Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
Michaela J. Horstmeyer, 20, Bluffton, violated probation by failing to report to her probation officer May 26 and June 6.
Ordered to serve 60 days in the Wells County Jail and pay $100 in fees. Credited for 14 days spent in confinement awaiting disposition of her case.
Upon completion of her term of incarceration, her probation will terminate.
Horstmeyer was originally sentenced May 5 on one count of resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor.
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Andrew Morrison, 35, Bluffton, pleaded guilty to criminal conversion, a Class A misdemeanor.
Sentenced to a year in the Wells County Jail, with all but four days suspended — credited a time served, and placed on probation for 361 days.
Ordered to pay court costs and probation fees.
Morrison was charged with dumping an old sofa in one of the dumpsters at Bluffton Regional Medical Center July 21. BRMC’s plant operator contacted police about the sofa and an officer was able to track it to Morrison. He was asked to remove it, reportedly said he would but didn’t, was contacted by the officer again and told if he didn’t remove it, he would get charged with conversion. He reportedly never removed it and got charged.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Morghan Covington, 29, New Haven, charged with possession of marijuana with a prior conviction for the same offense, a Class A misdemeanor; driving while suspended, a Class A infraction; and operating a motor vehicle with an expired license plate, a Class C infraction. Jeffrey Stineburg appointed public defender.
While following a Chevrolet PT Cruiser south on Main Street Aug. 17, a Bluffton police officer decided to check its license plate and discovered it had expired March 28. He pulled the vehicle over at Main Street and Dustman Road.
The officer noted in his report that Covington had several active suspensions against her license. He asked her if there was anything illegal in the car. She reportedly replied that there was not, but the officer observed she appeared to be nervous. He asked her again if there was anything illegal in the car and she allegedly replied that there were two THC vape cartridges in the vehicle. The officer had Covington and her front seat passenger exit the vehicle and performed a search, reportedly locating the two cartridges.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Matthew Tyler Elston, 39, rural Bluffton, charged with driving while suspended with a prior conviction for the same offense, a Class A misdemeanor, and speeding, a Class C infraction. Bond continued at $1,000. Larry Mock appointed public defender.
A sheriff’s deputy was monitoring traffic on Main Street in Liberty Center Aug. 18 when he clocked Elston northbound in a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu at 46 mph-30 zone. The deputy pulled it over and upon performing a driver’s license check, discovered that Elston has two active suspensions against his driver’s license and three prior convictions.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Chase Michael McDonnell, 18, rural Butler, charged with reckless driving, a Class C misdemeanor. Bond set at $500.
A state police trooper reported observing McDonnell drive a Cadillac recklessly in the parking lot of the Airplane Express convenience store Aug. 12. The trooper then followed McDonnell to the parking lot of Peyton’s Northern. Reportedly McDonnell called the Bluffton Police Department to complain about being followed by the trooper. At Peyton’s he reportedly demanded to know why he had been stopped and requested the trooper’s information. After the trooper explained how to file a formal complaint, McDonnell reportedly told the trooper he was “dismissed.” The trooper said he wasn’t going anywhere. Then McDonnell reportedly told the trooper he was “dismissed” again and walked into Peyton’s
The trooper observed that McDonnell had 14 points against his driver’s license.
Marriage Licenses
Olivia Jayne Stedge, 20, Bluffton, and Caleb Daniel Muller, 24, Bluffton.
Shiann Sue Heckman, 20, rural Markle, and Aaron Lee Eckelbarger, 24, Markle.
Kevin Thompson, 59, Ossian, and Barbara Jean Mitchell, 60, Ossian.
Ilene Marguerite Ross, 53, Fort Wayne, and Darrell Thomas Beste, 64, Uniondale.
