William Jeffress, former pastor of the First Church of God in Van Wert, is arraigned in Common Pleas Court on Wednesday. Jeffress faces a felony charge of sexual battery.
William Jeffress, former pastor of the First Church of God in Van Wert, is arraigned in Common Pleas Court on Wednesday. Jeffress faces a felony charge of sexual battery.
BY ED GEBERT

Times Bulletin News Writer

egebert@timesbulletin.com

A former Van Wert pastor was arraigned in Van Wert County Court of Common Pleas Wednesday morning, and is accused of sexual battery, a third-degree felony.

William W. Jeffress, 62, Van Wert, former pastor of the First Church of God in Van Wert, faces a possible five-year prison sentence if convicted. According to the indictment on Sept. 1, Jeffress allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with a person of whom he served as guardian or custodian. Jeffress was released on $5,000 bond and was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim. A pretrial hearing was set for Nov. 21.

Cory J. Kloeppel, 18, Delphos, was arraigned on two counts of rape and one count of kidnapping in court Wednesday. All three counts are first-degree felonies, meaning Kloeppel could face up to 30 years in prison and $60,000 in fines if convicted. He was released on $5,000 bond and must have no contact with the alleged victim in the case.

A Van Wert County Sheriff's Department investigation alleges that a sexual assault incident took place in July at a rural Delphos home. Kloeppel will return to court for a pretrial hearing on Dec. 12. A Van Wert County Sheriff's Department investigation alleges a sexual assault incident took place in July of this year at a rural Delphos home.

Also arraigned on Wednesday was Eric M. Placke, 19, Middle Point, who faces five counts of theft and one count of burglary in connection with a series of thefts around Sept. 15. The burglary count is a second-degree felony, while two of the theft charges are fourth-degree felonies. In all, Placke faces a maximum of 14 years in prison. He was released on $5,000 bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Nov. 21.

Gary L. Haines, 62, Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to an indictment charging him with five counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor and one count of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance. 

A Van Wert County Sheriff's Department investigation determined that Haines had obscenity involving minors on his home computer. The alleged offense took place in March of 2007.Haines was released on $5,000 bond, and a pretrial hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 4. 

Michael J. Ditmeyer, 57, Van Wert, entered a guilty plea at his arraignment on a misdemeanor assault charge in connection with a July 21 incident. The plea came as part of an arrangement with prosecutors to drop a separate charge against Ditmeyer. Judge Charles D. Steele ordered a presentence investigation based on a police report and victim impact statement and set a sentencing date of Nov. 28.

Paul Richey, 65, Van Wert, pleaded guilty plea to two counts of attempted mishandling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, both first-degree misdemeanors. A presentence investigation was ordered with sentencing scheduled for Nov. 28.

On Tuesday morning, Alisha Marie Slaght, 26, Van Wert, entered guilty pleas to charges of trafficking in cocaine and trafficking in drugs. Slaght had been accused by the Van Wert City Police Department of having sold cocaine to an undercover agent in January of 2007. She was indicted by the grand jury in August for that incident. While out on bond, Slaght was again arrested in September when she sold or attempted to sell prescription medication. 

Slaght was sentenced to serve up to six months at the WORTH Center in Lima, and spend an additional 30 days in the Van Wert County Jail. She will also perform 200 hours of community service, pay court costs, pay $250 as partial reimbursement for her court appointed attorney, and a $25 affidavit of indigency fee.

Steele sentenced Slaght to two nine-month prison sentences with the imposition deferred pending the successful completion of a community control program. Prior to sentencing Slaght had told Steele that she had a drug dependency problem and needed assistance.