On Wednesday, Johnny Metzker became the 15th graduate of Grant County Community Court. The court dismissed three pending cases as part of his completion with Judge David Gwinn handing Metzker his paperwork to those cases to shred as part of the ceremony.
January 29, 2026
Stories this photo appears in:
After decades of struggle, local man finds stability through Community Court
EPHRATA — Wednesday afternoon, as supporters filled the Grant County Community Courtroom, 54‑year‑old Johnny Metzker walked to the front of the room to accept something he once thought impossible – graduation. For decades, Metzker’s life was defined by addiction, homelessness and a long list of driving‑related offenses that began when he was 19. His record included multiple DUIs, habitual driving offenses and more than a dozen charges for driving while license suspended, dating back to 1989. For much of his adult life, the only constant was chaos, he said.