Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
Joshua Suarez, 37, Fort Wayne, violated probation from a Dec. 3 2021 conviction for driving while suspended with a prior conviction, a Class A misdemeanor, by being arrested again on one count of driving while suspended with a prior conviction, a Class A misdemeanor.
Ordered to serve 30 days in the Wells County Jail for violating probation.
The second driving while suspended charge was then dismissed.
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Jared J. West, 34, Ossian, pleaded guilty to dealing in methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony.
Sentencing set for 3 p.m. Dec. 29.
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Donavin Raemone Blash, 19, Fort Wayne, pleaded guilty to possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 6 felony.
Sentenced to a year in the Wells County Jail, with all but two days suspended — credited as time served, and placed on probation for 363 days.
Ordered to submit a DNA sample, pay a $200 drug interdiction fee, court costs and probation fees.
As part of a plea agreement, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor, was dismissed.
On March 29, Wells County EMS, Ossian Fire Department first responders and sheriff’s deputies responded to an Ossian residence on a report of a male who had possibly overdosed on a narcotic drug. Blash was the male.
While medical aid was being administered to Blash, the investigating detective reportedly found a crushed white powder on the bathroom sink and a small straw with the same residue on it that would commonly be used to ingest a powdered substance into one’s nose.
During a search of the residence, deputies also reportedly located empty THC vaping cartridges. THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
A female in the residence reportedly told the detective that she believed the crushed pill was a “Dirty 30,” a slang term for a “fake Percocet.” Percocet is a prescription pain killer, for which Blash reportedly did not have a prescription.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Elena M. Gallardo, 19, Liberty Center, charged with conversion, a Class A misdemeanor. Jeffrey Stineburg appointed public defender.
Gallardo is charged with taking her father’s driver’s license and Indiana handgun permit following an argument with him at their Liberty Center home Nov. 27.
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Order of conditional discharge entered for Nyja Julea Allen, Columbus, Ohio, charged with possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor,
The term of deferred proceedings is one year. If she successfully follows the rules of the Wells County Probation Department during that time period, the charge against her will be dismissed.
Ordered to pay $100 in fees.
On Nov. 27, a Bluffton police officer clocked an oncoming northbound vehicle at 56 mph-40 zone on Main Street north of Dustman Road. He turned his patrol vehicle around and pulled over the speeding vehicle.
While speaking with the driver, the officer observed smelling a string odor of marijuana. The occupants of the vehicle reportedly denied possessing marijuana. The officer performed a search of the vehicle and located a purse that allegedly contained a small plastic bag with a green leafy plant material with the odor and appearance of marijuana. Allen reportedly claimed ownership of the purse and allegedly told the officer that she was holding onto the small plastic bag for a friend.
The officer informed her that because she was in possession of it, she had committed a Class B misdemeanor.
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Brian D. Digman, 30, Bluffton, violated probation by failing to submit to drug screenings Nov. 10 and Nov. 17.
Ordered to serve 120 days in the Wells County Jail. Credited for 10 days spent in confinement awaiting disposition of his case.
Digman was originally sentenced Dec. 14, 2020, on one count of possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony.
Wells Circuit Court
Criminal Cases
Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Jerry Earl Britt Francis, 35, Vera Cruz, charged with criminal recklessness wherein the defendant discharged a firearm inside a building, a Level 5 felony; intimidation wherein a defendant draws or uses a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony; domestic battery committed in the presence of a child less than 16 years old, a Level 6 felony; and strangulation, a Level 6 felony. Bond continued at $30,000. Law office of Sprunger and Sprunger appointed pauper counsel.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to Francis’ residence in Vera Cruz Nov. 24 on a report that battered his wife and fired a gun into the ceiling of their home during an argument over the illness of their family dog.
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Lakia Laray Via, 23, Fort Wayne, pleaded guilty to driving while suspended, a Class A misdemeanor.
Sentenced to a year in the Wells County Jail, with all but two days suspended — credited as time served. The term of the sentence is to be served consecutively with a sentence meted in Whitley County Superior Court for violating probation from a June 2, 2021, sentencing for operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in his body, a Class C misdemeanor, and possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor.
Ordered to make a good faith effort to obtain valid driving privileges and pay court costs and probation fees.
As part of a plea agreement, one count of operating a vehicle with no or improper headlights was dismissed.
On Jan. 7, a sheriff’s deputy participated with a Bluffton Police officer in a traffic stop of a vehicle Via was driving after the Bluffton officer noticed a headlight out on the vehicle. She had a prior conviction in Allen County Superior Court Oct. 19, 2020, for driving while suspended.
