SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Catholic Diocese of Wichita Thursday published a list of diocesan clergy against whom an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been substantiated.

According to a statement on the diocese website, this list is being published after a comprehensive and independent audit of all clergy files over the last several months by Stephen Robison, a non-Catholic lawyer with many years of experience in criminal and civil investigations, of Fleeson, Gooing, Coulson and Kitch, Attorneys at Law.

Published on the list are the names of nine priests of the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, who have substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. Included with the nine named priests are an additional six priests, who, though not priests of the diocese, served in the diocese for a period of time, are identified because they were published by other dioceses.

The names, ordination dates, assignment histories and current status are now available on the diocesan website.

All clergy currently listed have either been removed from ministry or are deceased. The majority are deceased. Going forward, the Catholic Diocese of Wichita in cooperation with its Policy on Suspected Abuse of Children will continue to disclose the names of any clergy against whom an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor is substantiated.

Along with the list of substantiated allegations, the Catholic Diocese of Wichita published a l­­etter from Bishop Carl A. Kemme to the faithful and a Questions & Answers document that will hopefully address many of the questions raised.

BUTLER COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities and USD 402 officials are investigating e-cigarettes and working to inform students about the dangers.

The dangers of e-cigarettes are not confined to the health risks related to nicotine only. SRO Meckel and Augusta Schools USD 402 – Augusta High School are working hard to enforce e-cigarette laws and inform youth about the dangers.

According to August police, the school resources officer at Augusta High School arrested one student after confirming the use products in e-cigarettes that contain THC, the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis.  Police also arrested an adult for distributing the substance.

Authorities have found about 1/2 dozen e-cigarette cases since the beginning of the school year, according to police

Campus officers are also equipped with field test kits to identify and classify illegal substances. If a student has an unknown substance police will test it to determine what it is. If it’s illegal – they will get arrested.

The school district reminded students and parents, “vaping devices are never allowed on USD 402 Properties. Our administration, SRO, and public safety officers are being vigilant about stomping these products out of our schools. This is a national issue, and schools around the country are facing this onslaught. Please take time to talk to your children about this topic and partner with us in providing safe schools. If you, or your students, know of any unsafe activities taking place in our schools please make us aware. If you prefer to report anonymously, use our anonymous reporting app “Fight Song!”. “

 

 

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teen after an incident with a Kansas deputy.

On Thursday, a deputy was in the 7100 block of SW Woodcroft Way in Topeka looking into a report of three vicious dogs in the area, according to Deputy Andrew Mergen.

The deputy located the 19-year-old owner and while talking to her  an object was thrown at and hit the deputy.

The female then ran into her house, but soon came back outside and was detained for a short period of time.

She is being charged with battery on a law enforcement officer.   Authorities have not released her name. The deputy was not injured.

BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman on drug charges after an arrest.

Just before 12:30p.m. Thursday. police conducted a narcotics search warrant at 3621 23rd Street in Great Bend, according to a media release. This search warrant was obtained from follow up investigation of the arrest of Xavier Carey on September 17.

During the search of the residence, police found marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside the house in the vicinity of a small child.

Police arrested Treva Carey, 47, and transported to the Barton County Jail where she was booked and confined in lieu of $2,500 bond. The small child was released to another family member.

On Tuesday, police arrested Xavier Allen Carey, 25, after a traffic stop and transported him to the Barton County Jail where he was booked and confined in lieu of $100,000 bond.

 

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A man has been convicted of holding a woman against her will in her suburban Kansas City apartment for several weeks and sexually assaulting her.

Jurors found 38-year-old Anthony Darryl Allen guilty Wednesday of one count aggravated kidnapping and two counts of rape.

Police arrested Allen in August 2015 after officers were dispatched to the woman’s apartment in Lenexa, Kansas, for a welfare check. Allen initially refused to come out of the apartment but eventually surrendered to police.

Charges were filed after the woman told police Allen wasn’t allowing her to leave the apartment and had raped her.

His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 7.

AUGUSTA, Kan. (AP) — The Butler County Sheriff’s says at least 60 cats — some of them dead— were removed from a home in Augusta.

Sheriff Kelly Herzet says crews cleared the animals from the home Thursday. He said a dead and decaying dog was found inside the house and it’s possible more animals would be found.

KAKE -TV reports Stephanie Heinz, who lives next to the home, said the woman who rented the home would show up periodically to feed the animals and then would leave again.

Herzet said because the renter paid her utilities, crews couldn’t go into the home until she recently surrendered her rights to the animals.

Sheriff Herzet said his office hopes to forward a criminal case of animal cruelty to the Butler County attorney.

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Topeka man who appears to have accidentally shot himself was sentenced Tuesday to 30 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a gun, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Keeno D. Collins, 26, Ozawkie, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

In his plea, he admitted Topeka police found him wounded on the grounds of the Topeka West High School.

He had a gunshot wound to his upper left arm. Collins told police he didn’t know what had happened. After police found a gun nearby, they matched DNA on the weapon to Collins. He was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a 2015 conviction in Shawnee County District Court on a felony drug charge. He has additional convictions that include forgery and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

PAWNEE COUNTY — A Kansas man entered a plea agreement Thursday in connection a burglary in Pawnee County.

Thomas L. Robison, 20, Larned, Kansas, entered a No Contest plea in the Pawnee County District Court to felony burglary  of the community owned State Theater in Larned on July 20, 2019, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett. Robinson also agreed to pay full restitution.

The defendant confessed to the theater burglary following his arrest on suspicion of burglarizing the Subway restaurant in Larned on July 25, 2019.  Robison told law enforcement he’d hid in the cry room of the theater following a movie and waited for all of the staff to leave before stealing cash and other items.

Following the plea, District Judge Bruce Gatterman denied the defendant’s request for release on bond.  Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines the defendant faces a prison sentence between 11 months and 34 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections depending on his criminal history.  Sentencing has been scheduled for October 24, 2019.

 

COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue to search for a suspect who fled a traffic stop in Winfield Thursday morning that prompted USD 465 officials to place all schoos in the district on lock-out and hold in place.

Just after 8:15a.m., police attempted the traffic stop on a vehicle in the 1400 Block of Bliss Street, according to Winfield police. The driver sped away at a high rate of speed and for the safety of the public, police discontinued the chase in the 1400 Block of John Street.

A local citizen reported finding the vehicle in the 1600 Block of Pearl Street after the driver fled from the scene. Police did detain a female passenger but late Thursday afternoon had not reported an arrest.

The school district returned to normal operation just before 2p.m., according to USD 465.
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COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities and USD 465 officials placed all schools in Winfield schools a lock-out, hold in place Thursday morning.

Law enforcement is continuing an active search for a fleeing suspect in the Winfield area, according to a social media report from the school district.

In a separate incident Monday, Winfield High School received information regarding a possible threat. As a result, USD 465 administration and the City of Winfield Police conducted a thorough investigation which follows appropriate School Board Policy, district procedures and safety protocol. The threat was not deemed to be credible.

The school district released no additional details.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Jurors have ruled against a teacher who alleged that she was fired from a Catholic school in Kansas City, Missouri, because she was pregnant, unmarried and refused to have an abortion.

Jurors sided Wednesday with the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, which said St. Therese School teacher Michelle Bolen was let go in 2015 because of poor performance. Bolen testified that a priest told her that had she terminated her pregnancy, the school would not have to deal with the “scandal” of a pregnant, unmarried teacher.

Her attorney, E. E. Keenan, says state law exempts churches from being sued for pregnancy discrimination. Instead he argued that the diocese violated a state law that protects women from being fired for refusing to have an abortion.