Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Hagaen Matthew Slusher, 20, South Whitley, charged with resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor, and minor consuming alcohol, a Class C misdemeanor.
While investigating a report of an underage drinking party in the 500 block of West Central Avenue Jan. 28, a Bluffton police officer stationed himself at the back door of the residence. He could clearly see that there were multiple young people inside the house.
The officer observed in his report to the court that he could see that they were trying to leave the residence through the back door. He ordered them to go back inside but they reportedly burst out the door and took off running.
The officer gave chase and Slusher became the one he locked onto after the others scattered. He ordered Slusher to stop but he reportedly refused and kept running in an alley before stumbling into a bicycle parked in the alley. The officer then was able to catch him and place him into custody.
Slusher reportedly blew a .044 percent alcohol concentration on a Breathalyzer test.
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Order of conditional discharge entered for Karla C. Levitz, 63, charged with possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor; possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor; and no or improper taillights and or license plate lights.
The duration of deferred proceedings is one year. If Levitz follows all of the rules set for her by the probation department, the charges against her will be dismissed.
Ordered to pay $100 in fees.
A sheriff’s deputy was patrolling north on Ind. 1 north of Ossian at 1:46 a.m. Jan. 30 when he spotted an oncoming vehicle and decided to check his side view mirror as it passed. He observed the vehicle — a silver pickup truck — had no lit passenger side taillight. He decided to pull the vehicle over.
The driver, identified as Levitz, reportedly told the deputy she was unaware she had a taillight burned out and wanted to check it out. The deputy allowed her to exit the vehicle and in the process, reportedly a strong odor of both raw and burned marijuana wafted from the passenger compartment of the truck.
Levitz reportedly denied having smoked marijuana but did not know if there was anything illegal in the truck.
The deputy, with assistance from two other deputies, began searching the vehicle. Allegedly they found several types of cannabis products including pre-rolls, a roach, cannabis mints and cannabis infused espresso beans, as well as a multi-colored glass smoking pipe.
Civil Cases
Complaints for possession and for non-payment of rent filed by Bluffton Woods mobile home park against tenants: Tristan McPherson and Ashley Garza. Amount owed is to be determined by the court.
Complaints for payment filed by Snow & Sauerteig, Fort Wayne, against: Brent R. Schwartz, Ossian, $9,473.85; Kaitlyn McKinley, Bluffton, $10,115; Brittany Messina, Bluffton, $10,115; John R. Masterson, Bluffton, $4,111.25; Sharon Hill, Bluffton, $10,115; Jonelle Gibson, Bluffton, $4,078.76; Benjamin Crosswhite, Ossian, $3,925.51;
Complaint for payment of $2,496.57 and interest of $493.56 filed by OneMain Financial Group LLC, Evansville, against Logan C. Haler, Bluffton.
Complaint for payment of $815.68 filed by Portfolio Recovery Associates, Vernon Hills, Ill., against Kelly Wagers, Ossian.
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Joshua Ryan Roseberry, Ossian, and Kaitlyn Marie Roseberry, Ossian.
Complaints for possession filed by Oka Corp., Bluffton, against James Meyers, Bluffton, $1,200.
Complaint for possession and for non-payment of rent in an amount to be determined filed by Premier Flats, Bluffton, against tenant Edwin Wheeler.
Wells Circuit Court
Civil Cases
Complaint for payment of $5,617.56 filed by OneMain Financial LLC, Evansville, against Christopher R. Claghorn, Bluffton.
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Ron Hayes, Tocsin, and Vickie Hayes, Silver Springs, Fla.
Complaints for payment filed by Portfolio Recovery Associates, Norfolk, Va., against: Dale M. Pitman, Bluffton, $3,127.06; Kendall Eicher, Bluffton, $1,192.73.
Bluffton City Court
Kevin Joel Melendez Lopez, 25, Indianapolis; disregarding a lighted signal, Main Street at Wiley Avenue.
Sarah L. Lancaster, 61, Albany; 60 mph-40 zone, Main Street at Jackson Street during the period of the day when the speed limit is reduced from 55 mph to 40 mph because of the school zone.
Nicholas A. Yoder, 40, rural Decatur; 75 mph-55 zone, Ind. 1 north of 1100N.
Titus N. Todd, 26, rural Pennville; operating a motor vehicle with a license plate that belongs on another vehicle, Ind. 1 at 1000N.
Douglas A. Edwards, 19, Linn Grove; unlawful possession of tobacco by a minor, Washington Street at Columbian Avenue.
Hu Sa Man, 26, Fort Wayne; 55 mph-40 zone, Main Street at Willowbrook Trail.
Kyle L. Bedwell, 20, Selma; failure to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle, I-69 at the 292 mile marker.
Chase A. Blem, 19, Bluffton; 48 mph-30 zone, 200 block of East Dustman Road.
Declare Candidacy
Declarations of candidacy for municipal primary nomination in 2023 have been filed with the Wells County Clerk’s office by:
• Joshua Daniel Hunt, Bluffton, Republican seeking election to the Bluffton Common Council District 2.
• Ronald James Neuenschwander, Bluffton, Republican for Bluffton Common Council at Large.
• Ethan Albert Sommerfield, Bluffton, Republican for Bluffton Common Council at Large.
