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Local News

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Two men plead guilty to assault
By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff writer

Two Bluffton men admitted Monday they punched and restrained a Findlay man, struggled with him over a knife, and stole his cell phone and the knife.

Joe M. Johns, 23, and Joshua J. Perry, 30, who were each indicted for robbery, a second-degree felony, pleaded guilty Monday to aggravated assault, a fourth-degree felony, in Hancock County Common Pleas Court.

The altercation between Johns, Perry and Tyler Thompson, who was 22 when the incident occurred Sept. 22 at Thompson's G Street residence, was said to have started over an iPod.

Johns and Perry went to Thompson's residence to retrieve the iPod, Johns said.

Perry said he and Johns drove to Thompson's residence and when they pulled up in a car, "things got a little bit out of hand."

"When we got out of the car, Tyler had a knife," Perry said.

Johns and Thompson then began struggling for possession of the knife. In court, Johns admitted he punched Thompson twice in the face, and Perry admitted he held Thompson while Johns delivered the blows.

The knife did not cause injury to anyone involved in the fight, according to Hancock County Assistant Prosecutor Drew Wortman.

Both men will be sentenced by Judge Joseph Niemeyer on April 1 after presentence investigations are completed.

Wortman agreed to recommend community control sanctions, pending what the presentence reports reveal.

The cell phone and knife taken from Thompson were recovered and returned to him, Wortman said.

Cravens: 419-427-8422,

Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens


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Benton Ridge Shooting

This video, released by the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office, shows the shooting of a Lima man who led authorities on a three-county chase ending Aug.24 in Benton Ridge. Be cautioned, the video contains graphic content.
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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.