HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A man who entered a guilty plea to one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child was sentenced Friday to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Charles Richmond was originally charged with rape, aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated indecent liberties with a child. As part of a plea agreement, he entered a plea for the aggravated indecent liberties charge and the other two charges were dropped.

The crimes occurred over a period from Jan. 1, 2013, to Dec. 31, 2017. The child told investigators she had been molested by Richmond more than 100 times.

The life sentence was given because the single charge falls under Jessica’s Law statutes.

Reno County District Judge Trish Rose handed down the sentence.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A man facing felony charges after he was caught inside the offices of Gowans Stadium on the Hutchinson Community College campus waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Jacob Eells also entered a not guilty plea to the charges.

According to police, college personnel found Eells inside the facilities. He allegedly had some supplies from that office in his pocket when he was arrested. Eells was also reportedly in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Charges include aggravated burglary, possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

The incident occurred Feb. 2.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A local man charged with a single count of rape has been bound over for trial by Reno County District Judge Joe McCarville.

Christopher Snell is accused of forcing a Hutchinson woman into sex while the two were walking the pedestrian/bike trail in Carey Park back on Aug. 14, 2015.

The victim from Lyons testified that they had been friends. When he came back to Hutchinson, she wanted to meet up with him.

After she enrolled at Hutchinson Community College, they decided to visit the park. On the trail, he began to touch her inappropriately. She told him to stop twice and started to walk away. That’s when he grabbed her wrist and ripped her pants off. Snell forced her into sex while she was leaning against a pillar on the far southeast part of the park.

After this occurred, they went back to a college parking lot. She then drove back to Lyons and told her boyfriend what happened. It was then that the alleged crime was reported.

A second count of rape was dismissed this morning when a key witness in that case didn’t show up for court. However, Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder says they may refile the charge in the near future.

Arraignment will be May 7 in front of Reno County District Judge Trish Rose.

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Transportation announced approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects in Kansas.

That includes work in Reno County on a U.S. 50 bridge over the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks about 6.65 miles west of K-14. RF Beachner Contractors, LLC, from Pittsburg won the contract at a price of $80,374.20.

There are three projects in Harvey County.

That includes work on U.S. 50 approximately 2.9 miles west of the Harvey/Marion county line. J & J Contractors of Iola, Kansas, won that contract at a cost of $170,891.30.

Two other projects in Harvey County include bridge work on I-135 just south of the north U.S. 50 and I-135 junction. Work there includes a bridge overlay. Reece Construction of Salina was awarded this bid for $239,417.75.

Another bridge located about 6 miles northwest of the K-15 and I-135 junction will also get an overlay. Reece Construction of Salina also won that bid at a cost of $335,219.35.

In Stafford County, a bid for work along U.S. 50 from the U.S. 281 junction east to the Stafford/Reno county line includes adding guard fencing for 15 miles. RF Beachner Contractors of Pittsburg will do the work for a cost of $228,855.45.

Work on these projects is expected to begin this summer.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A new scholarship was unveiled yesterday during an awards assembly at Hutchinson High School. The award will be given first to a member of the class of 2020.

That new scholarship is the Ronn Roehm Scholarship. Roehm is retiring after 21 years as principal and math teacher at Hutch High. Friends and colleagues of the educator have begun a scholarship fund in Roehm’s name.

In announcing the award, Sherri Hart, currently the assistant director of special education for the district and former assistant principal under Roehm at HHS, noted the longtime educator was the only Class 6A principal to be teaching a math class each day. Hart says Roehm knows the name of every freshman at the 1,500-student school by the second day of classes each year.

Roehm was presented with a framed Hawaiian shirt. During his tenure, Thursdays became “Hawaiian Shirt Days” at Hutch High with students and staff encouraged to wear the brightly colored apparel. Several of his staff broke with tradition, however, and wore their Hawaiian shirts to the assembly, even though it occurred on a Wednesday.

Donations are still being taken for the scholarship. Anyone wanting to contribute should make a check out to “USD 308” and put “Roehm Scholarship” in the memo area and mail it to Roehm Scholarship c/o Hutchinson High School, 810 E. 13th, Hutchinson 67501.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Police took a report late Tuesday night of a man with a gun on South Main.

Around 10:45 p.m., employees of Tyson Foods reported an unknown black male brandishing a weapon during an argument at the plant at 521 S. Main.

Apparently, the man came into the Tyson plant and words were exchanged between him and a cleaning worker from PSSI. They eventually went outside near a vehicle where possibly another man was present and pulled a gun from a fanny pack. Others observing what was happening were concerned that someone might get shot.

The man who entered the building eventually got into his vehicle and left the scene.

Police were called, but the alleged victim refused to come out and talk to officers. In fact, Lt. Dustin Loepp says officers are not getting much cooperation.

Authorities believe the dispute was between the two men and that there was no threat to the Tyson facility.

No arrests were made from that incident. The investigation continues.