Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
Mackenzie Morrison, 32, Montpelier, pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalency of .08 percent or more with a prior conviction for the same or a similar offense, a Level 6 felony; operating a vehicle after having been found to be an habitual traffic violator, a Level 6 felony with an admission to being an habitual vehicular substance abuse offender.
Sentenced to 1,460 days in prison with all but 740 days suspended. Credited for 92 days spent in confinement awaiting disposition of his case. Ordered to serve 720 days on probation following his release from incarceration.
Ordered to report for substance abuse counseling, submit a DNA sample, pay the costs associated with his blood test, court costs and probation fees.
Driver’s license suspended for two years.
As part of a plea agreement, one count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction for the same or a similar offense, a Level 6 felony, and driving a motor vehicle not equipped with at least two stop lamps, a Class C infraction, were both dismissed.
On Oct. 8, 2021, sheriff’s deputies were called to a residence on 900W north of 1200S in Jackson Township on a report of a deceased person.
The investigating deputy wrote in his report to the court that he noticed upon arrival the presence of Morrison at the residence and knew Morrison to have a suspended driver’s license from having dealt with him previously. He checked and discovered that Morrison had his license suspended Aug. 14, 2019, and was not eligible for reinstatement until Aug. 11, 2029.
He also had prior convictions for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Morrison was at the scene in his capacity as a Chester Township Fire Department emergency first responder. The deputy wrote in his report that he decided not to question Morrison about his driving status and thereby create a scene where family members were grieving the loss of their loved one.
Morrison left the scene in the fire truck and the deputy believed he would be driving it back to the Chester Township Fire Department. However, he drove it into Montpelier instead.
The deputy followed Morrison to the Montpelier City Hall where Morrison had parked the fire truck and exited it. The deputy approached Morrison and pointed out to him that there was a brake light out on the fire truck. Morrison reportedly acknowledged that he knew that.
The deputy also told Morrison his driver’s license was suspended for being an habitual traffic violator and placed him into handcuffs.
The deputy further observed in his report that Morrison smelled of alcohol, failed field sobriety tests and blew a .166 percent alcohol concentration equivalency on a certified breath test performed at the Wells County Jail. The legal limit for intoxication in Indiana is .08 percent.
The deputy noted that Morrison was respectful and cooperative throughout the investigation.
The Chester Township fire chief retrieved the fire truck and took it back to the department.
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Ricardo Real Gonzalez, 42, Bluffton, pleaded guilty to criminal trespass, a Class A misdemeanor.
Sentenced to 180 days in the Wells County Jail, with all but four days suspended — credited as time served, and placed on probation for 176 days.
Ordered to pay court costs and probation fees.
One count of battery, a Class B misdemeanor, was dismissed.
Bluffton police were dispatched to a report of a loud verbal altercation at an apartment in the 100 block of West Wabash Street Aug. 24, 2021.
Gonzalez reportedly had gone to the apartment house to speak with his wife. He was greeted at the door by a different woman who reportedly told him to leave. He allegedly shoved the woman and entered the apartment against the will of the apartment’s dwellers.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Aboubakar Souleimane, 31, Fort Wayne, charged with driving while suspended with a prior conviction for the same offense, a Class A misdemeanor; knowingly or intentionally operating a motor vehicle while never having been issued a driver’s license, a Class C misdemeanor; and no or improper taillights and/or license plate light, a Class C infraction. Released on his own recognizance. Larry Mock appointed public defender.
A sheriff’s deputy was monitoring traffic on Ind. 1 near 700N May 18 when he spotted a northbound vehicle that did not have an operable license plate light. He pulled 2010 Chrysler Town & Country van over and spoke with Souleimane.
Souleimane reportedly told the deputy he had a driver’s license when he lived in Chad, but did not have any driver’s license issued through any state in the United States. He claimed that he had an “international driver’s license,” but such licenses are not recognized as valid in Indiana.
Souleimane had two prior convictions for driving while suspended — one in Wabash County Aug. 14, 2020, and one in Allen County Dec. 21, 2012.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Nathan E. Billman, 49, Zanesville, charged with invasion of privacy, a Class A misdemeanor. Bond continued at $5,000.
Billman is charged with revisiting his Zanesville residence May 12 after having been issued a no-contact order in Wells Superior Court following his arrest on one count of domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor, the prior day.
Since the protected party also counts the house as her primary residence, Billman’s alleged presence at the residence was technically in violation of the no-contact order.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Jamin R. Dickson, 22, Ossian, charged with two counts of invasion of privacy, both Class A misdemeanors. Allison Sprunger appointed public defender. Demand for jury trial filed.
Dickson is charged with violating a no-contact order that had been issued against him following his sentencing Feb. 18 on charges of strangulation and domestic battery committed in the presence of a child less than 16 years old, both Level 6 felonies.
He is alleged to have contacted the protected party and her son via social media.
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Johnny Emley, Ossian, granted specialized driving privileges.
Civil Cases
Marriage of Samantha Troop and Joshua Troop dissolved. Her former name of Sauerwine restored to her.
