Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
Nicole J. Baughman, 30, Decatur, pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle after having been found to be an habitual traffic violator, a Level 6 felony.
Ordered to serve two years in prison, with all but 20 days suspended — credited as time served, and placed on probation for 710 days.
Ordered to serve 180 days of home detention, submit a DNA sample, and pay court costs and probation fees.
As part of a plea agreement, one count of distracted driving, a Class C infraction, was dismissed.
While checking for distracted drivers on Midway Avenue May 10, 2021, a Bluffton police officer saw Baughman pass by with what appeared to be a cellphone held up to her ear. The officer pulled the vehicle over.
During the course of the traffic stop, the officer learned that Baughman had a warrant for her arrest out of Adams County. She also had a previous conviction in Adams Superior Court for operating a vehicle after having been found to be an habitual traffic violator on May 23, 2017.
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Aaron Lee Thomas, 32, Ossian, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a hypodermic syringe and failure to appear in court, both Level 6 felonies — with an habitual offender enhancement.
Sentenced to 2,007 days in prison on the hypodermic syringe charge with the habitual offender enhancement, and to 36 days in the Wells County Jail on the failure to appear charge. The 36 days was credited as time served but no credit was given for the 2,007 days. In meting the sentence the court observed that Thomas has a history of criminal and delinquent behavior.
Assessed a total of $370 in court costs.
As part of a plea agreement, two of possession of a narcotic drug, both Level 6 felonies, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor, were dismissed.
On Aug. 8, 2020, sheriff’s deputies and Wells County EMS responded to a rural Uniondale residence on a report of an unresponsive person.
Thomas was that person.
Reportedly he had overdosed on heroin. He was revived and transported to the hospital. Evidence of his heroin usage was found near where he was lying on the floor of a cabin at the residence.
Thomas also failed to appear for a status hearing in the case set for Jan. 4
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Lara R. Miller, 45, Huntington, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a legend drug, both Level 6 felonies.
Sentenced to two years in prison, with all but 108 days suspended — credited as time served, and placed on probation for one year.
Ordered to submit a DNA sample and pay court costs and probation fees.
As part of a plea agreement, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.
On Nov. 9, 2021, Bluffton police officers assisted the Wells County Probation Department in a search of the room at the Bluffton Budget Inn, 1090 N. Main St., where Miller was staying with Sabbian Miller.
Neither was at the room when officers arrived, so they were advised to be on the lookout for the Chevrolet Monte Carlo that Sabbian Miller normally drives and pull it over for a search.
An officer pulled the vehicle over on Arrowhead Trail just off Main Street.
Following the traffic stop, the two, along with their male passenger, were taken back to the apartment where the probation search was performed.
Allegedly a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine along with several different types of prescription pain killers, for which no one occupying the room had a prescription — as well as drug paraphernalia — were found.
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Two-day jury trial set to commence at 8:30 a.m. June 28 for Troy J. Shake, 36, rural Huntington, charged with domestic battery with a prior conviction for the same offense, a Level 6 felony.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Henry E. Delcid, 28, Fort Wayne, charged with operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalency of .15 percent or more, operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, and driving while suspended with a prior conviction, all Class A misdemeanors; knowingly or intentionally operating a motor vehicle while never 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.
On Jan. 29, on Marzane Road near Zanesville, a sheriff’s deputy spotted a blue 2008 GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle pulled off on the berm with its turn signal on. The deputy found that odd but continued on and then noticed that the Yukon turned around in the road and started to head the opposite direction. The deputy also turned around and followed.
The deputy observed that the vehicle was weaving within its lane as it headed south on Marzane, so the deputy pulled the vehicle over.
The deputy observed in his report that Delcid appeared intoxicated and blew .207 percent alcohol concentration equivalency on a Breathalyzer test. The legal limit for intoxication in Indiana is .08 percent alcohol concentration equivalency.
The deputy decided not to perform field sobriety tests as Delcid indicated he understood very little English. Delcid did allegedly admit to the deputy he had six beers to drink.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Tony J. Worthington, 40, Fort Wayne, charged with failure to appear in court, a Level 6 felony. Bond continued at $5,000. Jeffrey Stineburg appointed public defender.
Worthington is charged with failing to appear Nov. 18, 2021,for a change of plea hearing on original charges of intimidation, a Level 6 felony, and intimidation, a Class A misdemeanor.
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Joshua LaRoy Jones, 29, Bluffton, pleaded guilty to theft, a Class A misdemeanor.
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 pay Walmart Stores East LP $209 in restitution, and pay court costs and probation fees.
The security surveillance system at the Bluffton Walmart Supercenter on Nov. 6 reportedly captured an image of Jones failing to pay for a dining room table and chair set at the self-checkout aisle.
Jones reportedly told the investigating officer that he could not recall skip scanning the table and chairs and added that he must have “space out.”
Infractions
Costs and fees of $150 assessed against Ashley Danyel Smith, 23, Bluffton, charged with operating a motor vehicle without insurance.
Costs and fees of $179 assessed against Autumn M. Wallace, 22, Fort Wayne, who admitted to speeding, driving while suspended and operating a motor vehicle without insurance.
Civil Cases
Marriage of Katlyn Foss and Christopher Bender dissolved.
Judgment of $2,373.45 plus court costs of $115 entered for Three Rivers Federal Credit Union, Fort Wayne, Trevor James Coleman and Gabriel J. Marshall, both of Bluffton.
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Justin A. Wilkinson, whose address is listed as the Indiana Department of Correction New Castle Correctional Facility, New Castle, and Savannah Leigh Hartman, whose address is listed as the Indiana Department of Correction Plainfield Correctional Facility, Plainfield.
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Nathan E. Billman, Zanesville, and Angela M. Billman, Zanesville.
Complaints for payment filed by AAA Acceptance Corp., Fort Wayne, against: Brandon Betz, rural Bluffton, $2,087.83; Grayson Hogg, Hartford City, $634.83; Ashlyn Graham, Bluffton, $1,403.83; James Guenin, Bluffton, $2,160.83; Sarah Mustard-Heil, Fort Wayne, $2,880.83; Jarvis Carlisle, Ossian, $5,035.83; Mary Deavers, rural Bryant, $2,936.83; Benjamin J. Shuttleworth, Warren, $1,941.83.
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Erin S. Lee, Bluffton, and Lindsey N. Lee, Berne.
Complaints for payment filed by William J. Berghoff, Fort Wayne, against Christian Poling and Amanda Eguia, Bluffton, $9,896.99; and Austin and Ashley Phillips, Marion, $9,511.23.
Wells Circuit Court
Criminal Cases
Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Alecsander Dominguez-Gonzalez, 42, Fort Recovery, Ohio, charged with domestic battery with bodily injury to a pregnant woman, a Level 5 felony. Bond continued at $25,000. Larry Mock appointed public defender.
Gonzalez was charged with battering a woman who was seven months pregnant with his child June 30, 2019.
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Isaac Matthew West, 40, Bluffton, violated probation by testing positive for amphetamine, codeine and morphine Nov. 39, 2021; testing positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine, morphine and fentanyl Nov. 30, 2021, and testing positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine, and morphine Dec. 2, 2021; and failing to truthfully answer all reasonable questions asked by his probation officer.
Ordered to serve a day in the Wells County Jail, credited as time served, and returned to probation.
West was originally sentenced Oct. 4, 2021, on two counts of burglary, one a Level 4 felony and the other a Level 5 felony.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Orlando Morrell Williams Jr., 30, Bluffton, charged with domestic battery with a prior conviction for the same offense, a Level 5 felony; two counts of intimidation of law enforcement personnel, both Level 6 felonies; and resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor. Bond continued at $71,500.
Williams is charged with battering a female acquaintance at the residence they shared in the 900 block of South Marion Street Jan. 30. During officers’ and deputies’ attempts to place Williams under arrest, he allegedly tightened up and resisted. He also allegedly made threats of physical harm to the arresting officers.
Williams has a prior conviction in Adams County Superior Court Aug. 4, 2016, for domestic battery.
Declare Candidacy
Declarations of candidacy have been filed with the Wells County Clerk’s office by:
• Melanie Hollingsworth, rural Bluffton, seeking to be Chester Township precinct committeeman for the Democratic Party,
• Mark Shaffer, rural Petroleum, seeking the Democratic Party nomination for Nottingham Township Trustee.
• Rebecca Johnson, rural Keystone, seeking election as a delegate to the Republican state convention.
• Dylan McIntosh, Markle, seeking the Democratic nomination for Rockcreek Township Advisory Board. McIntosh is also seeking to be the Democratic precinct committeeman for Rockcreek Township.
• Cierra L. Thomspon, rural Bluffton, seeking election as a party delegate to the Republican state convention.
• Scott Mentzer, Bluffton, seeking election as a party delegate to the Republican state convention.
• Dayle Mentzer, Bluffton, seeking election as a party delegate to the Republican state convention.
• David Haiflich, rural Ossian, seeking the Republican nomination for Jefferson Township Advisory Board.
• James A. Wolf, rural Craigville, seeking the Republican nomination for Jefferson Township Advisory Board.
• Joy Hann, Bluffton, seeking election as a precinct committeeman for the Democratic Party.
• Richard R. Smith, rural Craigville, seeking the Republican nomination for Lancaster Township Advisory Board.
• John C. Bodner II, Ossian, seeking the Democratic nomination for Ossian Town Council at Large and election as precinct committeeman for the Ossian Town Council.
• Edward McEvoy, Bluffton, seeking election as a Democratic precinct committeeman.
• Kathy Burnsworth-McEvoy, Bluffton, seeking election as a Democratic precinct committeeman.
• Bruce A. Herr, rural Warren, seeking the Republican nomination for Jackson Township Trustee.
• Case Ferree, Ossian, seeking election as a party delegate to the Republican state convention.
Withdraws Candidacy
Edward McEvoy, Bluffton, has filed notice that he wishes to withdraw his candidacy for Democratic precinct committeeman for Bluffton 2.
Marriage Licenses
Alexis Joy Gerber, 21, Bluffton, and Nicholas Boone Fields, 30, Bluffton.
Lorraine Pearl Williams, 20, Ossian, and Cibe Michael Emley, 20, Ossian.
Abraham Justus Herr, 22, rural Warren, and McKenna Starr Eltzroth, 22, rural Montpelier.
