Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
One-day jury trial set for 8:30 a.m. Aug. 1 for Joshua Scott Morris, 32, rural Montpelier, charged with strangulation, a Level 6 felony; domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor, and intimidation, a Class A misdemeanor.
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One-day jury trial set for 8:30 a.m. May 23 for Justice Sierra Madelene Hicks, 22, Ossian, charged with possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor; operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in her body, a Class C misdemeanor; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.
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Heather Gorney, 35, Fort Wayne, pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in her blood with a prior conviction for the same offense, a Level 6 felony.
The court vacated the judgment as a felony and reduced it to Class A misdemeanor.
Ordered to serve 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 pay the costs associated with his blood test, pay a $200 Countermeasures fee, court costs and probation fees.
As part of a plea agreement, charges of possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor were both dismissed. Also, in a separate case, charges of possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor, were dismissed.
On Jan. 13, 2021, while on patrol, a Bluffton police officer reported detecting a whiff of marijuana. He could not locate the exact source but thought it might have been coming from the vehicle in front of him.
He decided to perform a license plate check and discovered the registered owner of the vehicle — Gorney — had a suspended driver’s license. He pulled it over.
Gorney provided the officer with a valid driver’s license out of South Carolina and also told him that she had paid reinstatement fees to have her license validated in Indiana.
The officer then told her that he smelled marijuana. She reportedly denied smoking marijuana. The officer requested consent to search the vehicle. She reportedly denied that as well, but the officer told her he did have probable cause because of the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
A search reportedly turned up a smoking pipe with a green leafy substance that had the odor and appearance of marijuana in the bowl, a clear container with a green leafy substance that had the odor and appearance of marijuana and a white container with marijuana. She reportedly denied ownership.
Gorney also failed two of three field sobriety tests and allegedly admitted to the officer that if her blood was tested, it would test positive for THC.
She allegedly admitted to having taken a couple “hits” prior to driving because she was not feeling well and it prevented her from vomiting.
Infractions
Default judgment of $14.50 and court costs of $135.50 entered against Sandra D. Denis, 37, rural Warren, cited for driving while suspended. A citation for operating motor vehicle without insurance was dismissed.
Kyle W. Burch, 29, rural Keystone, violated probation by failing to report to a residential detoxification and treatment program; failure to pay the costs and fees associated with his sentencing and being arrested in Wells County for dealing narcotic drugs, a Level 2 felony.
Ordered to serve 220 days in the Wells County Jail and pay $245 in fees.
Upon completion of the term of his sentence his probation in this case will terminate.
Burch was originally sentenced Oct. 12, 2021, on one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class A misdemeanor.
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José Martinez Hernandez, 26, Fort Wayne, charged with possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor; improper or no taillight and/or license plate light, a Class C infraction; and open alcoholic beverage container during operation of a motor vehicle, a Class C misdemeanor entered into a contract to withhold prosecution/pre-trial diversion.
The duration of the contract is 12 months. If Hernandez follows the rules established by the Wells County Probation Department during that time period, the charges against him will be dismissed once the period is expired.
Ordered to pay court costs and user’s fees.
While patrolling Ind. 1 northbound Aug. 2, 2022, a sheriff’s deputy noticed a 2012 Chevrolet Impala ahead of him weaving in its lane. He pulled it over.
Upon speaking with the driver, identified as Hernandez, the deputy reported being able to smell an “overwhelming” aroma of body spray mingled with marijuana.”
The deputy asked Hernandez if there was anything illegal in his vehicle and Herman allegedly replied not that he knew of.
An Indiana State Police trooper arrived to assist and Hernandez’s car was searched. During the search, reportedly an open can of Monaco cocktail was reportedly found along with a small clear plastic bag of a green leafy plant material with the odor and appearance of marijuana.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Carter Andrew-Rose Jackson, 21, listed as homeless, charged with domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, a Level 6 felony. Bond set at $5,000, surety only. Larry Mock appointed public defender.
Jackson is charged with battering a girlfriend at the Bluffton residence they shared Jan. 30.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Fortino Reyes Castillo, 32, Greenwood, charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor; operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalency of .15 percent or more, a Class A misdemeanor; knowingly or intentionally operating a motor vehicle without ever having been issued a driver’s license, a Class C misdemeanor; and driving left of center, a Class C infraction. Larry Mock appointed public defender.
A sheriff’s deputy was monitoring traffic in the 1700 block of North Main Street Feb. 8 when he heard a loud crash and looked over in time to see a 2015 Nissan Altima driving off Main Street after having apparently crashed into the center crosswalk sign in front of the Willowbrook Hosuing addition. The deputy reported seeing the Altima drive off the road and down into a steep ditch in front of Professional Federal Credit Union.
The deputy hustled over to see if anyone was hurt and discovered Castillo behind the steering wheel. The deputy observed in his report that Castillo appeared intoxicated and there was an odor of alcohol emanating from the interior of the vehicle.
The deputy, using Google translate to communicate with Castillo, wrote that he told Castillo to turn off the car and to exit it, but that Castillo seemed to be unable to understand either command. The deputy then asked Catillo if he was hurt and Castillo reportedly replied he was not.
Eventually Castillo exited the vehicle and was taken into custody.
Through a human translator, Castillo allegedly admitted to having drank four to five Corona beers. A portable Breathalyzer test reportedly showed Castillo had an alcohol concentration equivalency of .268 percent, or more than three times Indiana’s legal limit for intoxication of .08 percent.
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Dominic Irelan, 18, Bluffton, pleaded guilty to minor consuming alcohol, a Class C misdemeanor.
Sentenced to 60 days in the Wells County Jail, all suspended, and placed on probation for one year.
Ordered to undergo substance abuse evaluation, and pay court costs and probation fees.
As part of a plea agreement, one count of minor in possession of alcohol, a Class C misdemeanor, was dismissed.
Irelan was one of several minors detained after police broke up an underage drinking party in the 700 block of West Wiley Avenue Dec. 31.
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Lucas Matthew Grady, 18, Bluffton, charged with minor consuming alcohol and minor in possession of alcohol, both Class C misdemeanors, entered into a contract to withhold prosecution/pre-trial diversion.
The duration of the contract is one year. If Grady follows all of the rules set for him in the contract, the charges against him will be dismissed.
Ordered to write a 500-word book report from one of the books on the pre-trial diversion list, pay court costs and user’s fees.
Grady was detained following the same party as Irelan.
Civil Cases
Motion to dismiss granted to defendant Tony Shively in the complaint for payment case of Vonita Royal, Bluffton, against Tony Shively, Bluffton.
Complaint for payment of $1,675 filed by BCG Capital, Bluffton, against Cregg Riley, Bluffton.
Wells Circuit Court
Criminal Cases
Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Rodney Eugene Hedgecraft, 52, Anderson, charged with failure to register as a sex or violent offender, a Level 5 felony. Bond continued at $10,000. Larry Mock appointed public defender.
Hedegecraft reportedly failed to register as a sex offender with the Wells County sex offender registrar while he was a patient at the Praxis substance abuse treatment facility 1529 W. Lancaster St. Feb. 1. Reportedly at that time. Hedgecraft was also arrested on a parole retake warrant.
Hedgecraft is required to register as a sex offender for life following a conviction of a sex offense in Madison County in 2003.
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Victor Patrick Kirk Bell, 27, Angola, pleaded guilty to failure to register as a sex or violent offender, a Level 5 felony.
Ordered to serve 1,460 days in prison with 913 days suspended. Credited for 132 days spent in confinement awaiting disposition of his case with said credit of days to be considered in assessing good conduct time credit.
Placed on probation for 913 days.
Ordered to submit a DNA sample, pay a $250 supplemental public defender service fund fee, court costs and probation fees.
Bell reportedly failed to register with the Wells County Sex Offender Registrar after moving to Wells County from Grant County in September of 2022. Bell is required to register as a sex offender until 2031 following a conviction in Grant County Superior Court 2 for sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 5 felony.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Zachary Thomas Harper, 29, Bluffton, charged with child molesting, a Level 4 felony. Bond continued at $10,000. Eric Orr is serving as Harper’s attorney.
Harper is charged with having inappropriate sexual contact with a boy under the age of 10 at a Bluffton residence in 2022.
Marriage Licenses
Bryce Aaron Morrow, 28, rural Ossian, and Zowie Anne Flowers, 23, rural Decatur.
