By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Prosecuting attorneys and judges encounter people at their worst on a daily basis.
But they also witness the heroics of victims standing up against wrongs, and volunteers helping them through the process.
During this week’s State of the County Address, Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Dobson and Wood County Juvenile and Probate Judge Dave Woessner shared the darker sides of their jobs and the need to acknowledge the good in people.
Dobson’s office prosecuted some major crimes in 2022, including the hazing death of BGSU student Stone Foltz, the involuntary manslaughter case in an overdose death, and a felonious assault case in which a bystander was injured when a gun was fired in downtown Bowling Green.
The office opened 558 cases, recorded 448 indictments, and resolved 18 cases by jury trials.
When meeting with grand juries, Dobson said he stresses that jurors not be overwhelmed by the bad.
“For every one of those defendants, there are two, or five, or 10 heroes who stepped forward,” he said. There are victims who found the courage to face their offenders, and law enforcement officers who intervened to help them.
Dobson’s juvenile division handled 802 delinquency cases, 118 unruly cases, and 463 abuse/neglect/dependency cases during 2022 – with the goal in most cases being reunification.
The civil division, while not flashy, represents county elected officials and government departments, saving millions of dollars with their legal advice, Dobson estimated.
The Addiction Response Collaborate in the prosecutor’s office works to get people with drug addictions into rehabilitation – then follows them through the process.
“We’ve had a lot of success,” Dobson said.
The prosecutor’s office recently held the first meeting of the newly formed Child Sexual Assault Task Force, working with staff at Wood County Children’s Services and local law enforcement.
Dobson expressed regret that such a task force is needed in the county.
“We want to create a task force that is so effective that we can stop things before they start,” he said.
Woessner spoke from his perspective as judge of probate and juvenile courts – which are commonly called the “quiet courts.” He acknowledged those courts have become “extremely busy.”
The overall caseload in juvenile court rose 16% in 2022, with a 19% increase in abuse and neglect cases, a 20% increase in minors housed at the Juvenile Detention Center, and a 50% increase in community control for juveniles.
“We have seen an uptick as we emerge from the Covid pandemic,” Woessner said.
The juvenile court in 2022 saw 2,689 cases filed, and 463 cases of alleged abuse, neglect and dependent children.
The Juvenile Detention Center housed 298 males and 140 females. The juvenile probation department supervised 277 youth and adults. And 127 community service participants worked 2,317 hours in the community.
On a happier note, Woessner said, the probate court handled 668 marriage license applications last year.
In the face of increased caseloads, Woessner stressed the goodness of local residents.
“A county is only as good as its people,” he said.
Among those people are the volunteers who serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates.
“These citizen volunteers advocate for the best interest of abused, neglected and exploited children,” the judge said. “They might be one of the few people” who children going through the system can count on, he added.
Woessner introduced a long-time CASA volunteer Don Gerke, who has helped 22 children through the court system since 2000.
It’s people like Gerke, who demonstrate the strength of Wood County, the judge said.
“They don’t get one penny,” for their efforts, Woessner said.
The judge also introduced Denise Niese, who has served the Probate Court Volunteer Guardian Program for 11 years. Attending with her was Rocky, one of seven individuals she has assisted. The volunteer guardians help adults who are no longer able to make decisions for themselves. The volunteers play a vital role in the lives of individuals, Woessner said.
“The state of Wood County is in great shape” with volunteers like these willing to step up, the judge said.
