Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
Charges of driving while suspended with a prior conviction for the same offense, a Class A misdemeanor; operating a motor vehicle without insurance with a prior conviction for the same offense, a Class C misdemeanor; and improper or no turn signals, a Class C infraction were all dismissed for Ashley Jarrett, 34, Bluffton.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Mehki Belle, 22, Fort Wayne, charged with carrying a handgun without a license, a Class A misdemeanor; possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor; possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor; operating a motor vehicle without insurance, a Class A infraction; failure to signal a lane change or turn and no valid driver’s license in his possession, both Class C infractions.
Bond continued at $3,000. Jeffrey Stineburg appointed public defender. Change of plea hearing set for 9 a.m. June 2.
On Dec. 29, 2021, an Ossian police officer was behind a dark-colored passenger car when he reportedly witnessed it make a right turn from Jefferson Street onto Davis Road without signaling the turn. The officer started to follow the vehicle and witnessed it turn left into the parking lot of Ossian Health & Rehabilitation. The vehicle then drove behind the health care facility. The officer followed and pulled in behind the vehicle, blocking it from leaving the dead-end parking lot.
Belle was identified as the driver. The officer observed in his report to the court that the interior of the car smelled of raw marijuana.
Belle told the officer he worked at the facility and had come to pick up his girlfriend.
Belle allegedly admitted to the officer that the smell of marijuana was coming from his clothing. He also allegedly admitted in the presence of the officer — and two sheriff’s deputies who arrived to assist — that he had a handgun in his vehicle for which he did not have a permit.
He was taken into custody without incident.
A vehicle inventory allegedly turned up a 9 millimeter Taurus handgun under the driver’s seat, a marijuana cigarette in the center console, a glass pipe, a Taurus gun box and two bullet clips for the gun.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Mitchelle Dale Allen Herrick, 31, Bluffton, charged with intimidation by threat to commit a forcible felony, a Level 6 felony, and public intoxication, a Class B misdemeanor. Bond continued at $1,500. Larry Mock appointed public defender.
Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Courtney Ann Goodwin, 25, rural Pennville, charged with public intoxication, a Class B misdemeanor. Bond continued at $1,000. Allison Sprunger appointed public defender.
Both had been in the Airplane Express convenience store on North Main Street April 29 and left the store walking south on Main Street. A caller reported to Bluffton Police that the two appeared to be intoxicated.
Two police officers responded and parked at the Hardee’s restaurant parking lot south of the Main Street bridge over the Wabash River. Goodwin and Herrick apparently spotted the officers approaching from the opposite end of the bridge and decided to cut across the four lanes of traffic on Main Street. The arresting officer observed in his report to the court that as they crossed, they caused a northbound box truck driver to have to slam on the brakes of the truck to avoid hitting the two.
The officers retreated to their patrol vehicle and then crossed to the opposite side of Main Street and waited for the two on the west side of the street.
Again, they were apparently spotted by the couple and Herrick tried to cross back over across the busy street, but this time ended up sitting down halfway into the street. This caused southbound traffic to come to a complete stop.
Neither Herrick nor Goodwin were reportedly very cooperative with questioning by officers. Herrick allegedly attempted to prevent himself from being handcuffed, but was eventually placed in handcuffs.
He also allegedly made multiple threats to harm the police officers. At the Wells County Jail, Herrick allegedly refused to comply with jailer’s orders and took a “fighting stance.” He was then stunned twice by a jailer’s conducted electrical weapon to bring him into compliance.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Pedro Coj-Quixan, 20, Bluffton. Bond continued at $2,500. Larry Mock appointed public defender.
Bluffton police received a report of a car stuck between two houses on West Cherry Street at 5:30 p.m. April 30. The driver of the vehicle, in an apparent attempt to get unstuck, then backed into a set of steps at one of the houses and sped away.
The vehicle was located on Silver Street and was reportedly slow to stop for an officer who was trying to pull it over. The vehicle reportedly had fresh damage.
Coj-Quixan allegedly failed field sobriety tests and blew a .156 percent alcohol concentration equivalency on a certified breath test conducted at the Wells County Jail.
Coj-Quixan allegedly admitted to having drank two Corona beers.
A hold on Coj-Quixan has reportedly been placed by the Unites States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.
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James Kephart, 52, Elkhart, violated probation by failing to report to his probation officer March 30 and by moving without prior permission from Wells County Probation to do so.
Ordered to serve 732 days in prison and pay $350 in fees. Upon completion of his sentence, his probation will terminate.
Kephart was originally sentenced April 24, 2018, on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction for the same or a similar offense,, and auto theft, both Level 6 felonies.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Madison Renae Hoffacker, 25, Bluffton, charged with possession, a Class B misdemeanor, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor. Jeffrey Stineburg appointed public defender.
Bluffton police officers were serving a warrant for arrest on a Bluffton resident March 15 when a Wells County Probation officer requested that the police officers search the residence. When a person is on probation, they give up their rights to warrantless searches.
During the search, the officers reportedly found a black purse. Reportedly inside the purse was a glass pipe that allegedly contained a green leafy substance with the odor and appearance of marijuana.
