Common Pleas Court Report February 2010

    Van Wert County Common Pleas Judge Charles D. Steele has released the following report of the court’s activities for the month of February, 2010.
    11 Defendants were arraigned on felony criminal charges as a result of indictments issued by the Grand Jury or Bills of Information presented by the Prosecuting Attorney. The Court conducted 18 criminal pretrial conferences, 3 Defendants were convicted as a result of trial or guilty pleas. No Criminal Jury Trial was held. 8 Motion hearings were held. No Trials to Court were conducted.
    3 Search Warrants were signed by Judge Steele in February.
    10 Defendants were sentenced to incarceration with the Ohio Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation Center (WORTH), the Van Wert County Correctional Facility, or Electronically Monitored House Arrest. 3 Defendants were placed under Community Control Intensive Supervision under the supervision of the Van Wert County Adult Probation Department.
    The Adult Probation Department supervised a total of 180 probationers presently under Community Control Sanctions and defendants released on bond pending disposition of pending criminal proceedings. There were 212 required-reporting visits by probationers and defendants on bond. The department conducted 12 drug tests, and there were 55 hours of community service work completed by probationers under supervision of the Probation Department. 4 Probationers had their probation revoked for violations of Community Control Sanctions.
    2 Defendants had their bonds revoked for violation of bond conditions.
    1 Probationer successfully completed their terms of probation and was released.

    The court collected $1,937.63 in fines and court costs.
    60% of the probationers were gainfully employed with the assistance of the probation department. The remaining 40% comprise probationers who are retired, under disability, laid off, or who have absconded from the county and have active arrest warrants issued against them.

    Judge Steele reported 60 civil cases were filed during the month. The court conducted no Trials to Court, held 9 pretrial conferences, and heard 34 motions. 9 Cases were dismissed due to the parties reaching a settlement. Judgment was rendered in 13 cases. 2 Cases were terminated by Summary Judgment. No civil cases were referred to mediation/arbitration. No Civil Jury Trial was held this month.
    18 Domestic Relations cases were filed during the month. Domestic Relations Magistrate, Joseph Quatman, conducted 17 pretrial conferences and 13 hearings on motions regarding modification of custody or visitation. 2 Civil Protective Orders were filed, and
there were 4 Final Divorce or Dissolution of Marriage hearings. 1 Case was referred to mediation regarding issues of custody, visitation, and property. The court also heard 5 cases presented by the Child Support Enforcement Agency for collection of delinquent court-
ordered child support payments.