The state was granted a request for a one week continuance for a Hutchinson man facing serious charges, for couple of reasons. One being, that for some reason, the state failed to send subpoenas to witnesses against Timothy Mendenhall. The second reason is because the state had contacted the U-S Justice Department to possibly file federal charges in the most serious of the three cases.
Mendenhall was arrested back on November 17, after the Reno County Drug Enforcement Unit served a drug related search warrant at TJ’s Smoke Shop at 1108 W 4th.
Mendenhall is charged with sexual exploitation of a child, possession of marijuana, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, possession of personal use drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal use of a weapon and no tax stamp.
Officials say they found approximately 100-individual containers of potpourri with the illegal JWH-210 compound, marijuana, residue in several vials that field tested positive for cocaine as well as a green leafy substance they knew was marijuana, numerous pipes with burnt marijuana residue inside, and several small baggies that had a marijuana leaf printed on the outside.
Inside the area where Mendenhall was living, officers found a wooden brief case, and inside was a home made photo album with pictures of what they say appeared to be naked young females in inappropriate positions.
The shotgun with a barrel less then 18-inches along other rifles were allegedly found in his Ford Bronco, sitting outside the business.
Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton told us that he was seeking a federal indictment in this case.
Mendenhall has two other cases pending as well. Assistant District Attorney Andrew Davidson says if the feds take the drug case, then the charges of flee and elude in one case, and interference with law enforcement in another would be dropped. The state would also drop the state drug charges as well. But, that won’t happen unless the feds file charges. That has not happened thus far.
Mendenhall served time in prison for unlawful sexual relations with a child, and possession of drugs for cases going back to 2003 and 2004.
Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen set a status hearing for next Monday at 3:30 p-m.