HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Daren Dunn and Glen Grunwald sit down for Sports Update No. 15. Revisit Glen’s Ice Bucket Challenge and recap the Royals with Double D and Double G. The duo prepares you for football season with Blue Dragon, Salthawk and Crusader talk.
Missouri man leads local law enforcement on high-speed chase
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 39-year-old Bates City, Mo., man who led law enforcement on a high-speed chase 
early Sunday failed to get a bond reduction when he appeared before Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen.
Timothy Felix is jailed on a bond of $1,750 for suspicion of felony flee and elude with five or more moving violations and driving under the influence of alcohol.
A Reno County Sheriff Deputy was sitting on 4th, just west of Whiteside Road, around 1:30 a.m. Sunday when he says a vehicle drove past him driving 81 mph in a 55 mph zone. The deputy says he was able to catch the driver at 4th & Partridge Rd. He initiated his overhead lights and the vehicle then started to pull over, but then accelerated again and the chase was on. Top speeds were around 90 mph according to the deputy and the chase ended up in Stafford County where deputies there deployed stop sticks at Northeast 80th Avenue and 4th. The vehicle struck those sticks, puncturing the driver’s side front tire. But the vehicle still proceeded for about another mile until he couldn’t go any farther and turned on Northeast 70th Avenue.
Deputies say Felix refused to comply with their instructions, so he was tased by Stafford County deputies and placed under arrest. He was taken to Hutchinson Regional for a blood draw and then taken to the Reno County jail.
During the chase, he ran a couple of stop signs and went left of center several times, according to the sheriff report.
In court, he told the judge he was in Reno County to help his girlfriend move some items to Kansas City. Felix should be back in court Wednesday for a status hearing.
Partridge man entered pleas in drug case
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — An 18-year-old Partridge man jailed after his arrest in February was in court Monday morning where he entered pleas to possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of methamphetamine, possession of hash oil and no drug tax stamp.
As part of the agreement with Cyris Raigoza, the state amended the marijuana charge, pushing the case into what’s called a border box. That means, at sentencing, the judge can order a prison sanction or place him on probation. The state also dropped a misdemeanor charged of possession of drug paraphernalia as part of the agreement.
Raigoza was arrested by police when he was caught with the drugs back on Feb. 13, in the 300 block of East 3rd.
A co-defendant, 21-year-old Alexander Belote of Hutchinson, was arrested for being in possession of Hash Oil.
With Raigoza entering the plea, he’ll be sentenced in October by Judge Tim Chambers.
Man charged with injuring an infant child schedule for court Tuesday
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson man is scheduled for court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing in a child abuse case.
Alexis Silva is charged with aggravated battery-domestic violence where he is accused of injuring the child’s left leg.
The alleged crime occurred sometime between Aug. 24 and October of last year. The investigation resulted in the charge against Silvia. If convicted, he’s looking at a sentencing range of 31 to 136 months in prison.
The hearing Tuesday is scheduled in front of Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen, but as always, hearings are subject to last-minute continuances.
Trial date set for Hutch man in child sex case
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 21-year-old Hutchinson man will face trial on 18 counts for solicitation of and sex with one of six girls. Judge Tim Chambers set a trial date Friday for the case against Matthew O’Keefe.
He faces ten counts of electronic solicitation, three counts of rape, six counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, attempted aggravated indecent liberties and aggravated indecent solicitation. Some of the charges fall under Jessica’s Law and, on those counts, he could see life sentences with no chance of parole for 25 years.
The judge set Nov. 4 for the trial to begin and a motion deadline on Sept. 26. Defense Attorney Bonnie Corrado told the judge they are open to plea negotiations, but that nothing has been offered by the state thus far. Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Maxwell noted that he would consider offering something to the defense.
The solicitation of one of the victims started the investigation when a 13-year-old girl reported to police back on March 22, that O’Keefe had solicited her for sex on Facebook. They then became involved and Detective Scott Carlton made contact with O’Keefe on the site as a 15-year-old girl and began chatting with him. They decided to meet on April 4 at Rice Park, on the city’s west side. O’Keefe showed up thinking he was going to meet the 15-year-old girl, but met police instead. O’Keefe apparently used the name John Curtis when contacting the six victims.
In one case, he is accused of meeting up with her, kissing, touching and having sex with her, which led to rape and indecent liberties charges. Each of the victims testified of the messaging that took place on the social media site. Detective Scott Carlton also testified to having the conversations with the man who was using the fake name John Curtis. O’Keefe did agree to meet who he thought was the 15-year-old girl at Rice Park, but met police instead. Carlton told the court that after O’Keefe was arrested and read his Miranda rights, he told the detective he had two Facebook pages, one using his real name and the other the fake name.
Hutch man’s sentencing continued two weeks in drug cases
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson man who entered pleas in two felony drugs cases and a misdemeanor case involving interference with law enforcement will face sentencing in two weeks after Judge Tim Chambers decided he wanted more information on whether he could give Shane Kinast a border box finding and grant community corrections.
The state wants a prison sentence ordered for Kinast while his attorney Shaun Lautz asked for a border box finding and community corrections.
There is some question as to whether Kinast has an alcohol or drug addiction problem. Judge Chambers says he has to find there is some type of addiction to rule a border box finding. Kinast has apparently passed all of his drug testing over the past year.
It was on July 17, 2013, when the Reno County Drug Unit served a search warrant on a home at 1016 N. Van Buren and he was arrested along with Dwayne Porting and Elisha Bozarth.
Officers allegedly found a bag on the couch of the home on Van Buren that contained a small zip-lock bag with a crystal substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Also in the bag were more zip-lock bags and a digital scale.
He’s also charged with interference with law enforcement in another case and a case where he was busted for possession of methamphetamine.
So, it will be two weeks before we know if he will be granted community corrections or ordered to prison.
Former cemetery owner up for parole later this month
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 75-year-old Hutchinson woman who at one time owned a local cemetery, but was convicted of stealing from two of the cemetery trust funds, becomes eligible for parole later this month.
Back on Aug. 5, the late Judge Richard Rome had sentenced 75-year-old Sharon McDonough, one time owner of Fairlawn Burial Park and Heritage Funeral Home, to nearly five years in prison. McDonough had pleaded no contest to 16 criminal counts for stealing from as many as 10,000 people who had paid for cemetery plots and services. She had also agreed to pay more than $653,000 in restitution. The crimes occurred between April 2004 and May of 2009.
McDonough’s plea agreement with the state called for nearly a five year sentence with a recommendation for probation, but Judge Rome was not a part of the agreement and denied probation, ordering the sentence be served.
Even with McDonough up for parole on Aug. 30, there is no guarantee that it will occur.
Hutch man jailed after altercation with police Thursday night
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 53-year-old Hutchinson man arrested for two counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, felony interference with law enforcement and criminal damage to property in a domestic case was tased after he allegedly came toward officers who responded to the incident report in the 500 block of East B. This occurring around 11:30 p.m., Thursday night.
James L. Paige claimed in court Friday morning that he wanted the officers to shoot him and it came close to that, but they ended up tasing him after he approached them holding a knife. He is also alleged to have damaged a woman’s property by throwing it out the door of the home, that according statements made in court.
Paige asked Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen for a reduction of the $100,000 bond, but the state opposed because of the nature of the incident and also his past criminal history. That includes crimes of aggravated assault, criminal threat, battery, possession of drugs, robbery, two convictions for burglary, unlawful possession of firearms and criminal damage to property.
The judge agreed that because of the nature of the charges, the bond was appropriate and left it as is.
Paige will be back in court next Wednesday for a status hearing to see if the state has filed formal charges.
Hutch man jailed after altercation with police Thursday night
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 53-year-old Hutchinson man arrested for two counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, felony interference with law enforcement and criminal damage to property in a domestic case was tased after he allegedly came toward officers who responded to the incident report in the 500 block of East B. This occurring around11:30 p.m., Thursday night.
James L. Paige claimed in court Friday morning that he wanted the officers to shoot him and it came close to that, but they ended up tasing him after he approached them holding a knife. He is also alleged to have damaged a woman’s property by throwing it out the door of the home, that according to statements made in court.
Paige asked Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen for a reduction of the $100,000 bond, but the state opposed because of the nature of the incident and also his past criminal history. That includes crimes of aggravated assault, criminal threat, battery, possession of drugs, robbery, two convictions for burglary, unlawful possession of firearms and criminal damage to property.
The judge agreed that because of the nature of the charges, the bond was appropriate and left it as is.
Paige will be back in court next Wednesday for a status hearing to see if the state has filed formal charges.
Suspects in series of local burglaries enter pleas as charged
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Two people suspected of numerous burglaries and other crimes waived their right to a preliminary hearing Thursday and entered guilty pleas as charged. In exchange for those pleas, the state agreed not to file several additional charges against 33-year-old Timothy McQueen and 21-year-old Kelsey Hamby.
Both are charged by the state with four counts of burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary and making false writing. They allege that the two broke 
into storage units at three different locations around the city. Most of these alleged crimes occurred around June 12 or 13, while one was between May 19 and June 18. The state also charged them with conspiracy for break in of a storage unit in McPherson, then bringing the stolen property to Reno County. This occurred on June 9, according to the criminal complaint. They’re also alleged to have falsified a pawn ticket on that same date. Hamby is also charged with additional counts of criminal use of a financial card.
Both will be sentenced next month with Hamby’s sentencing set for Sept. 17, and McQueen on Sept. 19.
McQueen had been granted probation for earlier convictions of aggravated burglary from October of 2012, when he broke into a building on west 5th. In the other case, he was convicted of possession of methamphetamine for a case that goes back to November of 2012.
Trial for former bonding agent set again
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The trial for a former bonding agent charged with human trafficking and rape was continued earlier this month after the state asked for a continuance, it will be held, as it stands now, on Sept. 9, according to Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton.
The trial for Dwight Jurgens had been continued earlier at the request of the defense because of the heart attack he suffered on May 21. The state earlier this month asked for the continuance because a key detective was not available. The state had once before requested a continuance because Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton was down with the flu. The rest of the continuances have been made by the defense.
Jurgens is charged with four counts of aggravated human trafficking, two counts of attempting to commit aggravated human trafficking, rape and aggravated criminal sodomy. The human trafficking and aggravated counts are charged due to his authority of controlling persons because of his bonding business. He worked for TNT bonding at the time of the initial arrest.
All four victims allege they were threatened with being taken back to jail if they didn’t agree to have sex with him.
Unless something unforeseen happens, the trial should go as planned.
Hutch man convicted in sex case questions post release supervision
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 21-year-old man who entered a plea to a charge of attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child was granted 36 months community corrections, only to eventually be sent to prison on the 32 month sentence, is seeking some relief once he gets out of prison.
Justin Richardson was convicted of a single count of attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child instead. He had been charged with a single count of solicitation of a child, but he entered a guilty plea to an amended complaint for a lesser charge.
But, in sentencing, Judge Tim Chambers also ordered lifetime post release supervision, which basically means he would be on supervision much like parole for the rest of his life. He argues that is illegal, but the state argues it goes along state statute in cases like this. There is also some question of whether the judge even has jurisdiction since the case is at the appellate level.
Richardson was arrested after he showed up at a local apartment thinking he was going to meet a 15-year-old girl for a sexual relationship, only to be greeted by police. Hutchinson Police Detective Scott Carlton communicated with Richardson through Facebook and police decided to set up a sting. Richardson walked a mile and half because he had no transportation and was greeted by police. This occurred back on Dec. 14, 2012.
He was scheduled for possible parole on Aug. 20, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections website, but is still incarcerated at this point.
Judge Chambers scheduled a hearing over the post release issue for next month.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Glen Grunwald of KWBW 1450 AM and 98.5 FM received the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from our Eagle Communications’ station in Hays. Not only did Glen accept, he also challenged Randy Stange of HCC Athletics and Eric Armstrong of Hutchinson High School Athletics. Stange and Armstrong have 24 hours to complete the challenge and donate to the ALSA for ALS research.
Glen donated to the Keith Worthington Chapter. Click the link if you’d like to donate, too. As this challenge sweeps the nation for a great cause, individuals are challenged to dump ice water over their head for charity within 24 hours of being challenged, or must donate $100 to the ALS charity of their choice. By completing the challenge, individuals may donate anything less than $100.
Hearing Thursday for two suspects in local burglaries
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday for two people, both with multiple cases involving breaking into local buildings and storage units.
The hearing involves 33-year-old Timothy McQueen and 21-year-old Kelsey Hamby.
In the latest case, they are both charged by the state with four new counts of burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary and making false writing. They allege that the two broke into storage units at three different locations around the city. Most of these alleged crimes occurred around June 12 or 13, while one was between May 19 and June 18. The state also charged them with conspiracy for break in of a storage unit in McPherson, then bringing the stolen property to Reno County. This occurred on June 9, according to the criminal complaint. They’re also alleged to have falsified a pawn ticket on that same date.
McQueen was earlier convicted of aggravated burglary for a case that goes back to Oct. 5, 2012, when he broke into a building at 206 W. 5th. In the other case, he was convicted of possession of methamphetamine for a case that goes back to Nov. 16, 2012. Judge Rose sentenced him to one year of probation in the first case and one year, eight months probation for the other.
The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m.
Hearing date set for Hutch man charged with aggravated assault
[ 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 was charged 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. That occurred May 17, 2012. He then entered a plea to the reduced charges and was granted corrections.
