NEWTON— Formal charges have been filed against a Newton man in connection with the death of another Newton man New Year’s Eve.
Thirty-five-year-old Andrew Martinez is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 53-year-old Robert Flores Jr. and he is being held on a $500,000 bond.
Police were called to the report of a disturbance in the 300 block of SE 4th Dec. 31 and found Flores Jr. down on the sidewalk, according to a media release.
The officers attempted life-saving measures, but Flores was later pronounced dead at the scene. Martinez was located on foot a short time later and taken into custody.
Authorities say a fight started inside a house, then continued outside where Flores was injured. A spokesperson for the City of Newton says Flores and Martinez both lived at the home where the fight began.
Martinez is expected to make his next court appearance on Jan. 10.
He has previous convictions for aggravated criminal threat and for drug distribution, according to the Kansas Department of corrections.
Friends of Flores have established a GoFundMe page