HUTCHINSON, Kan. — While they started jury selection for a Hutchinson man Tuesday morning in one of two cases against him, 50-year-old William Runyon ended up entering a pleas to reduced charges instead.

Runyon entered the plea to kidnapping, robbery and aggravated battery in the more serious case according to Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Maxwell. He had been charged with aggravated counts with two of the charges.

This case involves the kidnapping of a man who considered Runyon a friend and says he went for a ride with Runyon and they ended up near a field on east G, east of Hutchinson where he was beaten, then taken to Salina where he was again beaten, placed in the trunk of vehicle there but managed to escape and call police there. He escaped by pushing out the back seat of that vehicle that was allegedly being driven by 25-year-old Thomas Beatty of Salina. After he escaped, Beatty let him go.

He says as a result of the beatings, his kidneys failed and he also suffered severe bruising of his ribs. He ended up in the hospital in Salina.

Beatty and 27-year-old Chivon Leon of Salina were taken into custody by Salina authorities and face charges there. All this occurring back on September 19.

Sentencing in this case is set for July 11.

In the other case, Runyon is charged with felony flee and elude and interference with law enforcement.

The flee and elude case involved sheriff investigators being on the lookout for Runyon since the kidnapping incident and led law enforcement on a chase around the city on October 10, of last year. The chase ended when he fled the truck he was in near the scene of a fatal fire and was captured by Hutchinson Police Detectives.

The trial in that case is scheduled to begin next month