Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
Joshua Alan Brigner, 31, Bluffton, pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalency of .15 percent or more, a Class A misdemeanor.
Sentenced to a year in the Wells County Jail, with all but two days suspended — credited as time served, and placed on probation for 363 days.
Ordered to serve 42 days of home detention, pay all costs associated with his blood test, court costs and probation fees.
As part of a plea agreement, charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor, and improper or no license plate light and/or taillights, a Class C infraction , were dismissed.
While patrolling Main Street at Elm Street Sept. 17, a Bluffton police officer saw a vehicle turn from Washington onto Main. The officer observed that the vehicle did not have a lit license plate light. The officer fell in behind the vehicle which reportedly made a quick right turn onto Perry then an equally quick turn left onto Scott Street then turned onto Wabash Street and pulled into the driveway of a residence.
As the officer spoke with Brigner, he reportedly admitted he was coming from a local bar and had been drinking “plenty.”
He reportedly appeared intoxicated, smelled of alcohol, failed field sobriety tests and blew a .187 percent alcohol concentration equivalency on a certified breath test at the Wells County Jail.
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Alfredo Vern Mendez, 30, Fort Wayne, pleaded guilty to residential entry and criminal recklessness, both Level 6 felonies, and invasion of privacy, a Class A misdemeanor.
Sentenced to 180 days in prison on the residential entry charge and two years in prison, with all but 186 days suspended — credited as time served, on the criminal recklessness charge. The terms of the sentences are to be served consecutively and also to be served consecutively to a 40-day sentence in the Wells County Jail on the invasion of privacy charge.
Ordered to serve 180 days of home detention, have no contact with the protected party, and pay court costs and probation fees.
As part of a plea agreement, charges of possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, a Class C misdemeanor, and one count of criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor, were all dismissed.
Mendez was charged with discharging five rounds from a firearm at a Silo Farms mobile home park residence during an argument with a former girlfriend at her mobile home Aug. 14.
The woman reported that Mendez became increasingly angry with her while she was speaking with a male friend on her cellphone. He also reportedly punched a window out of her mobile home.
Mendez then was charged with entering the residence of the woman in the Silo Farms mobile home park Aug. 20.
The woman, who was not home at the time, had set up a surveillance camera in the house that reportedly captured images of Mendez moving about the mobile home. The woman believed that Mendez had entered her residence through a window.
The woman told the investigating sheriff’s deputy that she ended her relationship with Mendez in January and that she had repeatedly told him that he was not welcome at her residence.
After a protective order was filed against him by the woman on Sept. 28, Mendez reportedly tried to contact the woman through a third party using the Wells County Jail’s Chirp messaging system.
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One count of driving while suspended with a prior conviction for the same offense, a Class A misdemeanor, dismissed for Robert J. Donahoe Jr., 52, Bluffton.
Infractions
Solomon M. Byler, 27, rural Decatur; 70 mph-55 zone, and driving while suspended, Ind. 3 at 1100S.
Civil Cases
Complaint for damages filed by Kadie Maier, Ossian, against Ashlie Spillers, Ossian, and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Indianapolis. Suit is in connection with a traffic crash that occurred at Ind. 1 and 1100N Dec. 14, 2021.
Complaints for payment filed by Stucky, Lauer & Young, Fort Wayne, against: Anita A. Carr, Bluffton, $755.58; Candice J. Narvaez, Bluffton, $611.27.
Complaints for payment filed by Snow & Sauerteig, Fort Wayne, against: Crystal A. Joyner, Bluffton, $3,780.66; Susan K. Benitez, Bluffton, $1,576.42; Erika L. Shaw, Craigville, $2,207.82; Denise Ragg, Bluffton, $5,944.65; Cinda M. Mounsey, also known as Cinda M. Sweeden, rural Keystone, $4,054.02; Daniel L. Swanberg, Craigville, $3,109.83; Alexis J. Valentine, Bluffton, $528.77; Tammi Evans, Bluffton, $9,524.34; Diana Higgins, Bluffton, $826.72; Stephanie Grapengeter, Uniondale, $7,662.09; Brooks Baumgartner, Bluffton, $3,355.15; Paul Capper, rural Montpelier, $1,776.74; John Hentz, rural Markle, $644.58; and Emily Gendreau, Bluffton, $1,302.29.
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Anthony Vanette, Ossian, and Lindsay Reeve, Bluffton.
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Shawn Costello, Bluffton, and Amber Costello, Bluffton.
Bluffton City Court
(Court costs are $135.50)
Danielle K. Brown, 34, Berne; 69 mph-55 zone, Ind. 116 east of 750E.
Neomi Real, 16, Bluffton, directed to teen court after being cited at Bluffton High School for unlawful possession of tobacco by a minor.
Mark E. Evans Jr., 20, Marion; 83 mph-70 zone, I-69 at the 292 mile marker.
Ross W. Gramling, 27, Fort Wayne; 50 mph-35 zone, Clark Avenue at McConnell Drive.
Jack Fisher, 18, Woodburn, fined $35.50 and assessed court costs for 65 mph-45 zone, Ind. 1 north of 900N.
Wilson G. Royer, 30, rural Bryant; 49 mph-30 zone, Main Street at Wiley Avenue.
Kambrea A. Healy, 23, Bluffton; 62 mph-55 zone, Ind. 124 near 200W.
William A. Mendez Martinez, 43, Indianapolis; 71 mph-55 zone, Ind. 124 near 100W.
Dain T. Gerber, 27, Marion; 64 mph-55 zone, Ind. 124 east of 200W.
Bench trial set for 3 p.m. Feb. 16, 2023, for Addison K. Minick, 16, Roanoke, cited for 80 mph-55 zone, location unavailable.
Thomas L. Nevil, 65, Fort Wayne; disregarding an official traffic control device, Main Street at Wabash Street.
Katrina J. Tennyson, 36, rural Decatur; 65 mph-55 zone, Ind. 116 west of 600E.
Erika M. Nestleroad, 42, rural Warren; failure to stop at a through highway when required, Lancaster Street at Adams Street.
Tammy L. Poole, 52, Bluffton; expired license plate, Washington Street at Columbian Avenue.
Daniel A. Schwab, 47, Decatur; 61 mph-30 zone, Jackson Street in the Lancaster Central Elementary School speed zone.
Mallory E. Aker, 22, Berne; failure to change name and/or address on driver’s license, Ind. 218 near 800E.
Fine of $14.50 and court costs entered against Sydney S. Ertman, 27, Fort Wayne, cited for 86 mph-55 zone, 800E south of Ind. 124.
Fine of $35.50 and court costs entered against Rachael L. Hughes, 38, rural Warren, cited for 50 mph-35 zone, Clark Street south of Girivin Street, Markle.
Beverly S. Arnold, 53, rural Montpelier; 62 mph-55 zone, Ind. 3 south of 1000S.
Justin Imel, 38, rural Bluffton; following too closely, Ind. 1 at 800N.
Fine of $10.50 plus court costs entered against Lance M. Fiechter, 34, rural Bluffton, cited for distracted driving at Main and Lamar streets.
