Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Wes Ricker, 36, Bluffton, charged with operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalency of .15 percent or more and operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, both Class A misdemeanors and operating a motor vehicle without insurance, a Class A infraction. Bond continued at $1,500. Pauper status denied.
Ricker is charged with crashing his 2014 Ford Fiesta into a parked 2022 Ford Maverick on Mulberry Street between Wiley and Central avenues Feb. 9. At the time of the crash, Ricker allegedly admitted he had “a lot to drink.”
Ricker reportedly smelled of alcohol, failed standardized field sobriety tests, and blew a .250 percent alcohol concentration equivalency on a Breathalyzer test.
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Megan Edwards, 19, Bluffton, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.
Sentenced to 60 days in the Wells County Jail on each of the charges. The terms of the sentences are to be served concurrently. Assessed court costs of $185 and a drug interdiction fee of $200. The term of the sentence is to be served consecutively with a 36-day sentence meted against Edwards for violating probation from a Feb. 8, 2021, sentencing for operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in her body, a Class C misdemeanor.
Edwards was credited for two days spent in confinement awaiting disposition of her case.
On Feb. 9, while performing a probation search at the request of the Wells County Probation Department on the residence where Edwards was living in the 1000 block of South Oak Street, officers reportedly found two balls of green leafy plant material with the odor and appearance of marijuana, a fake beer can containing a green leafy plant material with the odor and appearance of marijuana, a black plastic canister labeled “Apple Fritter Bud” containing a high concentration of THC, two marijuana seeds, a black and silver smoking pipe, scales and five small roaches — the slang term for a hand-rolled marijuana cigarette.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Dakkota Lee Weiss, 22, Fort Wayne, charged with carrying a handgun without a license, a Class A misdemeanor; possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor; operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in his body, a Class C misdemeanor; possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor; operating a motor vehicle without insurance, a Class A infraction, and operating a vehicle with an expired license plate, a Class C infraction.
While monitoring traffic on Ind. 1 Feb. 9, a sheriff’s deputy spotted a 2012 Dodge Charger with a headlihgt out, pulled in behind it and pulled it over.
The deputy and a deputy in training with the deputy, both noted in a report to the court that there was an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.
When asked about the odor, Weiss allegedly hesitated and then told the deputies he had an over an ounce of marijuana in the vehicle. He also allegedly advised the deputies he had a handgun in the backseat of the vehicle.
Weiss also allegedly admitted to the deputy he had smoked marijuana while he was at work.
During a pat down of Weiss, a deputy reported he found a vape system containing THC.
A search of the vehicle allegedly turned up 28 grams of marijuana, THC vape cartridges, and multiple items of drug paraphernalia.
The deputies also located a Glock 9 millimeter handgun in the backseat.
Files Statement
A candidate’s statement of organization and designation of principal committee or exploratory committee has been filed with the Wells County Clerk’s office by Brian James Lambert, rural Bluffton, Republican for Wells County Council. Joshua D. Hunt is serving as the campaign’s chairman. The treasurer is Lacey Lambert, rural Bluffton. First Bank of Berne is serving as the depository for campaign funds.
Marriage Licenses
Minerva Liliana Silas, 40, Bluffton, and Adam Lee Oliver, 37, Bluffton.
Logan James Walker, 20, Bluffton, and Abigail Hope Enochs, 20, Petroleum.
