Defiance County Prosecuting Attorney Morris Murray has announced the release of the following information regarding certain pending Criminal matters:
Prosecutor Murray has announced that 57-year-old Jeanna M. Cavender, of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced to prison for Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity, a Felony of the Second Degree and Three Counts of Theft, each a Felony of the Fifth Degree.
Jeanna M. Cavender-age 57-Motion to Withdraw Guilty plea w/drawn at Defendant’s request; Defendant then sentenced for Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity-F2 and Three Counts of Theft-F5’s to a total of 3-4 ½ years at ODRC, 147 days jail credit, pay $5,688.81 to Menards, costs. According to Murray, on multiple occasions, between May 15, 2024, and June 15, 2024, Cavender stole merchandise, some of which was valued at one thousand dollars or more, but less than seven thousand five hundred dollars, from Menards, on SR 66 N, in Defiance, and her conduct was part of an enterprise engaging in corrupt activity.
THE FOLLOWING PERSONS WERE BROUGHT BEFORE THE DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT FOR ARRAIGNMENT ON FELONY MATTERS:
Daniel E. Cox-age 55-Not Guilty pleas, $150,000 cash bond w/10% allowed, GPS monitoring if bond is posted, No Contact Order & TPO, pre-trial 11/26/25 @ 10 a.m.
Justin L. Hale-age 40-Not Guilty pleas, $10,000 cash bond w/10% allowed, TPO & No Contact Order, pre-trial 11/25/25 @ 9:15 a.m.
Shawannah Lowe-age 35-Not Guilty pleas, OR bond, pre-trial 11/20/25 @ 9:15 a.m.
Danny K. Parks-age 51-Not Guilty plea, OR bond, pre-trial 11/24/25 @ 9:15 a.m.
Clinton Kaylor-age 46-Not Guilty pleas, $25,000 cash bond w/10% allowed, pre-trial 11/19/25 @ 10:30 a.m.
Daniel J. Garcia-age 50-Not Guilty pleas, OR bond, pre-trial 12/1/25 @ 1 p.m.
Michael E. Ward II-age 23-Not Guilty pleas, OR bond, pre-trial 12/1/25 @ 10:15 a.m.
Patrick A. Finerd-age 40-Not Guilty plea, OR bond, No Contact Order & TPO, pre-trial 12/1/25 @ 10 a.m.
Jason P. Lambert-age 40-Not Guilty pleas, OR bond, pre-trial 11/25/25 @ 9:45 a.m.
Katina A.M. Ward-age 48-Not Guilty plea, OR bond, pre-trial 11/26/25 @ 10:15 a.m.
THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAVE RECENTLY ENTERED GUILTY OR NO CONTEST PLEAS IN THE DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT:
Nathan M. Phillips-age 74-Guilty plea to Attempted Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol, a Drug of Abuse or a Combination of Them-F4, PSI ordered, sentencing 12/18/25 @ 10:30 a.m.
Cassydi J. Witt-age 24-Guilty plea to Gross Sexual Imposition-F4, PSI ordered, sentencing 12/30/25 @ 10 a.m.
Reid L. Keeley-age 23-Guilty plea to Failure to Provide Notice of Change in Vehicle Information or Identifiers-F4, PSI ordered, sentencing 12/22/25 @ 10 a.m.
Charles M. Martinez Jr.-age 38-Defendant requested his Motion to Suppress be w/drawn and then entered Guilty pleas to Aggravated Possession of Drugs-F3, Having Weapons While Under Disability-F3 and to the Specification for Forfeiture of a Weapon While Under Disability as charged, PSI ordered, sentencing 12/19/25 @ 10:30 a.m.
Willie C. Jones-age 29-Guilty plea to Aggravated Possession of Drugs-F5, PSI ordered, sentencing 12/18/25 @ 9:30 a.m.
Trisha L. Hernandez-age 45-Guilty pleas to Two Counts of Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs-F3’s, PSI ordered, sentencing 12/15/25 @ 10 a.m.
PLEA/SENTENCING:
Katelyn L. Phillips-age 24-Guilty pleas to Theft-M1 and Misuse of Credit Cards-M1 and sentenced to 2 years of probation with 180 days at CCNO suspended in the event of a probation violation, no similar violations, be of general good behavior, no similar violations, pay $123.91 in restitution w/in 90 days, no contact with victim or victim’s family, costs (due w/in 90 days). (On August 30, 2024, while working at a residence on State Route 18, in Sherwood, Phillips used a credit card belonging to another and made unauthorized personal purchases.)
Abel Ramriez Jr.-age 33-No Contest pleas to Two Counts of Non-Support of Dependents-F5’s, found Guilty and sentenced to 4 years CCS with 30 months at ODRC reserved in the event of a violation of CCS, no bars/alcohol, not possess or consume cannabis products, cooperate with Defiance Co. Child Support Enforcement Agency’s directions in payment of child support and all accrued arrears, costs. (Ramirez failed to provide support, as required by Court order, for his child, under the age of eighteen, from April 1, 2020, through March 31, 2025.)
Abel Ramirez Jr.-age 33-No Contest plea to Failure to Appear as Required by Recognizance-F4, found Guilty and sentenced to 4 years CCS with 18 months at ODRC reserved in the event of a violation of CCS, no bars/alcohol, not possess or consume cannabis products, cooperate with Defiance Co. Child Support Enforcement Agency’s directions in payment of child support and all accrued arrears, costs. (On July 16, 2025, Ramirez failed to appear at the Defiance County Common Pleas Court for an arraignment hearing, in connection with the commission of a felony, after having been released on a personal recognizance bond.)
THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN SENTENCED IN THE DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT:
Cody D. Fleming-age 41-Sentenced for Aggravated Possession of Drugs-F5 to 2 years CCS with 12 months at ODRC reserved in the event of a violation of CCS, no bars/alcohol, not obtain/possess/use cannabis or cannabis products, costs. (On November 23, 2024, during a traffic stop on Fountain St. Rd., in Mark Center, Fleming was found in possession of Methamphetamine, a Schedule II drug.)