl. Kage Seals, 26, is charged in Henry County Common Pleas Court with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound and trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, each a first-degree felony. He pleaded not guilty to the charges — returned in a sealed indictment filed by a county grand jury on Feb. 28 — and his case is...
Bryan man awaits sentencing in Williams County attempted murder/rape case
BRYAN — A Bryan man is awaiting sentencing next week in Williams County Common Pleas Court here after recently entering a plea in his attempted murder/rape case. Sammy Celestine II, 43, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and two counts of rape, each a first-degree felony. This includes repeat violent offender (RVO) and sexual motivation specifications. The RVO increases the potential penalty imposed upon Celestine from 1-10 years. Each of the...
Defiance common pleas
John Chapman, 40, Bryan, appeared for sentencing on a charge of domestic violence, a third-degree felony. He was placed on community control for three years with conditions, including that he complete the SEARCH program in Bowling Green, and have no contact with the victim or the victim’s family except as necessary to effectuate a court order. Chapman caused, or attempted to cause, physical harm to a family or household member on Oct. 9, having had three prior domestic violence convictions. Mitchell Joyce, 33, 2020 Baltimore...
Putnam common pleas
Jason Burleson, 41, Ottawa, appeared for sentencing on two counts of aggravated assault, each a fourth-degree felony. He was placed on community control for five years with conditions, including that he serve 90 days in Putnam County Jail with credit for three days previously served. Two counts of felonious assault, each a second-degree felony, were dismissed. The indictment had alleged that he assaulted and caused serious physical harm to a man and a woman during a dispute at 107 W. Main St. in Kalida on Oct. 2. ...
Fulton common pleas
Todd Plassman Jr., 36, Wauseon, appeared for sentencing on a charge of possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony. He was placed on community control for three years with conditions, including that he complete the SEARCH program. Logan Zahner, 28, Metamora, appeared for sentencing on a charge of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. He was placed on community control for two years with conditions, including that he complete the batterer’s intervention program and serve eight days in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio (CCNO)...
Henry common pleas
Corey Schafer, 33, Napoleon, appeared for sentencing on charges of strangulation, a third-degree felony; and domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony. He was given a 24-month prison term with credit for 96 days served in jail while his case was pending. A second count of strangulation, a second-degree felony, was dismissed. Johnny Edwards, 31, Wauseon, appeared for sentencing on charges of endangering children and inciting to violence, each a first-degree misdemeanor. He was placed on probation for two years, and given 180 days in the Corrections...
Paulding common pleas
Jeremy Turner, 26, Southgate, Mich., pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and a disposition hearing was set for March 19. James Sulfridge, 44, Continental, was granted drug treatment intervention in lieu of conviction on a charge of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. He was placed under supervision for two years and ordered to follow the intervention plan as recommended and all recommendations by drug/alcohol and mental health counselors. An indictment against James Sebring, 25, Oakwood, for strangulation, a third-degree felony, was dismissed.
Henry Couny grand jury returns indictments against 14 persons
NAPOLEON — A Henry County grand jury has returned indictments against 14 persons, according to Prosecutor Gwen Howe-Gebers’ office. Indicted were: • Adam Couts, 50, Napoleon, for three counts of rape, each a first-degree felony; and three counts of sexual battery, each a third-degree felony. • James Thomas, 44, Bryan, for aggravated trafficking in drugs,...
Defiance common pleas
Reid Keeley, 22, Stryker (CCNO), pleaded guilty to failure to provide notice of change in vehicle information and identifiers, a fourth-degree felony. She was given a nine-month prison term to run consecutive to terms reimposed in two other cases for community control violations for a total of 54 months imprisonment. She was given credit for three days served in jail while her cases were pending. William Field, 22, 2002 Baltimore Road, appeared for sentencing on a charge of illegal use of supplemental nutrition assistance program...
Defiance school board honors two students, hears from others
The Defiance City Schools Board of Education honored two students and heard from others at a meeting held Wednesday evening. Eliseo Hernandez applied for, and won a place at, the Ohio Music Educators Association All State Band, and is third chair flute. It was noted at the meeting that this is a highly competitive program. It takes around six months of preparation to send the application which includes recordings of...
Paulding common pleas
Brandon Schlueter, 37, Paulding, appeared for sentencing on two counts of sexual battery, each a third-degree felony. He was given a 48-month prison term and classified as a tier III sexual offender. Five additional counts of sexual battery, each a third-degree felony, were dismissed. Joe Suarez, 41, Paulding, pleaded not guilty to illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto grounds of a specified government facility, a third-degree felony; and aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. A pretrial hearing was set for March 26 and...
Henry common pleas
Terrance Pippins, 48, Napoleon, appeared for sentencing on charges of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony; and domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. He was placed on community control for two years with conditions, including that he serve 180 days in jail with 150 days suspended and have no contact with the victim. Jamie Trombley, 47, Napoleon, appeared for sentencing on a charge of grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. She was placed on community control for two years with conditions, including...
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The Crescent-News is the largest daily newspaper in the four county area comprising Northwest Ohio and is owned by the Adams Publishing Group. The company’s main product is The Crescent-News, a daily newspaper published three days per week on a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday schedule. It offers home delivery within in a 25-mile radius of Defiance and has a daily circulation of 13,905 and a Sunday circulation of 14,856. The larger communities served include Napoleon, Bryan, Archbold, Paulding and Hicksville.
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