29-year-old Markeisha Blackman appeared for a preliminary hearing in Lima Municipal Court. The Lima Police Department says that on November 22nd, a fire was intentionally set at 125 West O'Connor with four individuals inside. Those individuals were able to get out of the house when the fire started. Blackman declined to sign a waiver for the hearing, which led the prosecution to call Lima Police Detective Steven Stechschulte.
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Allen County Prosecutor Juergen Waldick asked Lima Police Detective Steven Stechschulte who fired the single shot in the residence during the robbery, that ultimately killed Jaden Halpern. According to police, Keion Darden and Jaquan Glenn, both 18 years old, as well as one male and three female juveniles under the age of 18, came up with a plan to rob Halpern. After police say the group taunted the victim, they were able to get entry into the home. Two males of the group had replica guns on their persons.
The curtain has been pulled back for jury members in Eric Wilson Jr.'s trial. Lima’s resident gang expert took the stand to close out the state’s case against Wilson.
Before the jury began deliberating they heard from Det. Steven Stechschulte who has advanced training on gangs. He says gangs operate to further there interests, typically by way of violent crimes. He noted, not all people affiliated with gangs are violent people.
The shooting on Cole Street and Edgewood Drive in 2019 stemmed from the killing of Christian Laws, a week prior on June 14, 2019. Stechschulte says Laws was East Side and Jolade “JoJo” Omosikeji is North Side. In fact, stechschulte says he investigated five shootings following the days after Laws death.
It was an unusual morning at the third day of Eric Wilson Jr.'s trial, as the prosecution nears the end of their presentation.
Prosecutors called a firearms expert who was able to test some of the evidence found. Police found 19 bullet casings, two fired bullets, and two hand guns in the house Wilson was arrested in. The expert compared the casings and bullets to the firearms. He says for certain that the bullets and casings came from the two hand guns. Although, they were not tested for fingerprints or DNA so he could not testify as to who fired those guns.
A judge found there was probable cause to continue Jervon Fernandez-Wesley's aggravated arson case. The detective on the case took the stand and detailed the morning of Aug. 15 at 128 W. Circular St. Fernandez-Wesley was kicked out after an argument with his mother earlier that night. He later returned to the neighboring duplex 124 W. Circular. He told the detective he started the fire with a stuffed animal and a bunch of paper. His 14-year-old brother Michael Gillyard died from burns and smoke inhalation. Fernandez-Wesley gave two written confessions to the detective.
A Lima man accused of rape returned to court to continue to argue he wasn't properly advised of his Miranda Rights.
Prosecutors filed another motion to present more evidence that Everett Ward had a clear mind and willingly made statements to police. He has been charged with two counts of rape and one count of gross sexual imposition for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old-girl.
A DVD of his interview was already submitted to the judge. A detective took the stand to detail his interaction with Ward. He says Ward knew he could leave the interview at any time and willingly got in the passenger seat of the detectives car as they drove to the interview.