HUTCHINSON, Kan. — District Judge Trish Rose has scheduled a hearing Friday afternoon for a couple of motions filed by Brennan Trass’ attorney.

Trass was convicted earlier this month for the murder of 24-year-old Jose Morales. Morales was found on the floor of his residence back on Aug. 17, 2015. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Trass was also convicted for criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Trass is now seeking a new trial for things Judge Rose ruled against him. Trass does not believe the jury should have been shown footage of his interrogation. In the video, Trass pretty much implicated himself in the crimes.

Then, there was the transcript that was provided to jurors. By rule, it was supposed to be edited and not mention his past criminal history. It was not. Eventually, the state provided jurors an edited copy of the transcript with that information deleted.

While Salina attorney Bobby Hiebert was in court for the entire trial, he was only backup counsel for most of it. He eventually had to take over after the judge removed Trass from the courtroom for an outburst. Trass never came back to the courtroom, even for the verdict.

Hiebert has asked to be removed from the case and will argue that motion Friday.

The hearing Friday is at 1:30 p.m.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A local manufacturing plant announced to employees Thursday that they would be furloughed for the month of May.

That is mainly the factory personnel for Kuhn-Krause, according to Greg Patrus, president and CEO of the company. He says about 160 workers at the local plant will be affected.

He says there is too much product on the market and farmers are having to cut back on purchasing farm equipment. He blamed low commodity prices, trade disputes and tariffs that continue to hurt farmers.

He called the furlough of employees a “re-bounce.” Patrus said employees affected will be back at work in June and the company will be better than ever.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Former inmate and current mayor of Leavenworth, Jermaine Wilson, will be speaking at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility graduation next week.

Wilson overcame crime, addiction and maximum-security incarceration at the Lansing Correctional Facility to become mayor of Leavenworth, his hometown.

“Mr. Wilson is an individual with a criminal background who has made a conscious decision that an individual’s past mistakes do not have to define their future success,” Jay Hertel, Director of Correctional Education for Greenbush – The Southeast Kansas Education Service Center, said. “Our hope is that these men will be inspired by his words, his experiences, and his post-release success.”

Wilson’s appearance was arranged by Michelle Murray, a GED instructor for Greenbush.

“I had an afternoon student who said, ‘Mrs. Murray, do you think I could ever be mayor of Wichita?’” Murray said. “Later that week I saw national news about this former inmate becoming mayor of Leavenworth. I found an article and printed it off for him and said, ‘See? It is doable.’”

On Thursday, April 18, Wilson will speak to 75 inmates graduating from educational programs at Hutchinson Correctional Facility with a message of hope and encouragement.

Wilson will speak at the East Unit and Central Unit graduation ceremonies scheduled for April 18. Graduates will be recognized for completing various programs, including GED, Kansas Work Ready, NCCER Core Curriculum (construction basics), plumbing and carpentry.

Graduates will also be recognized for completing KDOC re-entry programs meant to foster post-release success.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Public comments to the Reno County planning commission concerning a conditional use permit for a proposed wind farm have concluded. However, officials with NextEra Energy have yet to give their rebuttal.

NextEra wants to place as many as 88 wind turbines in southeastern Reno County. Dozens spoke to the commission and gave their thoughts for or against the project.

Most who spoke against it worry about their property values dropping, the noise, health issues and shadow flicker from the turbines. But there were also some with environmental concerns. Some questioned what the turbines could do to migratory birds and other animals that make the proposed area their home. Many also wanted setbacks for a mile or more. Others just don’t want the eyesore near their property.

Most who spoke Wednesday were from Sedgwick County and either live near the county line or have property in Reno County.

The planning commission will resume the hearing at 5 p.m. Thursday. Once NextEra officials are done making their final pitch, the planning commission will discuss the proposal privately and consider a recommendation for the Reno County Commission. The three commissioners will have the final say.

NextEra wants to start construction this summer and be operational late this year.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 53-year-old man serving a substantial amount of time in prison for a 2004 case is in more trouble. Anthony Jefferson is once again accused of battering a correctional officer at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility – Central Unit.

This is not the first time. In 2005, Jefferson was being transferred to the Hutchinson Correctional Facility from the El Dorado Correctional Facility so he could appear in District Court for an aggravated battery case. Jefferson became angry about an intake procedure and spit in the face of corrections officer John Markus. Jefferson was convicted of the crime and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison by the late Reno County District Judge Richard Rome.

Jefferson was also convicted of aggravated battery for shooting at Jesse Villa. Jefferson hit Villa in the ear with a .38-caliber handgun in the early morning hours of Feb. 1, 2004. Jefferson was given a 15-year sentence in that case.

Those sentences are running consecutively to each other.

Jefferson is also serving time for drug convictions out of Harvey County.

According to the Kansas Department of Corrections, as it stands now, Jefferson is not eligible for parole until 2029.

Any new sentence could add to that.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The warmer weather brings an increase in road construction. That means drivers must be aware of road workers in construction zones.

Kim Stitch is an information specialist for the Kansas Department of Transportation. She says this week reminds drivers to slow down when in or near highway work zones. The week also reminds drivers to be aware of law enforcement or other emergency personnel that may be along the road.

KDOT officials say employees Ted Coleman, Wichita, Kade Cooper, Belleville, and KTA employee Kayne Kraus have all been in close calls in work zones. There have also been some workers killed in work zones in the past few years. Stitch says most accidents don’t involve the workers.

“Unfortunately, when we do have accidents, about 85 to 90 percent of the time, it’s the motorists who are injured or killed in work zone crashes. Now if a work zone crash involves a worker, it is much more serious because they are usually not in a vehicle. More often than not, motorists are rear-ending each other, going off the side of the road or hitting equipment,” Stitch said.

Motorists are reminded that fines double in work zones.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A man faces charges after he allegedly broke into a local salvage yard in the 1600 block of East 1st. Logan Bromwell found some vehicles that could run and started crashing them into each other.

Bromwell is also accused of crashing through a gate to get another vehicle. He even took one of the vehicles to a local Kwik Shop, bought gas and went back to the salvage yard.

Bromwell is charged with felony theft and criminal damage. The crimes occurred between March 31 and April 1.

During a court appearance Tuesday, Bromwell was denied a bond reduction.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission made quick work of its agenda Tuesday with only a few action items to consider.

Commissioners approved the purchase of vehicles for the Reno County sheriff’s department. That included four Ford SUVs from Midwest Ford for a total cost of $104,036 after a trade for the patrol division. Another vehicle will be purchased for the Reno County Correctional Facility STAT Unit at a cost of $30,509.

Commissioners also approved some grants for Reno County Community Corrections. Those grants will help community corrections assist clients that are sent by the courts for supervision.