Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
Shawn Michael Collis, 29, Bluffton, pleaded guilty to public intoxication, a Class B misdemeanor.
Sentenced to 90 days in the Wells County Jail — credited as time served, and assessed court costs of $185.
As part of a plea agreement, one county of theft with a prior conviction for either theft or conversion, a Level 6 felony, was dismissed.
At 12:49 a.m. Sept. 20, Bluffton police responded to a residence on McConnell Drive on a report that a man — later identified as Collis — was destroying property inside the residence. Collis was reportedly located by officers hiding in a closet in his bedroom and ordered out. Collis had damaged a television along with other property inside the residence.
Then at 9:47 p.m. the same day, Bluffton police responded to the Industrial Tent at the Bluffton Free Street Fair on a report that Collis was behaving belligerently in the tent and harassing a man, whom he knew, trying to get the man to give him money.
When officers arrived, they reportedly observed that Collis was indeed being belligerent and was calling the man, who was trying to avoid him, obscene names.
Collis was then placed under arrest. As they did so, a third man approached the officers and said he had been following Collis after Collis took $20 from him. The third man explained that he had been working on his vehicle when he was approached by Collis. Reportedly as the third man reached into his pocket to pull out a pair of callipers, a $20 bill also fell out of his pocket. Reportedly Collis scooped up the bill and ran away.
Collis allegedly admitted to an officer that he had taken the money to go to a liquor store and buy “shots” for himself and a friend.
Reportedly Collis’ blood alcohol concentration equivalency was .17 percent, or more than twice Indiana’s legal limit for intoxication of .08 percent.
Collis also pleaded guilty to criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor.
For that he was sentenced to 96 days in the Wells County Jail. He was credited for 84 days spent incarcerated awaiting disposition of his case and was again assessed $185 in court costs.
Collis was charged with entering the residence of an acquaintance, arguing with the occupants and then started destroying property inside the residence.
When police arrived, Collis was reportedly hiding in a closet of the residence. He was ordered by police to come out of the closet. He eventually left the residence on his own and was later arrested by warrant.
Civil Cases
Complaint for damages filed by April Hill, Fort Wayne, against American Axle and Manufacturing Inc., Bluffton. The plaintiff is a former employee of the defendant and is claiming that she was repeatedly sexually harassed by male co-workers during her course of employment at the business. She is also claiming in the suit that her attempts to seek redress to her superiors for her complaints were either ignored or met with retaliation before her employment was eventually terminated Dec. 28, 2020. Hill is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, reasonable attorney fees and costs.
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Kelly J. Tucker, Ossian, and Eric S. Tucker, Ossian.
Wells Circuit Court
Criminal Cases
Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Justin Michael Springer, 40, Bluffton, charged with two counts of failure to register as a sex or violent offender, both Level 5 felonies. Bond continued at $70,000. Larry Mock appointed public defender.
Springer is charged with failing to report both a change of address and a change in employer to the sex offender registrar. Springer was arrested at his current place of employment, Pretzel’s Inc., Dec. 12.
Civil Cases
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Maria K. Bennett, Uniondale, and Thomas L. Barrera, Fort Wayne.
Complaint for payment of $10,801.54 filed by OneMain Financial Group, Evansville, against Angela M. Jeffrey, Bluffton.
Complaint for payment of $115,064.38 and to foreclose mortgage at 515 Ingle Drive filed by Rocket Mortgage LLC, formerly known as Quicken Loans Inc., Indianapolis, against Todd J. and Marsha E. Gawronski.
Bluffton City Court
(Court costs are $135.50)
Calan M. Kerrigan, 25, Fairmount; no valid driver’s license in his possession, Ind. 3 north of 1200S.
Bench trial set for 3 p.m. March 16 for Desarae R. Decker, 25, Montpelier, cited for 72 mph-55 zone, Marzane Road at 900N.
Curtis L. Losure, 31, rural Marion; 62 mph-55 zone, Ind. 218 west of Ind. 1.
