Defiance County Prosecuting Attorney Morris Murray has announced the release of the following information regarding certain pending Criminal matters:

Prosecutor Murray has announced that 45-year-old Jared E. Frymire, of Defiance, was sentenced to 5–7 1/2 years at ODRC for multiple sex offense charges.

Jared E. Frymire-age 45-Sentenced for Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Minor or Impaired Person-F2, Illegal Use of a Minor or Impaired Person in Nudity-Oriented Material or Performance-F2 and Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor or Impaired Person-F4 to a total of 5-7 ½ years at ODRC, was classified as a Tier II sex offender – requiring registration for a period of 25 years, costs, jail credit for 1 day. According to Murray, on or about January 1, 2024, through February 29, 2024, at his residence, in Defiance, Frymire created, reproduced, or published material showing a minor participating or engaging in sexual activity. Frymire also created material or performance showing a minor in a state of nudity and possessed obscene material that had a minor as one of its participants.

THE FOLLOWING PERSONS WERE BROUGHT BEFORE THE DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT FOR ARRAIGNMENT ON FELONY MATTERS:

Alex M. Farley-age 35-Not Guilty plea, OR bond, pre-trial 7/18/25 @ 9 a.m.

Joshua L. Grubb-age 35-Not Guilty pleas, $100,000 cash bond w/10% allowed, pre-trial 8/8/25 @ 9 a.m.

THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAVE RECENTLY ENTERED GUILTY OR NO CONTEST PLEAS IN THE DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT:

Dustin T. Chavis-age 29-Guilty pleas to Possession of Heroin-F5 and Aggravated Possession of Drugs-F5, PSI ordered, sentencing 7/17/25 @ 9:30 a.m.

Daniel A. Rubio-age 32-Guilty plea to Tampering with Evidence-F3, PSI ordered, sentencing 7/28/25 @ 1:30 p.m.

PLEA/SENTENCING:

Austin A. Helmke-age 32-Guilty plea to Theft-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, pay $7,300 in restitution to Jewell Legion ($4,000 in restitution was paid by the defendant at sentencing hearing), write letter of apology to Jewell Legion, No Contact with Jewell Legion, defendant shall hold no position of power for any other charitable organization, costs. (From January 5, 2024, through July 12, 2024, Helmke stole over one thousand dollars from a business in Jewell.)

Gage Z. Gilbert-age 22-No Contest pleas to Aggravated Possession of Drugs-F5, Improperly Handling Firearms in a Motor Vehicle-F5, Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol, a Drug of Abuse or a Combination of Them-M1, and to the Specification for Forfeiture of a Weapon as charged; found Guilty and sentenced to 3 years CCS with 24 months at ODRC reserved in the event of a violation of CCS and 177 days at CCNO suspended (credit for 3 mandatory days at CCNO previously served), no bars/alcohol, not use/possess/consume any cannabis products, operator’s license suspended for 1 year beginning 2/24/24, pay $375 fine, Diamond Arms Co. firearm forfeited to the State, costs, report to Defiance Co. Adult Probation Office by 9 a.m. on 6/27/25. (On February 24, 2024, on Elliott Rd., in Defiance, Gilbert knowingly transported or had a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle with him, while he was operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and the firearm was accessible to the Gilbert without leaving the vehicle. Furthermore, during a traffic stop, Gilbert was also found in possession of Methamphetamine, a Schedule II drug.)

Gage Z. Gilbert-age 22-No Contest plea to Failure to Appear as Required by Recognizance-F4, found Guilty and sentenced to 3 years CCS with 18 months at ODRC reserved in the event of a violation of CCS, no bars/alcohol, not use/possess/consume any cannabis products, costs, report to Defiance Co. Adult Probation Office by 9 a.m. on 6/27/25. (On May 8, 2024, Gilbert failed to appear at the Defiance County Common Pleas Court for a pre-trial hearing, in connection with the commission of a felony, after having been released on a personal recognizance bond.)

Owen R. Logan-age 20-Guilty pleas to Assault-F4 and Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol, a Drug of Abuse or a Combination of Them-M1 and sentenced to 2 years CCS with 18 months at ODRC reserved in the event of a violation of CCS and 177 days at CCNO suspended (credit for 3 mandatory days at CCNO previously served), no bars/alcohol, not possess or consume cannabis products, attend and successfully complete WORTH Center Program in Lima (held at CCNO pending admission), pay $375 fine, operator’s license suspended for 1 year beginning 2/3/25, Costs. (On February 3, 2025, on Clinton St., in Defiance, Logan operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, during which he also called law enforcement for assistance. When emergency services responded to assist, Logan then caused or attempted to cause physical harm to a responding law enforcement officer.)

Christopher J. Fellers-age 39-Guilty plea to Having Physical Control of a Vehicle While Under the Influence-M1 and sentenced to 2 years of probation with 6 months at CCNO suspended in the event of a probation violation, no similar violations, be of general good behavior, pay $500 fine, operator’s license suspended for 8 months beginning on 10/6/24, Costs (due w/in 90 days).

Robert D. Tapscott-age 36-Guilty plea to Grand Theft of a Motor Vehilce-F4 and sentenced to 10 months at ODRC, pay $2,500 in restitution to Black Swamp Equipment, costs, jail credit for 47 days. (On or about June 21-22, 2023, Tapscott stole a motor vehicle from a business on SR 66 N, in Defiance.)

THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN SENTENCED IN THE DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT:

Carl A. Gutierrez-Bruce-age 23-Sentenced for Two Counts of Sexual Battery-F3’s to 5 years of Intensive Supervision Probation with a total 120 months at ODRC reserved in the event of a violation of CCS, no bars/alcohol, not consume or possess cannabis products, have no association with juveniles w/o the express permission of his Supervising Officer, no contact (direct or indirect) with victim or victim’s family, was classified as a Tier II sex offender – requiring registration for a period of 25 years, costs. (Between January 1, 2016, and August 31, 2017, at a residence on Perry St., in Defiance, Gutierrez-Bruce engaged in sexual conduct with two individuals who he coerced to submit by any means that would have prevented resistance by a person of ordinary resolution.)

Joel E. Wulff-age 38-Sentenced for Attempted Corrupting Another with Drugs-F3 and Aggravated Possession of Drugs-F5 to 3 years CCS with 48 months at ODRC reserved in the event of a violation of CCS, no bars/alcohol, not obtain/possess/use cannabis or cannabis products, comply with Job and Family Services, costs. (On May 9, 2024, at his residence on Schubert Rd., in Defiance, Wulff was found in possession of Methamphetamine, a Schedule II drug, and he also attempted to induce or cause a juvenile to use Methamphetamine.)

Joel E. Wulff-age 38-Sentenced for Failure to Comply with an Order or Signal of a Police Officer-F3 to 3 years CCS with 36 months at ODRC reserved in the event of a violation of CCS, no bars/alcohol, not obtain/possess/use cannabis or cannabis products, comply with Job and Family Services, costs. (On March 30, 2024, Wulff fled from a traffic stop on N. Clinton St., in Defiance, and created a substantial risk of serious physical harm to persons or property in the area, when he fled from police, and later crashed the vehicle.)

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