Hearing for man charged with injuring infant child resumes Wednesday
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The preliminary hearing in a case involving an injured child got started last Tuesday, but because it started late in the day, the state didn’t get to finish presenting its case, so the hearing will resume Wednesday.
Alexis Silva was originally charged with reckless aggravated battery where he’s accused of injuring the 3 month old. But, the state added two alternate counts of abuse of a child. The theory for the first abuse count includes shaking of the child. The second includes cruel or inhuman corporal punishment. Assuming the case gets all the way to a jury trial, the jury would have to decide which one of the three charges he’s guilty of, or find him not guilty of anything.
Two doctors testified Tuesday about the child’s injuries. Dr. Travis Scott, a radiologist with Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, talked of what the x-rays showed, which included an injury to the left leg of the child. He says there was a chip fracture on a bone near the knee. He says this type of injury brought up a red flag for possible child abuse.
Dr. Kathryn Melhorn last week testified that she saw the leg injury, but also other injuries that included bruising on both cheeks, which she described as fingertip size. She says they were fading, indicating those injuries may have happened at an earlier time. She also discovered fractured ribs and even retinal hemorrhaging in one eye. This would indicate possible shaking of the child.
The crimes charged against Silva are alleged to have occurred sometime between August and October of last year.
Again, the hearing is scheduled to resume Wednesday with District Attorney Keith Schroeder expected to have one more witness.
Hutch man arrested for drugs and criminal trespass
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
A 27-year-old Hutchinson man well known to law enforcement reportedly caused problems at a local Dillon’s store leading to his arrest.
It happened on Sunday night at the Dillon’s on 725 E. 4th, when an employee advised Johnny Fenton III of criminal trespass and asked him to leave. But, he apparently still refused to leave and police were called.
He was arrested for criminal trespass, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
His bond set at $7,750.
He has previous convictions for theft, burglary, drugs and identity theft.
Second suspect in attempted robbery case enters ‘not guilty’ pleas
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The woman with a 50-year-old Hutchinson man who attempted to steal a recruiter’s bag containing a government computer entered a “not guilty” plea this morning in District Court.
25-year-old Moriah Gandolph is alleged to have been the one who set the recruiter up, saying she wanted to join the military.
The case with her and Jose Vasquez goes back to Feb. 7, when a local recruiter apparently went into the McDonald’s at 4th & Walnut to meet a potential female recruit. Sgt. Stephen Casper says he waited at the restaurant for about 10-15 minutes and the female was a no show, so he sent a text to her and left. She sent a text back saying she had been in the restroom the whole time, so he came back and parked along Walnut just east of the restaurant. As he was exiting his vehicle, he placed the strap of the backpack containing an army computer over his left shoulder. It was then that a man and woman approached him, later identified as Vasquez and Gandolph. Vasquez is accused of demanding the bag. Casper then kneed Vasquez in the upper thigh where he then fell to the ground. He then left the area and made a police report.
Gandolph will now have a pretrial hearing in front of Judge Tim Chambers.
Hutch man arraigned in assault case
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
A 33-year-old Hutchinson man who was bound over for trial on a number of felonies entered “not guilty” pleas while being arraigned on Tuesday.
Raymon Hunter is charged with violation of a protection order, battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon—in this case, a knife—and criminal threat.
Hunter is alleged to have come to a Hutchinson home and pulled a knife and threatened a man with it. The victim then allegedly grabbed a shovel and attempted to strike Hunter, but missed and ended up striking his girlfriend’s SUV. There is some question as to whether the knife was actually open when Hunter walked toward Smith, but according to the victim, he felt threatened during the altercation.
Hunter has a new case pending where he’s charged with criminal possession of stolen property.
Judge Trish Rose will now set a pretrial hearing in the matter.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Join Daren Dunn and Glen Grunwald for Sports Update No. 16. Double D and Double G recap the Royals, prepare you for high school football, and discuss Blue Dragon Sports, including: volleyball, soccer and football.
Two arrested on drug charges make court appearance
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Two people arrested back on Aug. 21 on drug related charges made court appearances this morning in front of Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen.
42-year-old Robyn Ramsey and 50-year-old Lisa McHaley were both arrested after a search warrant was served on their home in the 100 block of East Campbell.
Officers allege that they found in McHaley’s purse a zip-close bag of a crystal substance which field test positive for methamphetamine and weighed about 20 grams. There was also a lot of cash in that purse as well, according to the arrest sheet. Officers say they found new packaging materials, a scale and owe sheets in her bedroom.
Charges against her include possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to package and no tax stamp.
Also located in the bedroom underneath a pillow where Ramsey sleeps was a black pouch that contained a small plastic bag with about 1.8 grams of suspected meth, a small plastic bag that contained suspected marijuana, a cut straw and a used syringe.
Charges against Ramsey include possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and no tax stamp.
Again, both are free on bond and will be back in court next Wednesday for a status hearing.
Hutch man accused in solicitation case
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson man was in court this morning where he was read the formal complaint against him.
Bret Herald is charged with a single count of indecent solicitation of a 15-year-old child. The alleged crime occurred between March 1 and June 12, 2014.
If convicted on the charge, the penalty is 17 to 46 months in prison.
His case will now be placed on a future waiver-status docket.
Judge takes under advisement suppression issue in child sex case
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Judge Trish Rose took under advisement whether to suppress a possible confession in a child sex case Thursday.
Brandon Cousins is charged with five off-grid felonies that could see him get life sentences on each count with no chance of parole for 25 years. He’s charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy and three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The alleged crimes involving a then 6-year-old girl and allegedly occurred between Jan. 7 and July 23 of 2012. The investigation led to Cousins’ arrest back on Dec. 15, 2012.
The defense wants the alleged confession made by the defendant suppressed, saying the statements were not given voluntarily. The state obviously disagreed with the defense contention. Judge Rose decided she needed to listen to the taped interview for herself, which is apparently very lengthy. District Attorney Keith Schroeder told us he expected she would need to listen to the tape.
How long before she issues a written opinion is not known, but the trial is scheduled to begin in late September, so no doubt it will need to be done before that.
Corrections Violation Hearing for Hutch man scheduled for Friday
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 22-year-old Hutchinson man who faces a Community Correction’s violation has another case that was set for a preliminary hearing Wednesday by Judge Joe McCarville.
William Hickey is charged in a new case with aggravated assault after he pulled a knife on his father back in June. Hutchinson police were called to the scene on the report of a disturbance and discovered that Hickey had threatened his father with a black pocket knife.
Judge McCarville set a preliminary hearing date in the latest case for Sept. 4.
Hickey has been on corrections for aggravated endangerment of a child in one case and attempted criminal threat in another. He was given one year on community corrections in the case with an underlying sentence of one year, six months in prison.
It was back on June 13, 2013, when Hickey reportedly tortured or cruelly beat a 1-year-old child. The child sustained injuries to her face and also her bottom. In the other case he had been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for threatening his father with a knife. He was also charged with criminal threat for the same incident, which occurred May 17, 2012. He then entered a plea to the reduced charges and was granted corrections.
But, a hearing over whether those corrections should be revoked is scheduled for Friday in front of Judge Tim Chambers.
Hutch man formally charged in assault of law enforcement case
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 53-year-old Hutchinson man arrested for two counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and criminal damage to property in a domestic case was in court Wednesday where he was told of the formal charges by District Judge Tim Chambers.
James L. Paige is charged with the crimes against the officers after he came at them with a knife. Officers came very close to shooting him, but ended up tasing him instead. He had claimed in court last Friday that he wanted the officers to shoot him.
He is also charged with damaging a woman’s property by throwing it out the door of the home.
The bond in the case remains at $100,000 because of the nature of the charges, but also prior convictions for aggravated assault, criminal threat, battery, possession of drugs, robbery, two convictions for burglary, unlawful possession of firearms and criminal damage to property.
With the formal charges filed, the case will move to a waiver-status docket on Sept. 17 in front of Judge Joe McCarville.
Missouri man charged by the state involving high-speed chase
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 39-year-old Bates City, Mo., man who led law enforcement on a high-speed chase over the weekend is free on bond and appeared in court Wednesday in front of Judge Tim Chambers for the formal reading of charges.
Timothy Felix is now charged with felony flee and elude with five or more moving violations and driving under the influence of alcohol, his second.
It started when a Reno County Sheriff Deputy saw a vehicle drive past him early Sunday going 81 mph in a 55 mph zone. The deputy says he attempted to stop the vehicle at one point, he thought the driver was going to do so, but then accelerated and the chase reached speeds of around 90 mph and ended up in Stafford County where deputies deployed stop sticks, puncturing the driver’s side front tire. Eventually the vehicle stopped, but the driver was uncooperative and had to be tased. He was identified as Felix.
With the filing of formal charges, he will next appear in court next month as part of a waiver-status docket.
Hutchinson man charged in a drug case waives preliminary hearing
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 28-year-old Hutchinson man who saw his corrections revoked and served time in prison for drug cases going back to 2008 and 2011, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday in the latest case against him.
Benito Montalbo faces charges of possession of morphine, possession of marijuana with a prior conviction, possession of a controlled substance with a prior conviction, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while suspended. The state apparently made a plea offer, but he has a new attorney, that being Charlie O’Hara of Wichita. He hasn’t had a chance to review the offer and wanted the hearing continued, but Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton was against it and told the defense they could waive the hearing, then consider the offer. They could then make it known what their decision is at a future pretrial hearing.
Montalbo was stopped by a Reno County Sheriff Deputy back on Jan. 21 at 6th & Porter when the deputy apparently knew his driver’s license was suspended. Allegedly on his person was a small plastic bag of synthetic marijuana or K-2. On the console of his vehicle was a small amount of marijuana, morphine pills, and zig-zag rolling papers.
No date was set for that hearing.
Suppression hearing in child sex case scheduled for Thursday
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — They are expected to try again Thursday to have a hearing to determine if the confession in a child sex case should be suppressed.
Brandon Cousins is charged with five off-grid felonies that could see him get life sentences on each count with no chance of parole for 25 years. He’s charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy and now three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The alleged crimes involving a then 6-year-old girl and allegedly occurred between Jan. 7 and July 23 of 2012. The investigation led to Cousins arrest back on Dec. 15, 2012.
The defense wants the alleged confession made by the defendant during an interview by law enforcement suppressed, saying the statements were not given voluntarily.
The trial for Cousins was continued about four months ago, but is now rescheduled to begin in late September.
Judge Rose told us the hearing is a go as of Wednesday afternoon.
Man accused in two cases makes court appearance
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 49-year-old man with a substantial criminal history is jailed in Reno County in two new cases.
One case against Joseph Leo Wick involves alternate counts of driving while intoxicated and driving while suspended. That arrest coming back on May 9.
The other case is a little more serious. In this case, Wick is charged with stealing a Dodge cargo van owned by USD 308 and also causing damage to a fence belonging to the district. Charges include felony theft and criminal damage to property. These crimes are alleged to have occurred on May 14.
In court, he stated that he has been in the Barton County Jail on charges there and his criminal history would suggest that most of the crimes he has committed in the past have occurred in that county. That includes convictions for driving while under the influence, driving while suspended, two counts of criminal threat, felony flee and elude and driving as an habitual violator. Those crimes occurring between 1996 and 2010, all in Barton County.
His bonds for the Reno County cases total $4,000, and his cases will now go before Judge Joe McCarville next month as part of a waiver-status docket.
Hutchinson man charged in a drug case scheduled for court Thursday
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 28-year-old Hutchinson man who was on corrections for drug cases going back to 2008 and 2011, is facing a preliminary hearing in his latest case from earlier this year.
Benito Montalbo faces charges of possession of morphine, possession of marijuana with a prior conviction, possession of a controlled substance with a prior conviction, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while suspended.
Montalbo was stopped by a Reno County Sheriff Deputy back on Jan. 21 at 6th & Porter when the deputy apparently knew his driver’s license was suspended. Allegedly on his person was a small plastic bag of synthetic marijuana or K-2. On the console of his vehicle was a small amount of marijuana, morphine pills, and zig-zag rolling papers.
The hearing Wednesday is scheduled in front of Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen.
