Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
Jury trial confirmed for 9 a.m. Aug. 16 for Kody E. Doutt, 28, Huntington, charged with identity deception, a Level 6 felony; criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor; and unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, a Class B misdemeanor.
———
Michael Robert Olsen, 62, rural Markle, pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person with a prior conviction for the same or a similar offense, a Level 6 felony, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction for the same or a similar offense, a Level 6 felony. The guilty pleas were in two separate cases.
Sentenced to two years in prison on each of the charges with the terms to be served concurrently. All but two days of each sentence were suspended and credited as time served. He was placed on probation for 728 days total.
Ordered to serve 150 days of home detention and perform 240 hours of community service.
Ordered to undergo substance abuse counseling, submit a DNA sample and pay court costs and probation fees.
As part of a plea agreement, the following charges were dismissed: Two counts operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in his body with a prior conviction for the same offense, a Level 6 felony; possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 6 felony; driving while suspended with a prior conviction for the same offense, a Class A misdemeanor; two counts of possession of marijuana, both Class B misdemeanors; leaving the scene of a property damage crash, a Class B misdemeanor; possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor; driving while suspended, a Class A infraction; and driving left of center, a Class A infraction.
On May 24, 2021, sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle traffic crash on U.S. 224 west of 500W near Markle. A pickup truck had crashed into a fence.
Olsen was unresponsive at the scene and was treated by medics and transported to Lutheran Hospital.
A search of the pickup truck reportedly turned up a plastic bag containing 20 grams of “Purple Punch” marijuana, a white powdery substance identified as fentanyl, a hollowed out ink pen with a white residue, and a small straw containing white residue.
Results from a lab test returned to the sheriff’s department on Sept. 23 showed traces of marijuana, cocaine, fentanyl, oxycodone and Naloxone in Olsen’s blood.
Then, on Aug. 26, 2021, the Adams County Sheriff was eastbound on U.S. 224 near 300W when he witnessed Olsen in his 2010 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck ahead of the sheriff drive off the road, crash into a road sign, hit a driveway culvert, then swerve across the center line and nearly hit a semi head-on. The sheriff then activated the lights and siren of his of his patrol vehicle but Olsen reportedly continued to drive until he arrived at his residence on 300W south of 800N.
The sheriff contacted the Wells County Sheriff’s Department which dispatched deputies to Olsen’s house.
The investigating deputy in the case observed Olsen appeared impaired and there was a strong odor of raw marijuana was emanating from the interior of the residence. Olsen reportedly admitted to having smoked marijuana prior to driving.
A blood test showed the presence of THC in his blood. THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. It also showed the presence of both fentanyl, for which Olsen had a prescription.
———
Two-day jury trial set to commence at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 4 for Nicholas Freeman Greenlee, 26, Fort Wayne, charged with auto theft, a Level 6 felony.
Infractions
Patience R. Awkwright, 23, Bluffton; expired license plate and driving while suspended, Main Street at Dustman Road.
Bryan P. Feltner, 44, rural Huntington; illegal passing of a school bus when stopped, Ind. 1 at 800N.
Civil Cases
Writ of possession entered for SMS Property Management, Fort Wayne, against Chantele Ogle, Bluffton.
Complaint for payment of $877.93 filed by LVNV Funding, Grand Rapids, Mich., against Sarah Kline, rural Liberty Center.
Complaint for payment of $812.65 filed by Second Round Sub, Vernon Hills, Ill., against Julie Hall, Ossian.
Complaints for payment filed by AAA Acceptance Corp., Fort Wayne, against: Jeffrey and Kelsea Bays, Craigville, $2,840.21; Alex Huffman, Bluffton, $4,724.83; Rayanna Yencer Meyer, Bluffton, $5,136.83; Phyllis Griffin, Bluffton, $2,250.83; Ernest Young, Bluffton, $2,876.83; Kimberly Fraze, Bluffton, $2,181.83; and Marcella and Mark Klopfenstein, Bluffton, $2,064.83.
Wells Circuit Court
Civil Cases
Complaint for unpaid principal from note totaling $70,707, interest, costs and attorney fees and to foreclose mortgage at 5806 N. Sugar St., Uniondale, filed by American Mortgage Service, Cincinnati, Ohio, against Tyler P. Ungerer.
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Coty A. Newnum, rural Markle, and Shelby L. Newnum, Bluffton.
Complaint for payment of #1,627.40 filed by LVNV Funding, Grand Rapids, Mich., against Deborah Gardner, Bluffton.
Complaint on note totaling $57,261.93 and to foreclose mortgage at 1227 W. South St. filed by ProFed Federal Credit Union against Ashlyn Graham.
File Reports
Report of receipts and expenditures of political committees for the period beginning Jan. 1 and ending April 8, have been filed with the Wells County Clerk’s office by:
• Laura Roberts for Wells County Assessor, Laura Busche Roberts, Republican for Wells County Assessor.
The committee started the reporting period with no cash on hand, received $1,350 in itemized contributions and receipts, $170 in unitemized contributions and receipts, made $709.75 in itemized expenditures, no unitemized expenditures and ended the report period with $812.25 cash on hand.
The committee owed no debt.
Itemized contributions and receipts were made by Rob Troxel, Fort Wayne, $300; Monte Fisher, rural Bluffton, $50; Glenna Plummer, Bluffton, $100; Kenneth and Susan Powell, rural Ossian, $200; Temp Masters, Uniondale, $200; Wells County Lock-Up, Bluffton, $500.
Itemized expenditures were $2583.16 to Sign City, rural Ossian, for campaign signs, and $126.59 to Office Depot, Boca Raton, Fla., for office supplies.
• Wells County Democratic Central Committee, Bluffton.
At the beginning of the reporting period, the committee showed $6,159.63 in cash on hand, $1,107.50 in itemized contributions and receipts, $1,200.55 in unitemized contributions and receipts, $1,934.95 in itemized expenditures, $165.97 in unitemized expenditures, and finished the reporting period with $6,366.76 in cash on hand.
The committee owed no debt.
Itemized contributions and receipts were $150 from Dylan McIntosh, Markle; $200 from Brian and Melanie Hollingsworth, rural Bluffton; $197.50 from Larry and Teresa Sell, Bluffton; $100 from Jim and Marcia Hotopp, rural Bluffton; $100 from Ted Smith, rural Bluffton; and $100 from Mary Patterson, Bluffton.
Itemized expenditures were $781 to The Cincinnati Insurance Company for property insurance, Cincinnati, Ohio, for the headquarters; $232.80 to AT&T, Carol Stream, Ill., for internet service to the headquarters; $484.91 to Northern Indiana Public Service Company, Merillville, for natural gas for the headwquarters; $324.34 to Bluffton Utilities for electricity, sewage and water service for the headquarters; and $111.90 to United State Postal Service Bluffton Post Office for postage.
