Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Jason Michael Morlan, 38, rural Craigville, charged with domestic battery, a Level 6 felony, and invasion of privacy, a Class A misdemeanor. Bond continued at $6,500.
Morlan is charged with battering his estranged wife Jan. 19. There was also a protective order in place requiring Morlan to have no contact with the woman.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Victoria Brown, 21, Bluffton, charged with domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor. Bond continued at $1,500. Patrick Miller appointed public defender.
Brown is charged with battering her fiance at Premier Flats Jan. 12. Brown reportedly struck the man several times in the face during an argument in their vehicle in the parking lot of the apartment complex.
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Probation transferred from Huntington County to Wells County for Andrea N. Haupert, 36, Bluffton, charged with dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, a Class A felony.
The duration of her probation is until Nov. 10, 2028.
Ordered to successfully complete the Grace and Mercy program, pay a transfer fee and monthly user’s fees.
Infractions
David L. Franklin, 70, Warren; illegal passing of a school bus when the bus’ stop arm is extended, 700 block of North Main Street.
Morgan S. Banks, 18, Bluffton; driving while suspended, Ind. 1 in Lancaster Township.
Maung Maung, 27, Fort Wayne; 64 mph-45 zone and operating a motor vehicle without insurance, 450E at 400N.
David Somitz, 25, Fort Wayne; no valid driver’s license in his possession and operating a motor vehicle without insurance, 450E at U.S. 224. Fined $14.50 and assessed court costs of $135.50.
Mathew S. Kardys, 31, Bluffton; driving while suspended, 200 block of East Dustman Road.
Andrea Willoughby, 29, Ossian; driving while suspended, Jefferson Street at LaFever Street, Ossian.
James W. Falk, 66, rural Uniondale; driving while suspended and operating a motor vehicle without insurance, Jefferson Street south of Young Street, Ossian.
Pa Ta Ma, 20, Fort Wayne; driving while suspended and 86 mph-45 zone, 450E at 700N. Fined $29 and assessed court costs of $135.50.
Civil Cases
Complaint for payment of $3,850.31 plus court costs filed by CitiBank, Vernon Hills, Ill., against Barbara Captain, rural Bluffton.
Complaints for payment filed by Total Recovery Services, Fort Wayne, against: Jessica Vasquez, Bluffton, $1,599.52; David Bowers, Ossian, $2,549; Timothy Bryan, Bluffton, $5,999.46; Arlene Beck, Bluffton, $7,080.70
Verified request for court order for vehicle title filed by Matthew Jon Liby, Bluffton, for a 2015 Polaris 850 Sportsman 4-wheeled all-terrain vehicle.
Complaint for possession and for non-payment of rent filed by Silo Farms mobile home park against tenants: Bradley and Jeremy Brown, $418; Chance T. Simmons, $442.
Complaint for damages filed by Dianne Garcia, Bluffton, against Neff Sales and Development, doing business as Spring Wayne Apartments, Bluffton. Garcia is asking the court to order the defendant to pay an amount commensurate to the damages she suffered after a fall on the ice in the parking lot of the apartment complex.
Complaint for payment of $1,717.15 plus interest and costs filed by LVNV Funding, Greenville, S.C., against Kathryn Hier, Bluffton.
Complaint for possession and for non-payment of rent filed by Solid Rock Rentals, Bluffton, against Alexis Baker, Bluffton.
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Richard Cory Elzey, Fort Wayne, and Stephanie N. Elzey, Uniondale.
Complaint for payment of $7,924.85 filed by U.S. Bank National Association, Indianapolis, against Robert Swisher, rural Bluffton.
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Heather Christine Knight, Bluffton, and Joshua Mark Knight, rural Warren.
Complaint for payment of $20,218.63 filed by Snow & Sauerteig, Fort Wayne, against Whitney K. Schwartz, Bluffton.
File Reports
Reports of receipts and expenditures of political committees have been filed with the Wells County Clerk’s office by:
• Stephanie Tucker for Ossian Town Council Committee, Stephanie A. Tucker, Ossian, Libertarian, for Ossian Town Council at Large.
For the period beginning Oct. 15 and ending Dec. 31, the committee showed $69 in cash on hand, no itemized nor unitemized contributions or receipts, and no expenditures.
The committee ended the reporting period with $69.85 in cash on hand.
The committee owed no debt.
For year-to-date 2022, the committee began the reporting period with no cash on hand, received $5,138 in itemized contributions and receipts, no unitemized contributions or receipts, made $5,068.15 in itemized expenditures, no unitemized expenditures and ended the reporting period with $69.85 in cash on hand.
• Tara G. Bowersock for Zanesville Town Clerk, Tara Gale Bowersock, Zanesville, Republican for Zanesville Clerk-Treasurer.
For the period beginning Oct. 15 and ending Dec. 31, 2022, the committee showed no cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period, received no itemized nor unitemized contributions or receipts, no itemized nor unitemized expenditures and ended with no cash on hand and no debt.
For year-to-date, 2022, the committee showed no cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period, no itemized nor unitemized contributions or receipts, no itemized nor unitemized expenditures, and ended the reporting period with no cash on hand.
• Brian Hollingsworth for County Council, Brian Lee Hollingsworth, rural Bluffton, Democrat for Wells County Council District 1.
For the period beginning Oct. 15 and ending Dec. 31, 2022, the committee showed no cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period, no itemized nor unitemized contributions or receipts, no itemized nor unitemized expenditures, and ended the reporting period with no cash on hand.
The committee owed no debt.
For year-to-date, the committee showed no cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period, no itemized nor unitemized contributions or receipts, no itemized nor unitemized expenditures, and ended the reporting period with no cash on hand.
• Brian Lambert for County Council, Brian James Lambert, rural Bluffton, Republican for Wells County Council District 1.
For the period beginning Oct. 15 and ending Dec. 31, the committee showed no cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period, no itemized nor unitemized contributions or receipts, no itemized nor unitemized expenditures, and ended the reporting period with $1,692.86 in cash on hand.
The committee owed no debt.
For year-to-date 2022, the committee began the reporting period with no cash on hand, received $6,140 in itemized contributions or receipts, $285 in unitemized contributions or receipts, made $4,918.34 in itemized expenditures, no unitemized expenditures and ended the reporting period with $1,692.86 in cash on hand.
• Nathanael Wilson for Trustee, Nathanael A. Wilson, rural Markle, Republican for Rockcreek Township Trustee.
For the period beginning Oct. 13 and ending Dec. 31, the committee showed $105 in cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period, $367.36 in itemized contributions and receipts, no unitemized contributions or receipts, $427.36 in itemized expenditures, no unitemized expenditures and ended the reporting period with no cash on hand.
The committee owed $367.36 in debt to the candidate himself.
The lone itemized contribution of $367.36 was from the candidate himself.
The lone itemized expenditure of $472.36 was to New Haven Print, Fort Wayne, for mailers.
For year-to-date 2022, the committee began the reporting period with no cash on hand, recorded $867.36 in itemized contributions and receipts, no unitemized contributions or receipts, made $867.36 in itemized expenditures, had no unitemized expenditures, and ended the reporting period with no cash on hand.
• Colin Andrews for Prosecutor, Colin Andrews, Bluffton, Republican for Wells County Prosecutor.
For the period beginning Oct. 15 and ending Dec. 31, the committee showed $10,627.31 in cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period, received $8,665.62 in itemized contributions and receipts, no unitemized contributions or receipts, made $18,576.63 in itemized expenditures, $21.50 in unitemized expenditures, and ended the reporting period with $694.80 in cash on hand.
The committee owed $4,326.96 in debt to the candidate himself.
Itemized contributions were from: Michael Vanover, rural Keystone, $4,300; and the candidate himself, $4,365.62.
Itemized expenditures were $5,544 to Veronica Wilson, rural Markle, for consulting fees; $300 to Midland LLC, Midland, Texas, for billboard advertising; $12,492.48 to New Haven Print, Fort Wayne, for campaign mailers; and $240.15 to WinRed.com, Arlington, Va.
For the year-to-date 2022, the committee began the reporting period with $2,10 in cash on hand, $18,455.77 in itemized contributions and receipts, $204.01 in unitemized contributions and receipts, $19,961.78 in itemized expenditures, $143.20 in unitemized expenditures and ended the reporting period with $694.80 in cash on hand.
• Carnall for Prosecutor, Andrew J. Carnall, Bluffton, Democrat for Wells County Prosecuting Attorney.
For the period beginning Oct. 15 and ending Dec. 31, the committee showed $844.47 in cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period, no itemized contributions or receipts, no unitemized contributions or receipts, $871.44 in itemized expenditures, $3.03 in unitemized expenditures and ended the reporting period with no cash on hand.
The committee owed no debt.
The lone itemized expenditure was $871.44 to the candidate himself to repay the debt owed by the campaign to Carnall.
File Statements
Candidates’ statements of organization and designation of principal committee or exploratory committee have been filed with the Wells County Clerk’s office by:
• Michelle Lyn Simon, Bluffton, Republican for Bluffton City Clerk-Treasurer.
Simon is serving as her own chairperson and treasurer. The designated depository for campaign funds is First Bank of Berne.
• Scott Alan Mentzer, Bluffton, Republican for Bluffton Common Council District 4.
Mentzer is serving as his own chairperson. The campaign’s treasurer to Dayle A. Mentzer, Bluffton.
The designated depository for campaign funds is First Bank of Berne.
Declares Candidacy
A declaration of candidacy for municipal primary nomination in 2023 has been filed with the Wells County Clerk’s office by Scott Alan Mentzer, Bluffton, seeking the Republican nomination for Bluffton Common Council District 4.
