HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 41-year-old Hutchinson man accused in a domestic case and facing 16 charges entered a plea Friday morning.

Gregory Collins entered a plea to aggravated battery, aggravated assault and criminal damage to property as well as three counts of solicitation to commit perjury and nine counts of violation of a protection from abuse order.

Around 12:20 a.m. on Jan. 4 the victim was reportedly attacked with a knife. Collins is also accused of holding the victim against her will, putting her in fear of her safety and causing damage to the home in the 600 block of East F. He is accused of heating up a taser, then putting it against her neck and threatening to kill her.

Both the state and the defense will recommend community corrections, according to Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton.

However, those corrections won’t begin until he’s released from prison. He’s currently serving time for numerous convictions for cases from 2016 and 2017.

Sentencing is set for Nov. 16.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It will be next year before a man accused of murder will go to trial.

Brennan Trass was in court Thursday for a status hearing and District Judge Trish Rose set a new trial date of March 25. It’s been over three years now since the murder occurred.

Trass is accused of murder for the shooting death of 24-year-old Jose Morales, who was found on the floor of a residence back on Aug. 17, 2015.

Judge Rose also set a deadline of Nov. 30 for any motions the defense may want to file and Dec. 21 for the state to file any responses. Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton says it may be January of next year before any motions are argued before the judge.

Trass remains jailed pending trial.

Updated 10/5/18 at 4:45 p.m.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson police have released the name of the body found in the city Thursday evening. Authorities have determined the body is that of 30-year-old Michael Pederson.

Police say an autopsy of the body did not reveal any type of injuries and a toxicology report, which could take several weeks, is pending.

No other information has been released, but officials are asking anyone with possible information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or 620-694-2829.

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Original Story

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Police are investigating a found body, but have not released many details. Officials will only say that the investigation is continuing and that they have not made a positive identification. In a news release, they didn’t give a location of where the body was found.

Police said Friday morning that the body was found by a landlord or tenant and may have been in the basement of an apartment or duplex for some time.

The body was taken to the Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center for an autopsy.

Updated 10/5/18 at 11:22 a.m.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 58-year-old man on parole for several convictions out of Sedgwick County was scheduled for court on a charge of sexual exploitation of a child. According to District Attorney Keith Schroeder, Gary Robbins is dead.

Robbins was found dead inside the Reno County Correctional Facility Friday morning.

It was around 5:40 a.m. Friday when the staff at the jail facility were alerted to an unresponsive inmate. Staff performed lifesaving measures, but were unsuccessful in reviving Robbins, who was pronounced dead at 6:20 a.m.

Robbins had been in the facility since his parole violation on Sept. 19. On Oct. 1, Robbins was charged with sexual exploitation of a child and possession of media of a child under 18.

Robbins was accused of having sexually explicit photos of children.

A preliminary investigation performed by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation suggests the injuries to Robbins were self-inflicted. No one was in the vicinity of Robbins at the time of his death.

An autopsy will be performed at the Wichita Forensic Center.

Robbins was in parole violation for several convictions in Wichita including aggravated robbery, theft, aggravated burglary, aggravated sodomy, rape and indecent liberties. He was paroled in 2017.

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Updated 10/5/18 at 10:01 a.m.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 58-year-old man on parole for several convictions out of Sedgwick County was scheduled for court on a charge of sexual exploitation of a child. According to District Attorney Keith Schroeder, Gary Robbins is dead.

Robbins was found dead inside the Reno County Correctional Facility Friday morning. Details of the death have not been released. The investigation is ongoing.

According to sheriff’s department officials, there may be more information released later today.

Robbins was accused of having sexually explicit photos of children back on Sept. 19.

Robbins was in parole violation for several convictions in Wichita including aggravated robbery, theft, aggravated burglary, aggravated sodomy, rape and indecent liberties. He was paroled in 2017.

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Original Story

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 58-year-old man on parole for several convictions out of Sedgwick County is jailed in Reno County for sexual exploitation of a child.

Gary Robbins is accused of having sexually explicit photos of children, according to District Attorney Keith Schroeder. Schroeder says he will also file the charges and list Robbins as an aggravated sex offender under the habitual sex offender rule, which could mean a life sentence with no chance of parole. The crime occurred on Sept. 19.

Robbins is also wanted for a parole violation for several convictions in Wichita including aggravated robbery, theft, aggravated burglary, aggravated sodomy, rape and indecent liberties. He was paroled in 2017.

He’s expected to be in court Friday morning for the formal reading of the charge.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Something most people may not realize is happening with children is trauma. Officials say trauma in children can affect their adult life.

Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz, who is the Director of Student Services with Essdack, talks about the studies and sciences surrounding affected children and how it can affect them as adults:

 

Rick Krause, Assistant Superintendent for USD 308, talks about some of the factors that can traumatize children:

 

Lewis-Pankratz says teachers are on the front line in dealing with children who may have such issues. She talks about things they’re doing:

 

Krause says there will be a couple of sessions next Wednesday to discuss their issues:

 

These sessions are open to the public, but they ask that those wanting to attend RSVP by calling 663-9566.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Great Bend man was bound over for trial Wednesday for two cases that occurred earlier this year.

In the first case, Mark Ray was bound over for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to package, theft of property and conspiracy to commit theft.

He was arrested with two others when an employee of Dunham’s Sports in Hutchinson reported a theft. The employee’s description led officers to the Great Bend trio that was found at the Yesway at 11th & Severance.

Twenty-seven-year-old Michael S. Moore and 23-year-old Courtney Clark were also arrested on April 6.

Ray was also bound over for trial in a separate case where he was caught pulling parts from a vehicle at a local car lot. He’s also accused of giving police a fake name and running while officers investigated the theft.

This occurred on Sept. 3.

With him being bound over, he’ll be arraigned on the charges Nov. 5.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 53-year-old man was jailed late Tuesday night after an altercation at a home in the 700 block of North Cleveland. He made his first court appearance Wednesday where he was told of the potential charge.

Donald Magnan faces a charge of aggravated battery after he allegedly cut a man on the arm with a knife because he wouldn’t stop talking.

When police arrived they found the victim, 53-year-old Harlin Bailey of Stafford, lying on the floor of the home with his arm bleeding. He was taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center where he received stitches for his wound.

While being read the affidavit, Magnan pretty much admitted to cutting the man because he wouldn’t shut up.

Magnan is jailed on a $25,000 bond and should be back in court next week.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission is considering a policy that would require businesses to meet certain conditions if they want incentives from the county. This policy would also apply to businesses that create five to nine jobs.

County Administrator Gary Meagher told the commission Tuesday that, for those companies, they would pay 50 percent of what the county pays companies that plan to create 10 or more jobs.

In every case, the minimum wage criteria and cash incentives per job created would apply.

For instance, wages for newly-created jobs must pay at least $15 per hour, per job in order to
be qualified under the policy. Jobs paying less than $15 per hour are not eligible.

Jobs paying a starting wage of $15 per hour or more may qualify for an incentive not to exceed $500 per job. Starting pay of $18 per hour or more may qualify for an incentive not to exceed $1,000. Starting pay of $21 per hour or more may qualify for an incentive not to exceed $1,500 per job.

Applicants must create a minimum of 10 new jobs to qualify for the full incentives.

Some on the commission didn’t like limiting small businesses or those in a small community from only getting 50 percent and suggested at least going to 75 percent of what is paid to those who create 10 jobs or more.

No decision was made on the county economic policy Tuesday, but it could come back in the next couple of weeks for final adoption.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission approved the two items on its agenda. Commissioners approved a revision of the Violence in the Workplace policy, which basically brings the policy up to speed with the concealed carry policy.

This would require an employee who carries a weapon to have it with them at all times and not leave it around where someone else would have access. If they leave it in a county vehicle, it must be out of sight and secured.

The commission also agreed to allow two brush trucks from Fire District 4 to be sold as surplus property on Purple Wave with the money going in that district’s special equipment fund.

The commission also heard from two residents from South Hutchinson who are upset with the Reno County Public Works using F Street in South Hutchinson for their heavy equipment.

Jerry Wiggins addressed the commission with his concerns:

 

He was told by the county commission that, for some equipment, they use F Street because a bridge on Scott Boulevard limits what equipment can cross. It also has a weight limit. F Street is used as an alternative.

The county does want to meet with South Hutchinson officials about the bridge issue on Scott Boulevard, but noted the bridge is in their city and it’s up to them to make any repairs or replacements.