Special Weather Statement issued March 19 at 4:28AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)
Gusty winds from 35 to 40 mph this afternoon could blow around unsecured items. Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor items.
Today 53° Today 53° 32° 32° Tomorrow 41° Tomorrow 41° 21° 21°
Wednesday, February 4th, 2015

Piqua man given maximum sentence in county break-ins

By Kathy Thompson
CELINA - A Piqua man was sentenced to the maximum of 11 years in prison by Mercer County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Ingraham on Tuesday afternoon.
A jury on Friday found Roland Mote, 33, guilty of three counts of breaking and entering, fifth-degree felonies, and one count of corrupt activity, a second-degree felony.
Mote was convicted of breaking into the Mercer Landmark offices in St. Henry and Celina and the St. Henry Tile Co. in Chattanooga on the night of Jan. 3-4, 2014.
Mote remained mum as Ingraham asked him if he had anything to say prior to his sentencing.
"Nope," was all Mote said.
Ingraham gave Mote the maximum sentence, one year on each burglary charge and seven years on the corrupt activity charge, to run consecutively. Mote will also have to serve three years of parole once released from prison.
During sentencing, Ingraham cited Mote's criminal record, which dates back to when he was a juvenile, and his "total lack of remorse."
Ingraham also sentenced Mote to an additional year in prison since Mote was on parole for two breaking and entering charges and one burglary charge and a possession of a deadly weapon while under detention from Miami County. He was also on parole for breaking and entering charges in Van Wert and Allen counties when he committed the Mercer County burglaries.
Mote was ordered to pay $2,670 in restitution; the $1,213 found on Mote when he was arrested will be applied to the restitution, by order of Ingraham.
"It's a sad situation you find yourself in," Ingraham told Mote. "I don't see any other way to protect the public and punish you (than) by sending you back to prison. You were out of prison for only a short time before you went right back to what you told your accomplice you do - break in and steal things. I don't know of any other treatment or punishment that will keep you from violating others' property."
Prosecutor Matt Fox was pleased with the sentence.
"We were successful in getting a conviction due to all the hard work from the investigators in this case, from the Celina Police Department, the police in St. Henry and those from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations," Fox said. "The failure would be Mote's continued failure to abide by the rules of society and continue to commit crimes."
Mote has 30 days to appeal, which defense attorney Dan Myers expects his client to do.
Since Mote's arrest, additional charges have been filed against him stemming from his behavior while incarcerated at the Mercer County Detention Center.
Court records show he is charged with obstruction of justice, a fifth-degree felony, aiding escape, a fourth-degree felony, and harassment with bodily substances, a fifth-degree felony. Mote was indicted on those charges Aug. 21 and pleaded not guilty Aug. 27.
He has also been charged with vandalism, a fifth-degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. He was indicted on those charges Dec. 21 and pleaded not guilty Jan. 21. A pretrial hearing is set for Feb. 18.
Patrick A. Miller, 39, West Milton, also faces a breaking and entering charge in connection with the break-ins. Miller pleaded not guilty to the charge Jan. 23, 2014, and has a pretrial hearing set for Feb. 4.
Additional online story on this date
Funds to be used to buy property
CELINA - Mercer County Commissioners on Tuesday approved an agreement to accept more than $415,000 in state funds to buy land for a proposed treatment train at Coldwater Creek. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
CELINA - One game had just wrapped up and another was already starting. The Breakaway RexPlex was vibrant as two teams took the field. The goalies were on the balls of their feet in the nets as the forwards readied themselves for the referee's whistle.
ROCKFORD - Facing no public opposition, village council Tuesday night approved first reading of two ordinances to add $10 a year to residents' license fees.
MINSTER - Council members voted Tuesday night to devote more income tax revenue this year to day-to-day operations and less to capital improvements.
CELINA - Mercer County Commissioners - with the blessing of health department officials - on Tuesday opted not to pursue an operating permit for the county-owned 4-H campground.
MARIA STEIN - One thing is always for certain when Fort Loramie and Marion Local square off in girls basketball: it's never a dull game.
Marion reb
Spartans' Thompson scores 27 in victory
CELINA - Celina overcame a disastrous second quarter to make it a game with Lima Senior in the final half.
However, the Spartans closed strong in the fourth quarter and exited the Fieldhouse with 71-57 victory Tuesday night.
Area Roundup
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Coldwater broke out the offense to go with its defense and Sarah Kanney reached a career milestone as the Cavaliers dominated Franklin-Monroe 97-12 in a non-conference matchup in Darke County.
Highlights & Insights
St. Henry is in control of its own destiny on top of the Midwest Athletic Conference boys' standings.
The defending champion Marion Local Flyers (11-3, 4-1 in the MAC) sit behind the Redskins (14-0, 4-0 in the MAC) with one league loss.