Trial date set for Hutch man in child sex case
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 21-year-old Hutchinson man will face trial on 18 counts for solicitation of and sex with one of six girls. Judge Tim Chambers set a trial date Friday for the case against Matthew O’Keefe.
He faces ten counts of electronic solicitation, three counts of rape, six counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, attempted aggravated indecent liberties and aggravated indecent solicitation. Some of the charges fall under Jessica’s Law and, on those counts, he could see life sentences with no chance of parole for 25 years.
The judge set Nov. 4 for the trial to begin and a motion deadline on Sept. 26. Defense Attorney Bonnie Corrado told the judge they are open to plea negotiations, but that nothing has been offered by the state thus far. Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Maxwell noted that he would consider offering something to the defense.
The solicitation of one of the victims started the investigation when a 13-year-old girl reported to police back on March 22, that O’Keefe had solicited her for sex on Facebook. They then became involved and Detective Scott Carlton made contact with O’Keefe on the site as a 15-year-old girl and began chatting with him. They decided to meet on April 4 at Rice Park, on the city’s west side. O’Keefe showed up thinking he was going to meet the 15-year-old girl, but met police instead. O’Keefe apparently used the name John Curtis when contacting the six victims.
In one case, he is accused of meeting up with her, kissing, touching and having sex with her, which led to rape and indecent liberties charges. Each of the victims testified of the messaging that took place on the social media site. Detective Scott Carlton also testified to having the conversations with the man who was using the fake name John Curtis. O’Keefe did agree to meet who he thought was the 15-year-old girl at Rice Park, but met police instead. Carlton told the court that after O’Keefe was arrested and read his Miranda rights, he told the detective he had two Facebook pages, one using his real name and the other the fake name.
Hutch man’s sentencing continued two weeks in drug cases
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson man who entered pleas in two felony drugs cases and a misdemeanor case involving interference with law enforcement will face sentencing in two weeks after Judge Tim Chambers decided he wanted more information on whether he could give Shane Kinast a border box finding and grant community corrections.
The state wants a prison sentence ordered for Kinast while his attorney Shaun Lautz asked for a border box finding and community corrections.
There is some question as to whether Kinast has an alcohol or drug addiction problem. Judge Chambers says he has to find there is some type of addiction to rule a border box finding. Kinast has apparently passed all of his drug testing over the past year.
It was on July 17, 2013, when the Reno County Drug Unit served a search warrant on a home at 1016 N. Van Buren and he was arrested along with Dwayne Porting and Elisha Bozarth.
Officers allegedly found a bag on the couch of the home on Van Buren that contained a small zip-lock bag with a crystal substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Also in the bag were more zip-lock bags and a digital scale.
He’s also charged with interference with law enforcement in another case and a case where he was busted for possession of methamphetamine.
So, it will be two weeks before we know if he will be granted community corrections or ordered to prison.
Former cemetery owner up for parole later this month
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 75-year-old Hutchinson woman who at one time owned a local cemetery, but was convicted of stealing from two of the cemetery trust funds, becomes eligible for parole later this month.
Back on Aug. 5, the late Judge Richard Rome had sentenced 75-year-old Sharon McDonough, one time owner of Fairlawn Burial Park and Heritage Funeral Home, to nearly five years in prison. McDonough had pleaded no contest to 16 criminal counts for stealing from as many as 10,000 people who had paid for cemetery plots and services. She had also agreed to pay more than $653,000 in restitution. The crimes occurred between April 2004 and May of 2009.
McDonough’s plea agreement with the state called for nearly a five year sentence with a recommendation for probation, but Judge Rome was not a part of the agreement and denied probation, ordering the sentence be served.
Even with McDonough up for parole on Aug. 30, there is no guarantee that it will occur.
Hutch man jailed after altercation with police Thursday night
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 53-year-old Hutchinson man arrested for two counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, felony interference with law enforcement and criminal damage to property in a domestic case was tased after he allegedly came toward officers who responded to the incident report in the 500 block of East B. This occurring around 11:30 p.m., Thursday night.
James L. Paige claimed in court Friday morning that he wanted the officers to shoot him and it came close to that, but they ended up tasing him after he approached them holding a knife. He is also alleged to have damaged a woman’s property by throwing it out the door of the home, that according statements made in court.
Paige asked Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen for a reduction of the $100,000 bond, but the state opposed because of the nature of the incident and also his past criminal history. That includes crimes of aggravated assault, criminal threat, battery, possession of drugs, robbery, two convictions for burglary, unlawful possession of firearms and criminal damage to property.
The judge agreed that because of the nature of the charges, the bond was appropriate and left it as is.
Paige will be back in court next Wednesday for a status hearing to see if the state has filed formal charges.