Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
George V. Harker III, 23, Bluffton, and Athena Marie Tziquin, 18, Fort Wayne, each pleaded guilty to theft, a Class A misdemeanor.
Each was sentenced to a year in the Wells County Jail, with all but four days suspended — credited as time served, and placed on probation for 361 days.
They were each ordered to pay restitution in a sum to be determined, court costs and probation fees.
Because Tziquin’s exact address remains in question, she was also ordered to establish a residence in Wells County within the next 30 days in order to participate in the Community Corrections program.
Harker and Tziquin pushed a cart load of merchandise valued at $628.54 out the front doors of the Bluffton Walmart Supercenter Nov. 30. They reportedly tried to use the doors of the garden center of the store first, but then discovered that the center was closed off and gated.
After leaving the store — with store security personnel watching — Harker and Tziquin loaded their vehicle with the merchandise and drove away north on Main Street/Ind. 1, but were eventually stopped on Industrial Parkway and Hillcrest Road in Ossian by an Ossian police officer.
When Harker was asked by the investigating officer why he stole the items from Walmart, he reportedly replied he was going through a rough time and he wanted to have nice gifts to give away at Christmas.
He reportedly told the investigating officer that Tziquin had nothing to do with the theft other than she was with him at the time that the theft occurred.
However Tziquin reported that she was the one who pushed the cart out of the store.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Michael K. O’Rourke, 37, Fort Wayne, charged with three counts of invasion of privacy, all Class A misdemeanors. Bond continued at $5,000, surety only. Larry Mock appointed public defender.
O’Rourke is the suspect in a domestic violence incident and has a protective order filed against him by Allen Superior Court. He reportedly has attempted to contact the protected party in the case on at least three separate occasions.
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Jessica L. Magley, 45, Fort Wayne, pleaded guilty to driving while suspended with a prior conviction for the same offense, a Class A misdemeanor.
Sentenced to a year in the Wells County Jail, with all but four days suspended — credited as time served, and placed on probation for 361 days.
Ordered to make a good faith effort to obtain valid driving privileges and pay court costs and probation fees.
As part of a plea agreement, one count of operating a motor vehicle with no or improper headlights, a Class C infraction, was dismissed.
An Ossian police officer issued a summons to Magley after pulling over the vehicle she was driving on Jefferson Street at Roe Street Jan. 21. The van she was driving had a passenger’s side headlight out. She had a prior conviction Aug. 22, 2019, in Wells Superior Court for driving while suspended.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Trey A. Mettler, 28, Bluffton, charged with failure to register as a sex or violent offender, a Level 6 felony. Bond continued at $5,000.
Mettler is charged with changing his address without notifying the sex offender registrar.
Infractions
Kristen G. Fisher, 29, New Haven; 69 mph-55 zone, 300N west of 800E.
Courtney N. Myles, 17, rural Delta, Ohio; 87 mph-70 zone, I-69 at the 292 mile marker.
Di Wu, 29, Muncie; 75 mph-55 zone, U.S. 224 near Markle.
Curtis L. Losure, 31, rural Marion; 62 mph-55 zone, Ind. 218 west of Ind. 1.
Ricky A. Gaddis, 25, Fort Wayne; distracted driving, Main Street at Lamar Street.
Scott E. Pond, 34, New Haven; expired license plate, 900N at Marzane Road.
Bryan A. Murphy, 32, Muncie; 75 mph-55 zone, Ind. 1 near 500N.
Ethan J. Crouch, 16, Pendleton; 74 mph-55 zone, U.S. 224 at Meridian Road.
Mallory E. Aker, 22, Berne; 62 mph-55 zone, 300W north of 800S.
Beverly Wickizer, 69, Pennville; 70 mph-55 zone, Ind. 1 south of 500S.
Alicia A. Hill, 63, rural Ossian; 62 mph-55 zone, U.S. 224 east of Meridian Road.
Civil Cases
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Karli Swickard, Berne, and David Bradler, Bluffton.
Complaint for payment of $1,265,52 filed by Pro Fed Federal Credit Union, Fort Wayne, against Sarah G. McDonald, Ossian.
Complaints for payment filed by the law office of Tracey L. Rosswurm, Fort Wayne, against: Sarah McDonald, Ossian, $3,864.73; Tiffanie Kobryn, Tree Rivers, Mich., $7,497.67.
Complaint for possession and for non-payment of rent filed by Maple Grove Estates, Bluffton, against tenant Christine Bailey, $1,138.
Wells Circuit Court
Criminal Cases
Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Quinten Paige Byrd, 33, Bluffton, charged with battery resulting in bodily injury to a pregnant woman, a Level 5 felony, and strangulation, a Level 6 felony. Bond continued at $65,000. Larry Mock appointed public defender.
Byrd is charged with choking and battering a woman during an argument with her over his sleeping position relative to that of a baby they have in common. The alleged battery occurred at the residence they shared Nov. 29.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Rachel L. Thompson, 43, Union City, charged with failure to appear in court, a Level 6 felony. Bond continued at $5,000. Larry Mock appointed public defender.
Thompson, who is facing charges of possession of methamphetamine and felon carrying a handgun, both Level 5 felonies; resisting law enforcement and criminal trespass, both Class A misdemeanors; possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor, all in Wells Circuit Court, was ordered to appear in court Nov. 1 for a fourth pre-trial conference on her charges — but she reportedly failed to attend the hearing.
Bluffton City Court
(Court costs are $135.50)
Braden Werst, 19, rural Decatur; 58 mph-45 zone. Fined $18.50 and assessed court costs.
Denise J. Yoder, 50, rural Portland; 69 mph-55 zone, Ind. 116 at 750E.
Kendall Arnold, 22, rural Decatur; 80 mph-55 zone. Assessed a fine of $78.50 and court costs.
Julie Drummond, 44, Bluffton; 68 mph-55 zone. Assessed a fine of $18.50 plus court costs.
Rebekah M. Carter, 36, Kokomo; 69 mph-55 zone, Ind. 218 at 300W.
Donald Bottorf, 70, Fort Wayne; unsafe movement on a road with two or more lanes. Fined $20.50 and assessed court costs.
Courtney Pilling, 22, Ossian; 84 mph-55 zone. Fined $98.50 and assessed court costs.
Austin M. Steele, 38, Noblesville; 69 mph-55 zone, Ind. 218 at 500W.
Marla Bunch, 35, Bluffton; animals running at large and determination of a nuisance animal, 328 E. Central Ave.
Zachary C. Scott, 24, Kokomo; 66 mph-55 zone. Hearing set for 3 p.m. Feb. 16.
