Wells Superior Court
Infractions
Charge of operating a vehicle without insurance dismissed by Robert C. Coffin Jr., 43, Dunkirk.
Charge of driving while suspended dismissed for Gilbert Martinez, 21, Bluffton.
Bench trial set to commence at 3 p.m. March 1 for Linda Parker, 40, Ossian, on one count of owner allows dog to stray beyond owner’s premises.
Wells Circuit Court
Criminal Cases
Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Shawnta M. Turner, 29, Ossian, charged with three counts of theft, all Class A misdemeanors. Bond continued at $4,500. Justin R. Wall appointed public defender.
On Nov. 27, Bluffton police were requested to respond to the Bluffton Walmart Supercenter on a report that Turner had been caught by one of the store’s asset protection employees trying to “skip scan” items at one of the self-checkout aisles.
Skip scanning is where a person intentionally fails to scan the universal price code symbol on an item.
After passing all points of sale, Turner was stopped by the employee and held until an officer arrived. After questioning, she was released pending further investigation by the employee to determine if Turner had skip-scanned at the store previously.
Allegedly the employee found three separate occasions on which Turner is alleged to have skip-scanned merchandise.
Video evidence allegedly showed her skip scanning two bras worth $29.98 on Nov. 9, 2021. She then reportedly returned to the store on the morning of Nov. 11 and skip-scanned a phone case, two bottles of Viva La Juicy perfume and a Bob’s Burgers T-shirt. The total value of the items allegedly skipped was$108.90.
Reportedly she returned to the store in the afternoon and skip-scanned a jar of Oil of Olay skin cream along with a variety of grocery items totaling $32.88.
The officer wrote in his report to the court that each time, it appeared as if Turner was intentionally trying to make it look like she was scanning the items, but it is clear she was not.
In all, Turner is charged with stealing $171.66 in merchandise from the store.
Declare Candidacy
File statements
Declarations of candidacy and statements of organization have been filed with the Wells County Clerk’s office by:
• Lisa Kay McCormick, Bluffton, seeking to become the Republican nominee for Wells County Auditor. The name of the committee for McCormick is Committee to Re-elect Lisa McCormick. She is serving as her own campaign chairman and treasurer. The depository for campaign funds is First Merchants Bank.
• Beth Davis, rural Montpelier, seeking the Republican nomination for Wells County Clerk of Courts. Davis is serving as both the chairman and treasurer of her committee. The title of the campaign committee is Re-elect Beth Davis for Circuit Court Clerk. The depository for campaign funds is VIA Credit Union.
• Laura Lynn Roberts, rural Bluffton, seeking the Republican nomination for Wells County Assessor. Chairman and treasurer for the campaign committee is Richard Raymond Smith, rural Craigville. The depository for campaign funds is Pro-Fed Federal Credit Union, Bluffton.
• Scott Anthony Holliday, Ossian, seeking the Republican nomination for Sheriff of Wells County. Holliday is serving as his own campaign committee chairman. Randy D. Steele, rural Markle, is serving as the campaign committee treasurer. The depository for campaign funds is Pro-Fed Federal Credit Union, Bluffton.
• Kelly Jean Herman, rural Ossian, seeking the Republican nomination for Assessor of Wells County. Herman is serving as both chairman and treasurer of her campaign. Depository for campaign funds is Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Ossian.
• Brandon Harnish, Bluffton, seeking election as a Republican State Convention delegate.
