Defiance County Prosecuting Attorney Morris Murray has announced the release of the following information regarding certain pending Criminal matters:
Prosecutor Murray has announced that Bernard J. Kline, a 40 year old Hicksville man, was sentenced to a prison term of 7 – 10 ½ years for multiple counts of Pandering Sexually-Oriented Matter Involving a Minor or Impaired Person, each a Felony of the Second Degree.
Also sentenced to prison was 19 year old Ashton J. Bigger, of Defiance, for charges of Tampering with Evidence and Aggravated Possession of Drugs.
Bernard J. Kline-age 40-Sentenced for Ten Counts of Pandering Sexually-Oriented Matter Involving a Minor or Impaired Person-F2’s to 7 – 10 ½ years at ODRC, was classified as a Tier II sex offender – requiring registration for a period of 25 years, costs.
According to Murray, on May 17, 2022, and September 9, 2022, in Hicksville, Kline created, reproduced, or published materials showing a minor participating or engaging in sexual activity.
Ashton J. Bigger-age 19-Guilty pleas to Tampering with Evidence-F3 and Aggravated Possession of Drugs-F5 and sentenced to 18 months at ODRC, costs, jail credit for 73 days. According to Murray, on October 11, 2024, on Stadium Dr., in Defiance, Bigger was found in possession of Methamphetamine, a Schedule II drug.
Also, prior to the traffic stop, Bigger, knowing that an official proceeding or investigation was in progress, tampered with items that were potential evidence, with purpose to impair those items for availability as evidence in this matter.
THE FOLLOWING PERSONS WERE BROUGHT BEFORE THE DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT FOR ARRAIGNMENT ON FELONY MATTERS:
Austin L. McCloud-age 28–Not Guilty plea, OR bond, pre-trial 1/21/25 @ 10:30 a.m.
Octavius J.H. Roberson-age 24–Not Guilty pleas, $1,000,000 cash bond w/10% allowed, pre-trial 1/27/25 @ 1:30 p.m.
Barrett J.C. Ramsey-age 19-Not Guilty plea, $500,000 cash bond w/10% allowed, No Contact Order and TPO, pre-trial 1/30/25 @ 10 a.m.
Brittany R. Zipfel-age 31-Not Guilty pleas, OR bond, No Contact Order & TPO, pre-trial 1/30/25 @ 2 p.m.
Brittany R. Zipfel-age 31-Not Guilty plea, OR bond, pre-trial 1/30/25 @ 2 p.m.
Amy L. Bonner-age 44-Not Guilty plea, $10,000 cash bond w/10% allowed, pre-trial 1/30/25 @ 1:30 p.m.
THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAVE RECENTLY ENTERED GUILTY OR NO CONTEST PLEAS IN THE DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT:
Brittany Wulff-age 36-No Contest pleas to Attempted Corrupting Another with Drugs-F3 and Aggravated Possession of Drugs-F5, found Guilty, PSI ordered, sentencing 2/26/25 @ 10:30 a.m.
Charity C. Bollman-age 38-Guilty plea to Attempted Aggravated Possession of Drugs-F4, PSI ordered, sentencing 3/6/25 @ 9 a.m.
THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN SENTENCED IN THE DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT:
Stephen S. Sarnac IV-age 43-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 August 14, 2023, during a traffic stop on Domersville Rd., in Defiance, Sarnac was found in possession of Methamphetamine, a Schedule II drug.)
Cheryl L. Miller-age 43-Sentenced for Attempted Strangulation-F5 to 2 years CCS with 12 months at ODRC reserved in the event of a violation of CCS, no bars/alcohol, not use/possess/consume any cannabis products, TPO dissolved, costs.