WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A convicted sex offender has been sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old Kansas girl.
The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office announced that 44-year-old Kelly Farr, of Scott County, Kansas, was sentenced Wednesday for attempted rape.
The victim reported that Farr began assaulting her when she was in 6th grade and the abuse continued for two years.
Farr was also convicted in 2004 of indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14.
First responders at the scene of Wednesday’s 3-vehicle crash-photo courtesy KWCH
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after a 3-vehicle crash.
Just after 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, police responded to an injury accident near the intersection of Lincoln and Market in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
A 56-year-old man was transported to a local hospital for treatment of series injuries.
Investigators learned a Ford Econoline van driven by a 69-year-old man was stopped at the intersection of Lincoln and Market. Behind the van was a 1999 Toyota Avalon occupied by the 56-year-old man and 2 other individuals.
A 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by a 21-year old woman was northbound on Market. The Mercury intentionally rear-ended the Toyota that hit the van and injured the 56-year-old, according to Davidson.
Police arrested a woman on requested charges of aggravated battery and outstanding warrants.
Davidson indicated there was no road rage but did not released additional details on what prompted the crash.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that injured two people and have a suspect in custody.
Just after 3p.m. Wednesday, police following up on a citizen tip related to a shooting investigation and responded to a residence in the 700 block of SW Buchanan, in Topeka, according to a media release.
The shooting suspect identified as Donald Cornelius Dugan, 43, was located and taken into custody without incident.
He was transported to the Law enforcement center, interviewed by detectives and later booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for the criminal charge of aggravated battery
Dugan has extensive criminal history with multiple prior felony convictions.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder and asking for help to identify the victim.
On Thursday Deputies and Investigators were dispatched to the Card Creek camping area in Montgomery County to meet with hunters who had discovered what they thought was a deceased female floating in the water approximately a quarter of a mile south of the boat ramp, according to a media release.
Deputies from MGSO and Paramedics from Independence Fire and EMS boarded the hunter’s boat and were taken to the location where the woman was last seen. Paramedics loaded the woman into the boat and transported her to Labbette Health Hospital in Independence where she was pronounced dead.
Investigators from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Bureau of Investigations are currently investigating the incident as a homicide. The victim has not been identified.
Anyone who has can recognize any of the tattoos on the victim or has information about the incident is asked to call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
SALINE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a stolen truck.
Just after 5p.m. Wednesday, deputies were dispatched to report of a suspicious vehicle in the 100 Block of South Main in the unincorporated community of Bridgeport, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.
The 2004 Chevy Silverado had been parked at that location for several days. It was reported stolen from Beloit on November 29. Further investigation led deputies to a Salina motel where they arrested 44-year-old Jay A. Mott.
Deputies booked him into the Saline County Jail for alleged possession of stolen property.
Mott has a previous conviction for theft from Pottawatomie County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Olathe businessman Greg Orman on Wednesday joined the race to be Kansas governor as an independent candidate. In 2014 he challenged U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, losing by a 10-point margin.
Olathe businessman Greg Orman launched an independent campaign for governor Wednesday, ending months of speculation about his political plans.
Orman’s entry sets up a three-way contest that some say neither he nor the Democratic nominee can win.
“I think he will guarantee the Republican — likely Kris Kobach — wins,” said University of Kansas political scientist Patrick Miller, referring to Kansas’ high-profile but controversial secretary of state who is one of 13 candidates seeking the GOP nomination for governor.
Several of the six Democrats running could get enough support from independents and moderate Republicans to defeat Kobach in a head-to-head race, Miller said. But the advantage would go to Kobach, or whoever wins the GOP nomination, if the vote is split three ways, he said.
Former state Sen. Tim Owens disagrees with that assessment. He signed on as Orman’s campaign treasurer because he believes deepening partisan divisions in the country have made candidates who reject party labels more viable.
“It’s something that historically has been a tough thing, but if there was ever a right time it’s now,” Owens said.
Owens, a moderate Republican from Overland Park who lost his Kansas Senate seat in the conservative wave of 2012, said if Kobach wins the primary, GOP voters opposed to him would welcome an opportunity to support someone other than the Democrat.
“This gives them an opportunity to vote for somebody else without switching parties,” he said.
Running as an independent and without Democratic opposition in 2014, Orman threw a scare into Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts. But a late surge powered by millions of dollars that flowed to his campaign from out-of-state donors propelled Roberts to a 10-point win.
After the loss, Orman wrote a book, “A Declaration of Independents,” in which he argues that the corruption of both major parties by powerful special interests has disenfranchised average Americans.
As an independent, Orman won’t have to worry about getting through a primary but will have to collect 5,000 signatures on a petition to be assured of a spot on the Kansas general election ballot alongside the Republican and Democratic nominees.
Orman has varied business interests. In 1996, he profited from the sale of a company he founded — Environmental Lighting Concepts — to Kansas City Power & Light. He now holds interests in a private equity firm and a partnership that owns a Lenexa-based boxing equipment manufacturer.
In June, dozens of officers were used in an FBI raid at the Jackson Co. detention Center-photo courtesy KCTV
KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to his role in a conspiracy to smuggle contraband cell phones and other items to inmates at the Jackson County Detention Center, according to Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.
Marion Lorenzo Byers, also known as “Cuddy,” 36, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to the charge contained in a July 18, 2017, federal indictment.
Byers admitted that he conspired with others – including a corrections officer and an inmate at the Jackson County Detention Center – to smuggle contraband to inmates between May 2 and June 26, 2017. Byers also admitted that he delivered contraband to a co-conspirator, who in turn delivered the contraband to a corrections officer at the detention center, who was to deliver the contraband to an inmate.
By pleading guilty, Byers acknowledged that this federal conviction provides a sufficient basis to revoke his current probation in an unrelated state case. The government will seek to have whatever sentence is imposed in this case run consecutive to whatever revocation sentence may be imposed in state court.
Under federal statutes, Byers is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
The Travel Act
The Travel Act makes it a crime to use a facility of interstate commerce (such as telephone calls) with the intent to further unlawful activity. The Travel Act’s definition of “unlawful activity” includes bribery in violation of the laws of a state. Missouri state law makes it a crime for a public servant to solicit or accept a bribe in return for violating a known legal duty. This crime is known under Missouri state law as acceding to corruption, and it is a companion or sister statute to the Missouri state statute that makes it a crime for someone to bribe a public servant. These two Missouri state statutes criminalize bribery conduct involving a public servant, both for the person paying the bribe and for the public servant taking the bribe.
Byers admitted today that he conspired to violate the Travel Act by using a facility of interstate commerce (a telephone) to facilitate the promotion of an unlawful activity, that is, acceding to corruption.
NEW YORK (AP) — The trendspotting Pantone Color Institute picked a deep purple hue called “Ultra Violet” as the color of the year for 2018.
Pantone Vice President Laurie Pressman told The Associated Press ahead of Thursday’s announcement that the shade evokes a counterculture flair, originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking. Pressman said the choice speaks to rebellion rather than royalty and has played out in everything from home and commercial interiors to fashion and the art world.
Pressman considers the shade “very much an optimistic color” intended to bring on “peace and calm.”
Ultra Violet follows the 2017 color of the year, “Greenery,” a grassy fresh, revitalizing shade that reflected new beginnings.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — A wanted suspect is in custody following a Wednesday evening standoff in Shawnee County.
The United States Marshal’s service was searching for the felony suspect on weapons violations charges, according to the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Department.
Information led officers to the 3600 block of SW Skyline Parkway suggesting 43-year-old Thomas Kent was at an apartment.
Just after 7p.m. law enforcement approached the residence and Kent fled onto the roof of the building.
With temperatures at or near freezing Kent became very uncomfortable, and eventually surrendered to the USMS at approximately 8:00pm.
Resources from the Topeka Police Department, AMR, and the Kansas Highway Patrol assisted in this incident.
Investigators on the scene Tuesday in Shawnee County -photo courtesy WIBW TV
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are working to determine the cause of death after finding a body in rural Shawnee County.
On Tuesday, deputies responded to a report of a body found near a pond on a property in the 5300 block of SE Adams, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.
Deputies arrived on scene and found an elderly black male identified Wednesday as 70-year-old Benjamin McClelland, from the Topeka area.
The Shawnee County Coroner is still working to determine how McClelland died. Deputies released no additional details.
