Man suspected of stalking and drug charges enters “no contest” plea

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 51-year-old year old man charged in two cases was in court Thursday where he entered “no contest” pleas in both cases.

Raymond Bernal is charged in one case from Jan. 19 of this year with stalking and two counts of violation of a protection from abuse order. He entered the plea to the stalking while the state dropped the other two charges. He had been arrested earlier for disorderly conduct involving the same victim. Once out of jail he started sending text messages to her in violation of a protection order.

In the second case, he enter a plea to possession of methamphetamine and DUI, while all the other charges were dropped as part of the agreement. This coming after a traffic stop by a Haven police officer on June 21. The officer apparently smelled alcohol and arrested him after he refused to take a breath test. The defendant then reportedly pulled a bag of meth from his jeans and threw it on the ground.

Judge Joe McCarville set sentencing in the case Nov. 4. Whatever the sentence, the defendant won’t be able to appeal the sentence. As part of the plea agreement, he waived that right.

Hutch man charged with intentional arson

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 28-year-old Hutchinson man charged with intentional arson and interference with law enforcement for an incident back on April 29 was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday, but the victim in the case notified the District Attorney’s Office just prior to the start of the hearing that she was sick, so the state was granted a requested continuance.

Charles Crumble is accused of intentionally causing damage to an apartment by means of fire in the 400 block of East A. He’s also alleged to have resisted arrest over the arson case.

Aggravated battery hearing scheduled for Thursday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 50-year-old man charged with aggravated battery was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday morning, but Defense Attorney Charlie O’Hara requested a continuance, wanting more time to consult his client. Judge Joe McCarville granted the request.

Kurtis Keffer is charged by the state for allegedly battering another man back on Jan. 27, however, Keffer wasn’t arrested on the charge until April 30.

Keffer is free on bond.