SIDNEY — A former Piqua man was unable to evade local authorities in a case dating back to December 2017. He was arrested late last year in Florida and returned to Shelby County for sentencing.
A Sidney man continues to run from sentencing in one of several cases heard in Shelby County Common Pleas Court recently.
On Jan. 9, Steven M. Baker, 36, formerly of 9217 N. County Road 25A, Piqua, was sentenced to 22 months with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC), on two charges involving theft of money at his place of employment.
Judge James Stevenson handed down 11-month sentences on each charge of theft and forgery, both fifth-degree felonies, due to Baker’s criminal history and his committing other felonies while awaiting trial.
Baker was also ordered to repay his portion of restitution of $5,071, according to online court records.
Baker and co-defendant Daniell N. Pottenger, 25, Covington, were responsible for the theft of $5,071 from Schoenlein Trucking and Salvage, 4625 Hardin-Wapak Road, between June 13 and July 10, 2017. The forgery counts involved the pair signing another person’s name to company receipts.
Last April, Pottenger was given five years of probation on charges of theft and forgery, both fifth-degree felonies through plea negotiations. She was also ordered to pay her portion of the total restitution in to the company.
Baker took a different route in settling the matter, however.
On Feb. 26, Baker failed to appear in court for a status conference, the same day Pottenger took her plea agreement.
On March 1, Baker posted a $2,500, 10 percent, bond. On March 2, Baker pleaded guilty to the two charges following plea negotiations with prosecutors. On May 8, Baker had his $2,500 bond revoked when he failed to appear for his sentencing for the second time, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
In December, Baker was arrested near Jacksonville, Florida. He waived extradition and was jailed at the Shelby County Jail on Dec. 26.
A Sidney man was facing a maximum sentence of more than four years in prison and a $10,000 fine when sentenced on Jan. 9. He did not appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Justin Edward Wigginton, 30, at large, was to be sentenced in three cases involving drugs and escape.
Wigginton entered into plea agreements with the prosecutor on all three cases. He is to be sentenced on two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, both fourth-degree felonies; and, counts of aggravated possession of drugs and escape, both fifth-degree felonies. The escape charge stemmed from him fleeing authorities while on work release from the jail on Aug. 8.
A Piqua man reached a plea agreement on two felony cases.
Justin Reedman Perry, 34, entered guilty pleas to aggravated possession of drugs and felonious assault, both second-degree felonies. He is facing a maximum of eight years in prison and a fine of $15,000 when sentenced.
The state and defense will enter a joint recommendation of six-year sentence for the combined cases.
Perry was arrested Aug. 7 with Methamphetamine five times more than the bulk amount. He injured a sheriff’s deputy incarcerated at the county jail.
Amy Marie Hammons, 34, Troy, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and, trafficking of drugs, a fourth-degree felony, through plea negotiations to combine two cases.
Hammons faces a maximum sentence of 48 months in prison and a $12,500 fine. She was found in possession of Fentanyl, Neurontin, and morphine.
Chance Rockwell, 22, 1501 Grove St., pleaded guilty during his final pretrial to a charge of aggravated assault, a fourth-degree felony. He faces a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine when sentenced March 8. State prosecutors agreed to not oppose community control.
He was found guilty of punching a man on July 22 causing him to lose consciousness. The victim also suffered a broken jaw in two places.
In other cases:
• Pattrick J. C. Ferree, 22, at large, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted receiving stolen property, both first-degree misdemeanors. He accepted two credit cards on Aug. 23 that he knew were stolen.
• Tommy R. Beaver, 44, Piqua, was placed on five years community control on a charge of attempted passing a bad check. He was found guilty of writing a check to Mennards in Sidney he knew would be declined.
Beaver was also ordered to obtain drug and alcohol counseling, fined $200, assessed court costs, and must pay restitution.
• Ashley Brim, 30, Dayton, pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony. She received a stolen check on July 24. She faces a maximum sentence of 12 months in prison and a $2,500 fine.
• Matthew Shoe, 35, 615 East Ave., entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of aggravated assault, a fourth-degree felony. He was accused of injuring a female family member. He faces 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine maximum sentence.
• Daniel Lee Hewitt, 37, Sidney, pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. He was arrested Sept. 1 with Methamphetamine. He faces a maximum sentence of 12 month in prison and a $2,500 fine.
• Lance Stout, 38, Piqua, was placed on five years of probation, fined $300, and assessed court costs, on a charge of possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony. He must successfully complete the counseling program at the West Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation Center in Lima.
