Shipp, Deck receive circuit court dates

By JOHN A. BALLENTINE
For The Prairie News

TOULON – Stark County’s Circuit Court held Dec. 20 brought several decisions on pending felony cases for Matthew R. Shipp, 20, of rural Toulon.

Shipp will make a fully negotiated plea on April 4 at 2 p.m. regarding 10 Class X felonies he’s been charged with for child pornography.

In another case, Caleb A. Deck, 47, of Wyoming, was in circuit court to review multiple cases from traffic violations to criminal felonies. He was scheduled for a Jan. 10 bench trial at 3 p.m. for charged traffic offenses of fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving on a revoked license, defective windshield, improper turn signal and seat belt required.

Deck is also scheduled for a jury trial on March 3 for felonies stemming from a raid of his Wyoming apartment. Charges are for aggravated assault of police, two counts of a felon in possession of a firearm, burglary, theft and criminal trespass to state land.

Deck’s other traffic case of driving on a revoked license, unlawful use of cannabis, uninsured vehicle and improper turn signal is to be scheduled.

While in court, Deck said to Circuit Judge Paul E. Bauer, “Can we extend the time (of his electronic monitoring) to no curfew?”

Stark County State’s Attorney Austin King replied “No” when Bauer asked him about dropping Deck’s curfew.
Bauer then ruled, “I’ll lift the curfew.”

Deck was previously ordered to have an ankle monitoring device and to be able to do errands, etc. from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. then to be in his Wyoming apartment all night. Bauer gave no reason for his ruling. Deck is now free to go whenever at all times within the bounds of the monitoring device.

William K. Skog, 19, was scheduled for a scheduling conference on Jan. 31 to have time for his evaluation report to be examined by both the prosecution and defense. Skog is charged with two felony counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, felony resisting police, felony aggravated fleeing (two counts) and many misdemeanor traffic violations.

Russel A. Potter, 62, was ordered to pay the remainder owed on a 2006 felony case. The total owed is $21,401, of which Potter has paid $9,086. That leaves $12,315 to pay by April 4.

Potter was found guilty of arson, burglary and damaging school property and violating an order of protection. He was sentenced to prison for seven years for arson, seven years for burglary and three years for school property damage with all those sentences to be served concurrently.