Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
Aaron George Shorts, 25, Fort Wayne, pleaded guilty to invasion of privacy, a Class A misdemeanor.
Sentenced to a year in the Wells County Jail, with all but 90 days suspended — credited as time served, and placed on probation for 275 days.
Ordered to have no contact with his victim and pay court costs and probation fees.
As part of a plea agreement, one count of disorderly conduct, a Class B misdemeanor, and two additional counts of invasion of privacy, both Class A misdemeanors, were dismissed.
On Dec. 22, 2021, while working a security detail at Berne Apparel, 2501E-850N, Ossian, a sheriff’s deputy witnessed a man and a transgendered female, both employees at the business, fighting in the parking lot.
Shorts was the male half of the fight.
When the deputy spoke with both, neither wished to pursue the matter further.
The deputy later discovered that there was a protective order between Shorts and the female as they had previously been in a relationship.
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Hugo Sanchez, 28, Bluffton, pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalency of .15 percent or more, a Class A misdemeanor. Sanchez was also found to be an habitual traffic violator.
Sentenced to 385 days in prison. Credited for 188 days spent in confinement awaiting disposition of his case. Assessed court costs of $185.50.
As part of a plea agreement, charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor, two counts of knowingly or intentionally operating a motor vehicle while never having been issued a driver’s license, both Class C misdemeanors, and driving left of center and speeding, both Class C infractions, were dismissed.
While patrolling Main Street northbound near Spring Street May 20, 2019, a state police trooper noticed a black Audi Sanchez was driving travel left of center. The trooper pulled the vehicle over.
The trooper recognized Sanchez because he had pulled over a vehicle Sanchez was driving days earlier and had cited him for operating a motor vehicle while never having been issued a driver’s license. Sanchez only had an “international” driver’s license, which is not valid in Indiana. Sanchez insisted to the trooper that he was told by a Wells County prosecuting attorney that an international license was valid.
The trooper started to prepare a summons for Sanchez, but in the meantime, Sanchez reportedly exited his vehicle and started walking toward a nearby liquor store. The trooper ordered Sanchez back to his vehicle.
While explaining the summons to Sanchez, the trooper reported he smelled alcohol. The trooper asked Sanchez about the odor and Sanchez denied having anything to drink. He then reportedly held up a child’s cup.
Sanchez reportedly failed field sobriety tests and blew a .264 percent alcohol concentration on a Breathalyzer test, which is more than three times Indiana’s legal limit for intoxication of .08 percent.
Declare candidacy
Declaration of candidacy for primary nomination in 2022 have been filed in the Wells County Clerk’s office by:
• Diane Ruth Markley, Bluffton, seeking the Republic Party nomination for Harrison Township Advisory Board.
• Troy K. Smith, rural Uniondale, seeking the Republican Party nomination for Jefferson Township Advisory Board.
• Athena Bagley, Bluffton, seeking election as a state convention delegate for the Republican Party.
• Leslie Bagley, Bluffton, seeking election as a delegate for the Republican Party convention.
• James Gregory Steele, rural Ossian, seeking the Republican Party nomination for Lancaster Township Advisory Board.
• David L. Rigney, Bluffton, seeking the Republican Party nomination for Lancaster Township Trustee. The name of Rigney’s campaign committee is David Rigney for Lancaster Township Trustee. The candidate himself is serving as his campaign’s chairman and treasurer. The designated depository for campaign funds is PNC Bank.
• Joshua W. Barkley, Ossian, seeking the Republican Party nomination for Ossian Town Council At-Large.
• Timothy M. Baker, rural Ossian, seeking the Republican Party nomination for Jefferson Township Advisory Board.
• Michael Skiles, rural Bluffton, seeking election as a delegate to the Republican Party state convention.
• Brian Lee Hollingsworth, rural Bluffton, seeking the Democratic Party nomination for Wells County Council District 1.
• Mitchell Peterson, rural Bluffton, seeking election as a delegate to the Republican Party state convention.
• Barbara O’Connor, Zanesville, seeking election as a delegate to the Democratic Party state convention.
• Brian Lambert, rural Bluffton, seeking the Republican Party nomination for Wells County Council District 1.
• Larry Heckber, Ossian, seeking the Republican Party nomination as Jefferson Township Trustee. The name of the campaign committee is Larry Heckber for Jefferson Township Trustee. Heckber is serving as his campaign’s chairman and treasurer. The depository for campaign funds is Farmers and Merchants State Bank.
• Taylor Vanover, Bluffton, seeking election as a delegate to the Republican Party state convention.
• Michael K. Mossburg, rural Bluffton, seeking the Republican Party nomination for Wells County Council District 1. The name of the campaign committee is Mike Mossburg for Council. The candidate himself is serving as his campaign chairman and treasurer. The designated depository for campaign funds is First Bank of Berne.
