Tanner Lee Cullens, 20, was sentenced in Ellis County District Court Friday to 71 months in prison for his involvement in a February robbery in Ellis County.
Cullens and co-defendent Jeremy David Schulmeister were arrested in February after they allegedly offered a ride to Max Diederich on Feb. 7. Instead, investigators said they took Diederich took a rural area at gunpoint and robbed him of his phone, clothing and cash, before forcing him out of a moving vehicle.
In June, Cullens was found guilty by 23rd Judicial District Chief Judge Glenn Braun after entering a no-contest plea but later filed a motion to withdraw the plea.
During sentencing, the court first took up that motion.
After consulting with his attorney, J. Alex Herman, Cullens confirmed with the court he had not been coerced or threatened and decided to withdraw the motion to withdraw his plea.
Herman also confirmed with Cullens during the proceedings that he was not being coerced in his decision to withdraw the motion.
Neither the state, represented by Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees, nor the defendant or his attorney presented evidence or made statements prior to sentencing.
Schulmeister
The mother of the victim was in the courtroom and also declined to make a statement.
Drees asked the court for the 71-month sentence originally agreed upon and said he felt it is appropriate given the facts of the case and his lack of a criminal record.
Herman agreed and said he believes the evidence would show that Cullens was culpable for the crimes, but was not involved to the same level as his co-defendant Schulmeister.
Braun said his willingness to cooperate with law enforcement and offer a statement that would ultimately aid in Schulmeister’s decision to enter into a plea agreement saved the court time and cost of a jury trial and would be beneficial to the victim.
Schulmeister was sentenced to 114 months in prison in August for his part in the robbery.
Braun sentenced Cullens in line with the plea agreement, sentencing him to 59 months for aggravated robbery, with 36 months of post-release supervision, to run concurrently with a sentence of 18 months for aggravated intimidation of a victim along with 12 months for aggravated battery to run consecutively — totaling 71 months.
He was also ordered to pay $255 in restitution to the victim related to the phone that was stolen that was not returned to the victim along with $438 in court costs.
Cullens will be credited for time served — 211 days.
He was warned that despite a lack of prior convictions, since the sentencing was for three felonies, once released he can no longer be in possession of a firearm, per federal law, and cannot vote or hold office in Kansas, per state law.
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a wanted suspect after an inquiry about a stolen grocery store cart.
Bowman-Brooks.
On Thursday, a police officer driving on Iron Avenue near Third Street in Salina noticed a Save A Lot grocery store cart at a nearby residence, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.
When the officer stopped to ask the resident about it, he observed Anthony Bowman-Brooks, Jr., 29, of Salina.
The officer ran a check on Bowman-Brooks and learned that he had an active felony warrant from Jackson County, Mo., for failure to appear on a drug charge, Forrester said.
Bowman-Brooks left the residence in a vehicle, but the officer was able to stop the vehicle in the 1000 block of South Santa Fe Avenue.
Bowman-Brooks ran from the traffic stop, but was apprehended behind a residence in the 900 block of South Santa Fe Avenue and he had in his possession a metal business card holder that had what appeared to be methamphetamine in it, according to Forrester.
Bowman-Brooks was arrested on requested charges of Interference with a law enforcement officer, Possession of a stimulant and Possession of drug paraphernalia and the felony warrant out of Jackson County, Missouri.
Sec. of State Pompeo arrives in Manhattan Friday morning photo courtesy U.S. State Dept.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s Friday lecture in Manhattan, Kansas (all times local):
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo didn’t address speculation that he will run for an open Senate seat next year during a college lecture he gave in his home state of Kansas.
Pompeo’s speech Friday at Kansas State University came with three Democrats and four Republicans already actively running. Republican Sen. Pat Roberts is not seeking reelection.
Weeks after Pompeo said a run is “off the table,” though, he is still looming over the race, as only he has enough name recognition and support among Kansas conservatives to afford to wait until next June’s filing deadline to decide.
If he does run, Pompeo would enter the race as the favorite.
Pompeo’s speech didn’t touch on his political ambitions but instead focused on a pet project: refocusing American diplomacy on the promotion of core human rights.
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By JOHN HANNA
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Many attending U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s college lecture Friday in his home state of Kansas will be listening for clues about whether he might run for the Senate next year, though it could be many months before anyone finds out.
Sec. of State Mike Pompeo with North Korean Leader Kim Jung Un in May of 2018 -photo courtesy White House
Three Democrats and four Republicans are already actively running for the seat held by Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, who isn’t seeking a fifth term, and several others are expected to join them. Weeks after Pompeo said a run is “off the table,” though, he is still creating a buzz and looming over the race, as only he has enough name recognition and support among Kansas conservatives to afford to wait until next June’s filing deadline to decide.
If he does run, Pompeo would enter the race as the favorite.
“It’s the Pompeo decision, and then everything else trickles down,” said Joe Kildea, a vice president for the conservative interest group Club for Growth.
Other candidates don’t have the luxury of waiting and the field is likely to grow even bigger, with GOP Rep. Roger Marshall of western Kansas expected to announce his candidacy Saturday at the state fair.
Pompeo isn’t expected to directly address the speculation about his interest in running during his speech Friday at Kansas State University, but that hasn’t stopped others from suggesting he’s the person for the job. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell identified Pompeo as his preferred candidate shortly after Roberts announced in January that he wasn’t seeking re-election.
The GOP hasn’t lost a Senate race in Kansas since 1932, but many Republicans worry about a repeat of the governor’s race last year. Kris Kobach, a nationally known advocate of tough immigration policies, narrowly won a crowded primary, alienated moderates and lost to Democrat Laura Kelly. He launched his Senate campaign in July.
For Kobach’s GOP detractors, Pompeo would solve their perceived problems. His entry would likely clear most of the Republican field, and GOP leaders believe Pompeo would have no trouble winning in November 2020, making it easier for Republicans to retain their Senate majority.
And WDAF-TV reports that Kansas’ other senator, Republican Jerry Moran, told reporters Wednesday at a Kansas City-area event that he doesn’t know Pompeo’s current thinking, “but I wouldn’t be surprised if he entered that race.”
Fellow Republicans concede that Pompeo, a former congressman and CIA director, has reasons not to run, including the prestige that comes with being the nation’s top diplomat. He’s currently dealing with weighty issues such as new sanctions on Iran from the Trump administration, a tariff war with China and questions about whether hopes for nuclear talks with North Korea are fading.
“I think he can’t say that he’s wanting to run for Senate now,” said Tim Shallenburger, a former two-term state treasurer and Kansas Republican Party chairman. “He’s got to wait, and I think he can afford to wait.”
Kobach, who served as Kansas’ secretary of state but first built his national profile on immigration issues, has argued that as a Senate nominee, he’d benefit from the higher turnout that normally comes with a presidential election year and a greater focus on issues such as immigration. Some local Republican leaders agree and feel less anxious about Kobach possibly winning the nomination.
Other GOP candidates include Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, Dave Lindstrom, a Kansas City-area businessman and former Kansas City Chiefs player, and Bryan Pruitt, a conservative gay commentator. Also, Marshall has been flirting with running for months, and other potential Republican candidates include Alan Cobb, president and CEO of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, and Matt Schlapp, the American Conservative Union’s president.
The Democratic candidates with active campaigns are former federal prosecutor Barry Grissom, and former Rep. Nancy Boyda and Usha Reddi, a city commissioner in the northeast Kansas city of Manhattan.
Don Alexander, a manufacturing firm owner who is the GOP chairman in Neosho County in southeastern Kansas, said it’s early to be trying to size up the race, almost 11 months before the August 2020 primary. He said he and other Republicans trust Pompeo to “know where he’s needed most.”
“I’m sure the president doesn’t want him to leave,” said Helen Van Etten, a Republican National Committee member from Topeka.
But Van Etten said comments from Pompeo that he’ll stay on as secretary of state as long as Trump will have him leave an “open door” for a Senate bid.
Some Republicans, such as Alexander, take Pompeo at his word that he won’t run. Others, including Shallenburger, read Pompeo’s statements as meaning he isn’t interested right now but that he may reconsider if he doesn’t like how the race develops.
“He can announce on the filing deadline and cause most of the people in there to get out,” Shallenburger said
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and searching for a suspect.
Just after 1:3 a.m. Friday, police were dispatched to a convenience store at 102 SE 37th Street in Topeka on a panic alarm, according to Police Lt. Manuel Munoz.
Officers arrived to find that the panic alarm was activated by the clerk due to an Aggravated Robbery to the business.
The clerk advised a black male wearing a ski mask, gray sweatpants, and dark hoodie came into the business, brandished a silver semi-auto handgun and demanded money.
The suspect left southbound from the business and then east through the houses with an undisclosed amount of money.
Image courtesy Topeka Police
Police are asking for the community’s assistance in identifying the robbery suspect and released security camera images.
KANSAS CITY (AP) — “Modern Family” star Eric Stonestreet plays the part of the bumbling younger brother of Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid in a new spoof video that was released in advance of the first game of the regular season.
Stonestreet as Randy Reed
The video features Stonestreet as Randy, the owner of a California Jet Ski business who suffered a career-ending football injury as a 10-year-old. While getting his ankles taped alongside disinterested players, he explains, “Pop Warner. It’s no joke.”
Throughout the video, he offers players advice and discounts on personal watercraft. General Manager Brett Veach says, “He’s almost like having another coach out there, one that we don’t want or need.”
Meet Randy Reid, younger brother of head coach Andy Reid. 😒
KANSAS CITY (AP) — Court records say a Kansas City teen told detectives he killed another man because he believed the victim was responsible for shooting his brother and wanted him to feel the same pain.
Mackey photo Kansas City Police
Eighteen-year-old Taylor Mackey is jailed on $25,000 bond after he was charged Thursday with second-degree murder and three other felonies in the death of Isaac Louis Brown. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.
Court records say Mackey and his younger brother were questioned after surveillance video linked them to last week’s shooting.
The records say Mackey told detectives that he and his brother approached Brown and talked to him before they both pulled out their guns and shot him once. He says he was thinking, “this was his time to ‘Get him.”
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas man was charged Thursday with bank robbery, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Freeman photo Shawnee Co.
James E. Freeman, 55, Topeka, is charged with one count of bank robbery. A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Topeka alleges he robbed U.S. Bank at 719 South Kansas Avenue in Topeka. An affidavit alleges Freeman entered the bank at about 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 4. He began striking the counter with his right hand and screaming, “Just give me money,” and “This is a robbery.” He left the bank with cash.
A Topeka police officer responding to the bank robbery call found Freeman walking on 6th Street about a block from the bank. Freeman was holding cash in his hands when he was arrested.
If convicted, Freeman faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Topeka Police Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting.
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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and have a suspect in custody.
U.S. Bank in downtown Topeka google image
Just after 2:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to the US Bank at 719 SW Kansas Avenue in Topeka on a report of a robbery that had just occurred to the business, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.
Upon arrival Officers learned a subject entered the business demanded money and then fled the area on foot. A description of the subject was broadcast to other officers in the area.
A short time later a subject matching suspect’s description was located near 6th and Harrison Street and was taken into custody without incident, according to Beightel.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation responded and is the lead investigating agency on this robbery. Police have not released the suspect’s name and requested charges in the case.
BARTON COUNTY —Voters in USD 428 Great Bend voted against a $44.87 million bond to help with renovations to its entire district. The mail-in ballots were sent to registered voters August 20, and were due back to the Barton County Clerk’s Office Thursday, Sept. 5.
The first question of $41,750,000 failed with 2,538 voting against the bond, and 1,993 votes in favor of the bond.
The second question of $3,120,000 required the first question to pass, but there were 2,886 ‘no’ votes and 1,624 ‘yes’ votes.
The total number of ballots counted was 4,547, for a 43.4% voter turnout. There were 10,469 ballots mailed out to registered USD 428 voters. Barton County Election Officer Donna Zimmerman was hoping for closer to 80%, a number that previous mail-in ballots usually have.
Proposed renovations included new entrances to elementary schools, new sixth-grade classroom wing at the middle school, turf field at the middle school, storm shelters at the high school, remodeling the Washington Education Center, and building a new Transportation, Maintenance, and Grounds building at the District Education Center site.
Find out more details on USD 428 school bond issue here.
SALINE COUNTY —A Salina man’s turtle escaped three years ago. On Thursday, a concerned citizen spotted it crossing Markley Road by the baseball fields and stopped to make sure it didn’t get hit, according to a social media report from the Kansas Highway Patrol.
KHP Master Trooper Davis and Lieutenant Riedel stopped to assist.
Lucky enough the owner placed an ID tag on the shell just for this occasion.
The owner was amazed and delighted to find out that his turtle had been found and was still alive. The missing turtle and owner now re-united.
COLUMBUS, Kan. (AP) — A 23-year-old man captured in Souther California was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for the death of an Oklahoma man in Kansas.
Ty Bohlander photo Cherokee Co.Diana Bohlander photo Cherokee Co.
Ty Bohlander was sentenced Tuesday to 59 months in prison in the death of 64-year-old James McFarland of Tulsa, whose body was found along a road in southeast Kansas in April 2017.
In March, the Santa Monica California Police Department located and arrested him in conjunction with the Cherokee County, Kansas Sheriff’s Department.
Bohlander and his 58-year-old mother, Diana Bohlander, pleaded guilty in July to voluntary manslaughter after initially being charged with first-degree murder. Diana Bohlander’s sentencing was rescheduled because her attorney couldn’t attend Tuesday’s hearing.
Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves says the Bohlanders and McFarland were living out in a van. McFarland died of blunt force trauma to the head during an argument with Ty Bohlander.
