By TONY GUERRERO&nbsp;Hays Post

Police have arrested a suspect on charges of second-degree murder for the death of a 5-month-old boy on April 2 in Hays.

According to a media release from the Hays Police Department, 28-year-old Abraham Duran Leon of Hays was arrested on June 17.

Emergency personnel were dispatched at 12:15 p.m. on April 2 to Room 206 at the Rodeway Inn, 3404 Vine St., responding to a report that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/obituaries/fernando-leon">Fernando Leon III</a>, an infant, was not breathing.

Abraham, the father of Fernando, was also present in the motel room and was arrested for interference with law enforcement before being released days later, according to Chief of Police Don Scheibler.

Hays police officers arrived as Ellis County EMS was performing CPR on Fernando. He was then transported to Hays Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased.

The Hays Police Department and the Ellis County Coroner's office investigated the death. An autopsy report revealed the child had methamphetamine in his system and died from complications related to methamphetamine intoxication.

Abraham Leon is currently held in the Ellis County Jail and is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The child's mother, Brandi Niehoff, who has been ruled out as a suspect, was previously convicted in connection with the death of the child's older brother.

The investigation into the death of Fernando Leon III continues and anyone with information should call Detective J.B. Burkholder at 785-625-1030.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712771901192.png" alt="Leon-photo Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>Leon-photo Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO&nbsp;Hays PostPolice have arrested a suspect on charges of second-degree murder for the death of a 5-month-old boy on April 2 in Hays.According to a media release from the Hays Police Department, 28-year-old Abraham Duran Leon of Hays was arrested on June 17.Emergency personnel were dispatched at 12:15 p.m. on April 2 to Room 206 at the Rodeway Inn, 3404 Vine St., responding to a report that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/obituaries/fernando-leon">Fernando Leon III</a>, an infant, was not breathing.Abraham, the father of Fernando, was also present in the motel room and was arrested for interference with law enforcement before being released days later, according to Chief of Police Don Scheibler.Hays police officers arrived as Ellis County EMS was performing CPR on Fernando. He was then transported to Hays Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased.The Hays Police Department and the Ellis County Coroner's office investigated the death. An autopsy report revealed the child had methamphetamine in his system and died from complications related to methamphetamine intoxication.Abraham Leon is currently held in the Ellis County Jail and is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.The child's mother, Brandi Niehoff, who has been ruled out as a suspect, was previously convicted in connection with the death of the child's older brother.The investigation into the death of Fernando Leon III continues and anyone with information should call Detective J.B. Burkholder at 785-625-1030.

Father arrested for death of 5-month old son in NW Kansas

SAG HARBOR, N.Y. (AP) — Pop star Justin Timberlake was charged early Tuesday with driving while intoxicated in a village in New York's Hamptons, after police said he ran a stop sign and veered out of his lane in the posh seaside summer retreat.

The boy band singer-turned-solo star and actor was driving a 2025 BMW in Sag Harbor around 12:30 a.m. when an officer stopped him and determined he was intoxicated, according to a court document.

“His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath, he was unable to divide attention, he had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot and he performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests,” the court papers said.

Timberlake, 43, was released without bond later Tuesday morning after being arraigned in Sag Harbor. He was charged with a DWI misdemeanor, and his next court date was scheduled for July 26, the Suffolk County district attorney’s office said.

Timberlake’s lawyer and representatives did not immediately return requests for comment from The Associated Press.

A young Timberlake began performing as a Disney Mouseketeer, where his castmates included future girlfriend Britney Spears. He rose to fame in the behemoth boy band NSYNC, embarked on a solo recording career in 2002 and was one of pop’s most influential figures in the early 2000s.

Fluent in the inflections of pop and R&amp;B, he has won 10 Grammy awards for such hits as “Cry Me A River,” “Sexy Back,” “What Goes Around...Comes Around” and “Can’t Stop The Feeling!” He has performed at Super Bowl halftime shows multiple times, including the infamous 2004 “wardrobe malfunction” moment when he ripped off a piece of Janet Jackson’s clothing and revealed her bare nipple.

The episode led to Jackson’s exclusion from the Grammy telecast a week later. She&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/janet-jackson-breaks-silence-on-justin-timberlake-super-bowl/">said in a 2022 documentary</a>&nbsp;that what happened was an accident and that she and Timberlake remained good friends.

Timberlake also built an acting career, garnering acclaim in movies including "The Social Network” and “Friends With Benefits” and winning four Primetime Emmy Awards.

Last year, Timberlake was in the headlines when Spears released her memoir, “The Woman in Me.” Several chapters were devoted to their relationship, including deeply&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/britney-spears-justin-timberlake-memoir-b67f8514d72acb0b2ecc7c0c9b6984cc">personal details about a pregnancy, abortion</a>&nbsp;and painful breakup. In March, he released his first new album in six years, the nostalgic “Everything I Thought It Was,” a return to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justin-timberlake-everything-i-thought-it-was-album-review-5acb24c2bbc93b115302be676b47e51a">familiar future funk sound</a>.

Timberlake has two upcoming shows in Chicago on Friday and Saturday, then is scheduled for New York's Madison Square Garden next week on Tuesday and Wednesday.&nbsp;He is scheduled to perform at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita on December 8 and the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City Dec. 20, according to online ticket retailer Ticketmaster.

Sag Harbor, a onetime whaling village mentioned in Herman Melville’s classic novel “Moby-Dick,” is nestled amid the Hamptons, around 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of New York City.

Located on a bay, Sag Harbor for years cultivated a more down-to-earth, “un-Hampton” reputation than its oceanfront neighbors — a place where people gathered not at a country club but at a corner bar called the Corner Bar. There is still a five-and-dime store, and the fanciest place in town is the quaint, cozy mid-19th-century American Hotel.

The village has long had its share of prominent homeowners and residents, including singer-songwriter Billy Joel, Nobel Prize-winning novelist John Steinbeck, feminist writer Betty Friedan, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Colson Whitehead and playwright Lanford Wilson. Whitehead’s “Sag Harbor” is set there, particularly in a beachfront enclave where generations of Black families have spent summers.

In recent decades, Sag Harbor has increasingly become a destination for celebrities, wannabes and even cruise ships. Its evolving nature has prompted grumbles from some longtime residents about traffic, crowds and a changing character.

NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Timberlake was arrested early Tuesday on allegations that the singer was driving while intoxicated on New York’s Long Island, authorities said.

Timberlake was released from custody later in the morning after being arraigned in Sag Harbor, on the eastern end of Long Island. He was charged with one DWI count, with his next court date scheduled for July 26, the Suffolk County district attorney’s office said.

Sag Harbor is a coastal village in the Hamptons, around 100 miles (160 kilometers) from New York City. In the summer, it is a hot spot for wealthy visitors.

A young Timberlake was a Disney Mouseketeer, where his castmates included future girlfriend Britney Spears. He rose to fame in the boy band NSYNC and embarked on a solo recording career in 2002. As an actor, Timberlake has won acclaim in movies including "The Social Network” and “Friends With Benefits.”

He has won 10 Grammy awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards.

Timberlake has two upcoming shows in Chicago on Friday and Saturday, then is scheduled for New York's Madison Square Garden next week on Tuesday and Wednesday.

He is scheduled to perform at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita on December 8 and the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City Dec. 20, according to online ticket retailer Ticketmaster.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718753572416.png" alt="Timberlake-Booking photo Sag Harbor Village Police Department" />
 <figcaption>Timberlake-Booking photo Sag Harbor Village Police Department</figcaption>
 </figure>SAG HARBOR, N.Y. (AP) — Pop star Justin Timberlake was charged early Tuesday with driving while intoxicated in a village in New York's Hamptons, after police said he ran a stop sign and veered out of his lane in the posh seaside summer retreat.The boy band singer-turned-solo star and actor was driving a 2025 BMW in Sag Harbor around 12:30 a.m. when an officer stopped him and determined he was intoxicated, according to a court document.“His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath, he was unable to divide attention, he had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot and he performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests,” the court papers said.Timberlake, 43, was released without bond later Tuesday morning after being arraigned in Sag Harbor. He was charged with a DWI misdemeanor, and his next court date was scheduled for July 26, the Suffolk County district attorney’s office said.Timberlake’s lawyer and representatives did not immediately return requests for comment from The Associated Press.A young Timberlake began performing as a Disney Mouseketeer, where his castmates included future girlfriend Britney Spears. He rose to fame in the behemoth boy band NSYNC, embarked on a solo recording career in 2002 and was one of pop’s most influential figures in the early 2000s.Fluent in the inflections of pop and R&amp;B, he has won 10 Grammy awards for such hits as “Cry Me A River,” “Sexy Back,” “What Goes Around...Comes Around” and “Can’t Stop The Feeling!” He has performed at Super Bowl halftime shows multiple times, including the infamous 2004 “wardrobe malfunction” moment when he ripped off a piece of Janet Jackson’s clothing and revealed her bare nipple.The episode led to Jackson’s exclusion from the Grammy telecast a week later. She&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/janet-jackson-breaks-silence-on-justin-timberlake-super-bowl/">said in a 2022 documentary</a>&nbsp;that what happened was an accident and that she and Timberlake remained good friends.Timberlake also built an acting career, garnering acclaim in movies including "The Social Network” and “Friends With Benefits” and winning four Primetime Emmy Awards.Last year, Timberlake was in the headlines when Spears released her memoir, “The Woman in Me.” Several chapters were devoted to their relationship, including deeply&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/britney-spears-justin-timberlake-memoir-b67f8514d72acb0b2ecc7c0c9b6984cc">personal details about a pregnancy, abortion</a>&nbsp;and painful breakup. In March, he released his first new album in six years, the nostalgic “Everything I Thought It Was,” a return to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justin-timberlake-everything-i-thought-it-was-album-review-5acb24c2bbc93b115302be676b47e51a">familiar future funk sound</a>.Timberlake has two upcoming shows in Chicago on Friday and Saturday, then is scheduled for New York's Madison Square Garden next week on Tuesday and Wednesday.&nbsp;He is scheduled to perform at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita on December 8 and the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City Dec. 20, according to online ticket retailer Ticketmaster.Sag Harbor, a onetime whaling village mentioned in Herman Melville’s classic novel “Moby-Dick,” is nestled amid the Hamptons, around 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of New York City.Located on a bay, Sag Harbor for years cultivated a more down-to-earth, “un-Hampton” reputation than its oceanfront neighbors — a place where people gathered not at a country club but at a corner bar called the Corner Bar. There is still a five-and-dime store, and the fanciest place in town is the quaint, cozy mid-19th-century American Hotel.The village has long had its share of prominent homeowners and residents, including singer-songwriter Billy Joel, Nobel Prize-winning novelist John Steinbeck, feminist writer Betty Friedan, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Colson Whitehead and playwright Lanford Wilson. Whitehead’s “Sag Harbor” is set there, particularly in a beachfront enclave where generations of Black families have spent summers.In recent decades, Sag Harbor has increasingly become a destination for celebrities, wannabes and even cruise ships. Its evolving nature has prompted grumbles from some longtime residents about traffic, crowds and a changing character.___NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Timberlake was arrested early Tuesday on allegations that the singer was driving while intoxicated on New York’s Long Island, authorities said.Timberlake was released from custody later in the morning after being arraigned in Sag Harbor, on the eastern end of Long Island. He was charged with one DWI count, with his next court date scheduled for July 26, the Suffolk County district attorney’s office said.Timberlake’s lawyer and representatives did not immediately return requests for comment from The Associated Press.Sag Harbor is a coastal village in the Hamptons, around 100 miles (160 kilometers) from New York City. In the summer, it is a hot spot for wealthy visitors.A young Timberlake was a Disney Mouseketeer, where his castmates included future girlfriend Britney Spears. He rose to fame in the boy band NSYNC and embarked on a solo recording career in 2002. As an actor, Timberlake has won acclaim in movies including "The Social Network” and “Friends With Benefits.”He has won 10 Grammy awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards.Last year, Timberlake was in the headlines when Spears released her memoir, “The Woman in Me.” Several chapters were devoted to their relationship, including deeply&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/britney-spears-justin-timberlake-memoir-b67f8514d72acb0b2ecc7c0c9b6984cc">personal details about a pregnancy, abortion</a>&nbsp;and painful breakup. In March, he released his first new album in six years, the nostalgic “Everything I Thought It Was,” a return to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justin-timberlake-everything-i-thought-it-was-album-review-5acb24c2bbc93b115302be676b47e51a">familiar future funk sound</a>.Timberlake has two upcoming shows in Chicago on Friday and Saturday, then is scheduled for New York's Madison Square Garden next week on Tuesday and Wednesday.He is scheduled to perform at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita on December 8 and the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City Dec. 20, according to online ticket retailer Ticketmaster.

Justin Timberlake charged with DWI in the Hamptons

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.

James Blakenber, Taxation-Drugs, No drug tax stamp payment for marijuana or controlled substance, Possession of paraphernalia with intent to manufacture/plant/cultivate controlled substance, Distribute marijuana, 450 grams&lt;30 kilograms, arrested 06/14

Patricia Purcell, Failure to appear, arrested 06/14

Trey Campbell, Probation violation, arrested 06/14

David Perez, DUI-Liquor/Drugs, arrested 06/15

John Hurley, Failure to appear, arrested 06/15

Paul Angle,&nbsp;DUI-Liquor/Drugs, arrested 06/15

Freddie Lewis, Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, arrested 06/15

Nicholas Williams, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of controlled substance, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Driving while suspended, arrested 06/15

Letha Smith, Driving while license cancelled, suspended, or revoked, arrested 06/16

Gerardo Bautista Lugo, Failure to appear, arrested 06/16

Christopher Hansen, Unlawful damage to property, arrested 06/17

Adam Parson, Cancelled/suspended/revoked drivers license, arrested 06/17

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718737663067.jpeg" alt="Dmarco Rabe, Failure to appear, arrested 06/14" />
 <figcaption>Dmarco Rabe, Failure to appear, arrested 06/14</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718737698708.jpeg" alt="Jonathan Stevens, Ignition interlock device, Operate a car without required device, Interference with LEO, Falsely report information intending to obstruct, Probation violation, Failure to appear, arrested 06/14" />
 <figcaption>Jonathan Stevens, Ignition interlock device, Operate a car without required device, Interference with LEO, Falsely report information intending to obstruct, Probation violation, Failure to appear, arrested 06/14</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718737815163.jpeg" alt="Michael Boykin, Burglary, Arson, arrested 06/16" />
 <figcaption>Michael Boykin, Burglary, Arson, arrested 06/16</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718737853614.jpeg" alt="JC Hunt, Arrest by LEO, Warrant arrest, arrested 06/16" />
 <figcaption>JC Hunt, Arrest by LEO, Warrant arrest, arrested 06/16</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718737892400.jpeg" alt="Jorge Rosario, Failure to appear (Two counts), arrested 06/17" />
 <figcaption>Jorge Rosario, Failure to appear (Two counts), arrested 06/17</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.James Blakenber, Taxation-Drugs, No drug tax stamp payment for marijuana or controlled substance, Possession of paraphernalia with intent to manufacture/plant/cultivate controlled substance, Distribute marijuana, 450 grams&lt;30 kilograms, arrested 06/14Patricia Purcell, Failure to appear, arrested 06/14Trey Campbell, Probation violation, arrested 06/14David Perez, DUI-Liquor/Drugs, arrested 06/15John Hurley, Failure to appear, arrested 06/15Paul Angle,&nbsp;DUI-Liquor/Drugs, arrested 06/15Freddie Lewis, Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, arrested 06/15Nicholas Williams, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of controlled substance, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Driving while suspended, arrested 06/15Letha Smith, Driving while license cancelled, suspended, or revoked, arrested 06/16Gerardo Bautista Lugo, Failure to appear, arrested 06/16Christopher Hansen, Unlawful damage to property, arrested 06/17Adam Parson, Cancelled/suspended/revoked drivers license, arrested 06/17Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Geary County Booking Photos June 15-17

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A suspect accused in a deadly gunfight on Father's Day in Wichita is awaiting a court appearance.

Eric Gonzales-Gutierrez, 33, Wichita, is being held in the Sedgwick County Jail in connection with the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Aron Lara, according to jail booking records.

Just after 8:30p.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting incident in the 1900 block of N. Jackson Street in Wichita, according to Police spokesman Andrew Ford.

While working to gather further information, the 911 dispatcher could hear gunfire in the background, prompting an immediate upgraded dispatch of officers to the scene.

First responders discovered Lara suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sedgwick County EMS provided initial critical care at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital. Despite efforts, Lara succumbed to his injuries during surgery and was pronounced deceased at 10:26p.m., according to Ford.

Another victim, a 22-year-old Hispanic man, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot to the arm and was privately transported to St. Francis Hospital, where he remains in stable condition on Monday morning.

The incident occurred during a neighborhood barbecue in observance of Father's Day. According to preliminary reports, Lara, was involved in a verbal altercation with the assailant earlier in the evening. The suspect later identified as&nbsp;Eric Gonzales-Gutierrez allegedly returned home, retrieved a rifle, and fired upon the victim, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting.

It is believed that two men accompanying Lara returned fire, resulting in injuries to the second victim. The identities of these individuals are currently under investigation as police seek their information on involvement.

The Wichita Police Department arrested Gonzales-Gutierrez on requested charges of first-degree murder, according to Ford.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718711572362.png" alt="Gonzales-Gutierrez- photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Gonzales-Gutierrez- photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A suspect accused in a deadly gunfight on Father's Day in Wichita is awaiting a court appearance.Eric Gonzales-Gutierrez, 33, Wichita, is being held in the Sedgwick County Jail in connection with the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Aron Lara, according to jail booking records.Just after 8:30p.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting incident in the 1900 block of N. Jackson Street in Wichita, according to Police spokesman Andrew Ford.While working to gather further information, the 911 dispatcher could hear gunfire in the background, prompting an immediate upgraded dispatch of officers to the scene.First responders discovered Lara suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sedgwick County EMS provided initial critical care at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital. Despite efforts, Lara succumbed to his injuries during surgery and was pronounced deceased at 10:26p.m., according to Ford.Another victim, a 22-year-old Hispanic man, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot to the arm and was privately transported to St. Francis Hospital, where he remains in stable condition on Monday morning.The incident occurred during a neighborhood barbecue in observance of Father's Day. According to preliminary reports, Lara, was involved in a verbal altercation with the assailant earlier in the evening. The suspect later identified as&nbsp;Eric Gonzales-Gutierrez allegedly returned home, retrieved a rifle, and fired upon the victim, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting.It is believed that two men accompanying Lara returned fire, resulting in injuries to the second victim. The identities of these individuals are currently under investigation as police seek their information on involvement.The Wichita Police Department arrested Gonzales-Gutierrez on requested charges of first-degree murder, according to Ford.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. suspect in deadly BBQ gunfight awaits court appearance

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged animal cruelty.

Just after 8a.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies responded to a home in the 9800 Block of SE Croco Road in rural Shawnee County after multiple reports of unknown people and vehicles on the property, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

Deputies found illegal paraphernalia associated with cock fighting.&nbsp; Deputies then arrested 66-year-old Clinton E. Dick and booked him into the Shawnee County jail on requested charges of felony animal cruelty, unlawful conduct related to cockfighting and unlawful possession of cockfighting paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718571385119.png" alt="Dick-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Dick-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged animal cruelty.Just after 8a.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies responded to a home in the 9800 Block of SE Croco Road in rural Shawnee County after multiple reports of unknown people and vehicles on the property, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.Deputies found illegal paraphernalia associated with cock fighting.&nbsp; Deputies then arrested 66-year-old Clinton E. Dick and booked him into the Shawnee County jail on requested charges of felony animal cruelty, unlawful conduct related to cockfighting and unlawful possession of cockfighting paraphernalia.

Deputies discover cockfighting ring in Kansas

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are invesdtigating a deadly gunfight on Father's Day in Wichita and have made an arrest.

Just after 8:30p.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting incident in the 1900 block of N. Jackson Street in Wichita, according to Police spokesman Andrew Ford. 

First responders discovered a 28-year-old Hispanic man, later identified as Aron Lara suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sedgwick County EMS provided initial critical care at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital. Despite efforts, Lara succumbed to his injuries during surgery and was pronounced deceased at 10:26p.m., according to Ford.

 Another victim, a 22-year-old Hispanic man, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot to the arm and was privately transported to St. Francis Hospital, where he remains in stable condition on Monday morning.

The incident occurred during a neighborhood barbecue in observance of Father's Day. According to preliminary reports, Lara, was involved in a verbal altercation with the assailant earlier in the evening. The suspect, a 33-year-old Hispanic man, allegedly returned home, retrieved a rifle, and fired upon the victim, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting.

It is believed that two men accompanying the victim returned fire, resulting in injuries to the second victim. The identities of these individuals are currently under investigation as police seek their information on involvement.

The Wichita Police Department arrested the 33-year-old suspect on requested charges of first-degree murder, according to Ford. Police have not released the suspect's name.

During the investigation, officers recovered the murder weapon from a nearby residence. Additionally, investigators collected 26 firearm casings of multiple calibers from various homes and vehicles in the vicinity, indicating the extent of the gunfire exchange.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718620372726.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are invesdtigating a deadly gunfight on Father's Day in Wichita and have made an arrest.Just after 8:30p.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting incident in the 1900 block of N. Jackson Street in Wichita, according to Police spokesman Andrew Ford. While working to gather further information, the 911 dispatcher could hear gunfire in the background, prompting an immediate upgraded dispatch of officers to the scene.First responders discovered a 28-year-old Hispanic man, later identified as Aron Lara suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sedgwick County EMS provided initial critical care at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital. Despite efforts, Lara succumbed to his injuries during surgery and was pronounced deceased at 10:26p.m., according to Ford. Another victim, a 22-year-old Hispanic man, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot to the arm and was privately transported to St. Francis Hospital, where he remains in stable condition on Monday morning.The incident occurred during a neighborhood barbecue in observance of Father's Day. According to preliminary reports, Lara, was involved in a verbal altercation with the assailant earlier in the evening. The suspect, a 33-year-old Hispanic man, allegedly returned home, retrieved a rifle, and fired upon the victim, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting.It is believed that two men accompanying the victim returned fire, resulting in injuries to the second victim. The identities of these individuals are currently under investigation as police seek their information on involvement.The Wichita Police Department arrested the 33-year-old suspect on requested charges of first-degree murder, according to Ford. Police have not released the suspect's name.During the investigation, officers recovered the murder weapon from a nearby residence. Additionally, investigators collected 26 firearm casings of multiple calibers from various homes and vehicles in the vicinity, indicating the extent of the gunfire exchange.

Suspect accused in deadly Kan. Father's Day BBQ gunfight

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in a June 4, homicide in Wichita made his first court appearance in the case last week.

Jeremiah Walker, 23 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd degree murder in the death of&nbsp;27-year-old Quentin Gordon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after 9:30p.m. June 4, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 4800 block of East Funston.

Wichita Police, Wichita Fire, and Sedgwick County EMS responded to the scene and found Gordon suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

&nbsp;Preliminary findings suggest that Gordon was involved in an argument with another individual when the shooting occurred, indicating that this was not a random act of violence, according to Moses.

On June 6, police asked for help to locate Anjaliyah S. Orange and Jeremiah Z. Walker as they may have information about the homicide.&nbsp;

On June 12, Wichita Police Homicide investigators arrested 23-year-old Jeremiah Walker on a charge of Second-Degree Murder in the deaath of 27-year-old Quentin Gordon, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.

This incident marks the 15th criminal homicide in Wichita for 2024. Walker remains jailed on a 750-thousand dollar bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718212493808.png" alt="Walker photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Walker photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in a June 4, homicide in Wichita made his first court appearance in the case last week.Jeremiah Walker, 23 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd degree murder in the death of&nbsp;27-year-old Quentin Gordon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just after 9:30p.m. June 4, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 4800 block of East Funston.Wichita Police, Wichita Fire, and Sedgwick County EMS responded to the scene and found Gordon suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Preliminary findings suggest that Gordon was involved in an argument with another individual when the shooting occurred, indicating that this was not a random act of violence, according to Moses.On June 6, police asked for help to locate Anjaliyah S. Orange and Jeremiah Z. Walker as they may have information about the homicide.&nbsp;On June 12, Wichita Police Homicide investigators arrested 23-year-old Jeremiah Walker on a charge of Second-Degree Murder in the deaath of 27-year-old Quentin Gordon, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.This incident marks the 15th criminal homicide in Wichita for 2024. Walker remains jailed on a 750-thousand dollar bond.

Suspect captured after 6-day search charged with Kansas murder

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement in Kansas City are investigating an homicide and have identified the victim as&nbsp;29-year-old Deshaun McKinzey.

Just after 3:30a.m. Sunday, police responded to the sound of gunshots&nbsp; near 39th and Broadway, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

First responders found a man later identified as McKinzey in a parking lot at 39th and Broadway.&nbsp; &nbsp;EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A private vehicle transported a second victim to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or released any details on a possible suspect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718562844511.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement in Kansas City are investigating an homicide and have identified the victim as&nbsp;29-year-old Deshaun McKinzey.Just after 3:30a.m. Sunday, police responded to the sound of gunshots&nbsp; near 39th and Broadway, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.First responders found a man later identified as McKinzey in a parking lot at 39th and Broadway.&nbsp; &nbsp;EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.A private vehicle transported a second victim to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or released any details on a possible suspect.

Man dies after Father's Day shooting in Kansas City parking lot

MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide have a suspect in custody.

Just before noon June 13, police in Carthage, Missouri responded to a 911 call about the body of a deceased individual in a camper in the 600 Block of North Main Street, according to a Miami County Sheriff Frank Kelly.

&nbsp;Officers found the body of a woman, identified as 24-year-old Kenia Lopez, of Carthage, Missouri, deceased inside the camper.&nbsp; Officers also detained 23-year-old Gavino McJunkins-Macias of Carthage, Missouri for questioning.&nbsp;

McJunkins-Macias was later arrested on requested charges for abandonment of a corpse.&nbsp;Charges for 2nd-degree murder are also pending through the&nbsp;Miami County Sheriff's Office.&nbsp; He is being held in Jasper County.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718573320263.png" alt="McJunkins-Macias photo Jasper County" />
 <figcaption>McJunkins-Macias photo Jasper County</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide have a suspect in custody.Just before noon June 13, police in Carthage, Missouri responded to a 911 call about the body of a deceased individual in a camper in the 600 Block of North Main Street, according to a Miami County Sheriff Frank Kelly.&nbsp;Officers found the body of a woman, identified as 24-year-old Kenia Lopez, of Carthage, Missouri, deceased inside the camper.&nbsp; Officers also detained 23-year-old Gavino McJunkins-Macias of Carthage, Missouri for questioning.&nbsp;McJunkins-Macias was later arrested on requested charges for abandonment of a corpse.&nbsp;Charges for 2nd-degree murder are also pending through the&nbsp;Miami County Sheriff's Office.&nbsp; He is being held in Jasper County.

Man accused of killing wife on camping trip in Kansas

KANSAS CITY (AP)—Chiefs defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs was arrested for the second time in a month on a charge of domestic violence/burglary in Alabama and released on a $5,000 bond Sunday, according to records from the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office.

There were no other details about the arrest. The Chiefs were aware of the case but declined to comment.

The 27-year-old Buggs, who signed a $1,292,500 contract with Kansas City for the upcoming season, turned himself in May 30 after he was charged with two misdemeanor counts of second-degree animal cruelty. Two dogs that were under Buggs' care were allegedly found neglected and malnourished, and one of the dogs had to be euthanized.

Buggs, a run-stuffing tackle out of Alabama, played three seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers before spending the past two with the Detroit Lions. He has started 23 games and appeared in 56 in his career, with 89 tackles and two sacks.

The Chiefs were planning to use Buggs to shore up the middle of their line. But that was before they reached a long-term deal with All-Pro tackle Chris Jones and signed Derrick Nnadi and Tershawn Wharton, both of whom were hitting free agency.

The Chiefs, who celebrated their latest championship with a ring ceremony Thursday and are aiming for a record third Super Bowl in a row, have had to deal with a series of off-the-field legal issues since beating the San Francisco 49ers in February.

Wide receiver Rashee Rice faces eight felony charges from a high-speed crash in Dallas, and offensive linemen Chukwuebuka Godrick and Wanya Morris were arrested last month in Johnson County, Kansas, on a misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718575977539.png" alt="Buggs photo&nbsp;Tuscaloosa County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Buggs photo&nbsp;Tuscaloosa County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP)—Chiefs defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs was arrested for the second time in a month on a charge of domestic violence/burglary in Alabama and released on a $5,000 bond Sunday, according to records from the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office.There were no other details about the arrest. The Chiefs were aware of the case but declined to comment.The 27-year-old Buggs, who signed a $1,292,500 contract with Kansas City for the upcoming season, turned himself in May 30 after he was charged with two misdemeanor counts of second-degree animal cruelty. Two dogs that were under Buggs' care were allegedly found neglected and malnourished, and one of the dogs had to be euthanized.Buggs, a run-stuffing tackle out of Alabama, played three seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers before spending the past two with the Detroit Lions. He has started 23 games and appeared in 56 in his career, with 89 tackles and two sacks.The Chiefs were planning to use Buggs to shore up the middle of their line. But that was before they reached a long-term deal with All-Pro tackle Chris Jones and signed Derrick Nnadi and Tershawn Wharton, both of whom were hitting free agency.The Chiefs, who celebrated their latest championship with a ring ceremony Thursday and are aiming for a record third Super Bowl in a row, have had to deal with a series of off-the-field legal issues since beating the San Francisco 49ers in February.Wide receiver Rashee Rice faces eight felony charges from a high-speed crash in Dallas, and offensive linemen Chukwuebuka Godrick and Wanya Morris were arrested last month in Johnson County, Kansas, on a misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Chiefs defensive tackle accused of domestic violence, burglary

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman on multiple allegations.

Just after 11:30p.m. June 14,&nbsp; sheriff's deputies responded to a call of a possible domestic disturbance in the city of Horton, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

Investigators found Methamphetamines, and drug paraphernalia at the residence. Deputies arrested 27-year-old Sareya Elmore of Horton on requested&nbsp;charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Child Endangerment.&nbsp;

In August, police arrested her in Atchison for alleged domestic battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718457879668.png" alt="Elmore photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Elmore photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman on multiple allegations.Just after 11:30p.m. June 14,&nbsp; sheriff's deputies responded to a call of a possible domestic disturbance in the city of Horton, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.Investigators found Methamphetamines, and drug paraphernalia at the residence. Deputies arrested 27-year-old Sareya Elmore of Horton on requested&nbsp;charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Child Endangerment.&nbsp;In August, police arrested her in Atchison for alleged domestic battery.

Kansas deputies found meth and children at woman's home

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A judge has overturned the conviction of a Missouri woman who was a psychiatric patient when she incriminated herself in a 1980 killing that her attorneys argue was actually committed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-1980-killing-sandra-hemme-hearing-fa2b2d24072d179563f5e5dca774b57a">a now-discredited police officer</a>.

Judge Ryan Horsman ruled late Friday that Sandra Hemme, who has spent 43 years behind bars, had established evidence of actual innocence and must be freed within 30 days unless prosecutors retry her. He said her trial counsel was ineffective and prosecutors failed to disclose evidence that would have helped her.

Her attorneys say this is the longest time a women has been been incarcerated for a wrongful conviction. They filed a motion seeking her immediate release.

A spokesperson for Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey didn't immediately respond to a text or email message seeking comment.

Hemme was shackled in leather wrist restraints and so heavily sedated that she “could not hold her head up straight” or “articulate anything beyond monosyllabic responses" when she was first questioned about the death of 31-year-old library worker Patricia Jeschke, according to her lawyers with the New York-based Innocence Project.

They alleged in a petition seeking her exoneration that authorities ignored Hemme's “wildly contradictory” statements and suppressed evidence implicating Michael Holman, a then-police officer who tried to use the slain woman's credit card.

The judge wrote that “no evidence whatsoever outside of Ms. Hemme’s unreliable statements connects her to the crime.”

“In contrast,” he added, “this Court finds that the evidence directly ties Holman to this crime and murder scene.”

It started on Nov. 13, 1980, when Jeschke missed work. Her worried mother climbed through a window at her apartment and discovered her daughter's nude body on the floor, surrounded by blood. Her hands were tied behind her back with a telephone cord and a pair of pantyhose was wrapped around her throat. A knife was under her head.

The brutal killing grabbed headlines, with detectives working 12-hour days to solve it. But Hemme wasn't on their radar until she showed up nearly two weeks later at the home of a nurse who once treated her, carrying a knife and refusing to leave.

Police found her in a closet, and took her back to St. Joseph’s Hospital, the latest in a string of hospitalizations that began when she started hearing voices at the age of 12.

She had been discharged from that very hospital the day before Jeschke's body was found, showing up at her parents house later that night after hitchhiking more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) across the state.

The timing seemed suspicious to law enforcement. As the interrogations began, Hemme was being treated with antipsychotic drugs that had triggered involuntary muscle spasms. She complained that her eyes were rolling back in her head, the petition said.

Detectives noted that Hemme seemed “mentally confused” and not fully able to comprehend their questions.

“Each time the police extracted a statement from Ms. Hemme it changed dramatically from the last, often incorporating explanations of facts the police had just recently uncovered,” her attorneys wrote.

Eventually, she claimed to have watched a man named Joseph Wabski kill Jeschke.

Wabski, whom she met when they stayed in the state hospital’s detoxification unit at the same time, was charged with capital murder. But prosecutors quickly dropped the case upon learning he was at an alcohol treatment center in Topeka, Kansas, at the time.

Upon learning he couldn't be the killer, Hemme cried and she said was the lone killer.

But police also were starting to look at another suspect — one of their own. About a month after the killing, Holman was arrested for falsely reporting that his pickup truck had been stolen and collecting an insurance payout. It was the same truck spotted near the crime scene, and the officer's alibi that he spent the night with a woman at a nearby motel couldn't be confirmed.

Furthermore, he had tried to use Jeschke’s credit card at a camera store in Kansas City, Missouri, on the same day her body was found. Holman, who ultimately was fired and died in 2015, said he found the card in a purse that had been discarded in a ditch.

During a search of Holman's home, police found a pair of gold horseshoe-shaped earrings in a closet, along with jewelry stolen from another woman during a burglary earlier that year.

Jeschke's father said he recognized the earrings as a pair he bought for his daughter. But then the four-day investigation into Holman ended abruptly, many of the details uncovered never given to Hemme's attorneys.

Hemme, meanwhile, was growing desperate. She wrote to her parents on Christmas Day 1980, saying, “Even though I'm innocent, they want to put someone away, so they can say the case is solved.” She said she might as well change her plea to guilty.

“Just let it end,” she said. “I'm tired.”

And that is what she did the following spring, when she agreed to plead guilty to capital murder in exchange for the death penalty being taken off the table.

Even that was a challenge; the judge initially rejected her guilty plea because she couldn't share enough details about what happened, saying: “I really didn’t know I had done it until like three days later, you know, when it came out in the paper and on the news.”

Her attorney told her that her chance to not be sentenced to death was to get the judge to accept her guilty plea. After a recess and some coaching, she provided more information.

That plea later was thrown out on appeal. But she was convicted again in 1985 after a one-day trial in which jurors weren't told of what her current attorneys describe as “grotesquely coercive” interrogations.

Larry Harman, who helped Hemme get her initial guilty plea thrown out and later became a judge, said in the petition that he believed she was innocent.

“The system,” he said, “failed her at every opportunity.”

Associated Press researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687623288901.png" alt="Sandra Hemme-photo courtesy The Innocence Project" />
 <figcaption>Sandra Hemme-photo courtesy The Innocence Project</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —A judge has overturned the conviction of a Missouri woman who was a psychiatric patient when she incriminated herself in a 1980 killing that her attorneys argue was actually committed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-1980-killing-sandra-hemme-hearing-fa2b2d24072d179563f5e5dca774b57a">a now-discredited police officer</a>.Judge Ryan Horsman ruled late Friday that Sandra Hemme, who has spent 43 years behind bars, had established evidence of actual innocence and must be freed within 30 days unless prosecutors retry her. He said her trial counsel was ineffective and prosecutors failed to disclose evidence that would have helped her.Her attorneys say this is the longest time a women has been been incarcerated for a wrongful conviction. They filed a motion seeking her immediate release.A spokesperson for Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey didn't immediately respond to a text or email message seeking comment.Hemme was shackled in leather wrist restraints and so heavily sedated that she “could not hold her head up straight” or “articulate anything beyond monosyllabic responses" when she was first questioned about the death of 31-year-old library worker Patricia Jeschke, according to her lawyers with the New York-based Innocence Project.They alleged in a petition seeking her exoneration that authorities ignored Hemme's “wildly contradictory” statements and suppressed evidence implicating Michael Holman, a then-police officer who tried to use the slain woman's credit card.The judge wrote that “no evidence whatsoever outside of Ms. Hemme’s unreliable statements connects her to the crime.”“In contrast,” he added, “this Court finds that the evidence directly ties Holman to this crime and murder scene.”It started on Nov. 13, 1980, when Jeschke missed work. Her worried mother climbed through a window at her apartment and discovered her daughter's nude body on the floor, surrounded by blood. Her hands were tied behind her back with a telephone cord and a pair of pantyhose was wrapped around her throat. A knife was under her head.The brutal killing grabbed headlines, with detectives working 12-hour days to solve it. But Hemme wasn't on their radar until she showed up nearly two weeks later at the home of a nurse who once treated her, carrying a knife and refusing to leave.Police found her in a closet, and took her back to St. Joseph’s Hospital, the latest in a string of hospitalizations that began when she started hearing voices at the age of 12.She had been discharged from that very hospital the day before Jeschke's body was found, showing up at her parents house later that night after hitchhiking more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) across the state.The timing seemed suspicious to law enforcement. As the interrogations began, Hemme was being treated with antipsychotic drugs that had triggered involuntary muscle spasms. She complained that her eyes were rolling back in her head, the petition said.Detectives noted that Hemme seemed “mentally confused” and not fully able to comprehend their questions.“Each time the police extracted a statement from Ms. Hemme it changed dramatically from the last, often incorporating explanations of facts the police had just recently uncovered,” her attorneys wrote.Eventually, she claimed to have watched a man named Joseph Wabski kill Jeschke.Wabski, whom she met when they stayed in the state hospital’s detoxification unit at the same time, was charged with capital murder. But prosecutors quickly dropped the case upon learning he was at an alcohol treatment center in Topeka, Kansas, at the time.Upon learning he couldn't be the killer, Hemme cried and she said was the lone killer.But police also were starting to look at another suspect — one of their own. About a month after the killing, Holman was arrested for falsely reporting that his pickup truck had been stolen and collecting an insurance payout. It was the same truck spotted near the crime scene, and the officer's alibi that he spent the night with a woman at a nearby motel couldn't be confirmed.Furthermore, he had tried to use Jeschke’s credit card at a camera store in Kansas City, Missouri, on the same day her body was found. Holman, who ultimately was fired and died in 2015, said he found the card in a purse that had been discarded in a ditch.During a search of Holman's home, police found a pair of gold horseshoe-shaped earrings in a closet, along with jewelry stolen from another woman during a burglary earlier that year.Jeschke's father said he recognized the earrings as a pair he bought for his daughter. But then the four-day investigation into Holman ended abruptly, many of the details uncovered never given to Hemme's attorneys.Hemme, meanwhile, was growing desperate. She wrote to her parents on Christmas Day 1980, saying, “Even though I'm innocent, they want to put someone away, so they can say the case is solved.” She said she might as well change her plea to guilty.“Just let it end,” she said. “I'm tired.”And that is what she did the following spring, when she agreed to plead guilty to capital murder in exchange for the death penalty being taken off the table.Even that was a challenge; the judge initially rejected her guilty plea because she couldn't share enough details about what happened, saying: “I really didn’t know I had done it until like three days later, you know, when it came out in the paper and on the news.”Her attorney told her that her chance to not be sentenced to death was to get the judge to accept her guilty plea. After a recess and some coaching, she provided more information.That plea later was thrown out on appeal. But she was convicted again in 1985 after a one-day trial in which jurors weren't told of what her current attorneys describe as “grotesquely coercive” interrogations.Larry Harman, who helped Hemme get her initial guilty plea thrown out and later became a judge, said in the petition that he believed she was innocent.“The system,” he said, “failed her at every opportunity.”___Associated Press researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed.

Woman's murder conviction tossed after 43 years; her lawyers say police did it

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Galena, Kansas, man who shot at police officers during a high-speed pursuit from Joplin, Mo., into Kansas was sentenced in federal court this wek for illegally possessing a firearm.

Adam Everett Kastler, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 13 years and six months in federal prison without parole.

On Feb. 6, 2024, Kastler pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Kastler admitted he was in possession of a Smith &amp; Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun on Feb. 23, 2023.

Joplin, Mo., police officers spotted Kastler, who had outstanding arrest warrants, inside a Chevrolet Tahoe that was pulled over in a traffic stop on 7th&nbsp;Street. Kastler, who was in the passenger’s seat, pointed a firearm at the driver and said he would shoot him if he did not flee from the police. Instead, the driver got out of the vehicle and laid on the ground.

After the driver got out of the vehicle, Kastler moved from the passenger’s seat to the driver’s seat and fled from the scene with the officers in pursuit. Kastler drove through town at high rates of speed, ignoring multiple stop signs. The pursuit continued into Kansas, where deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the pursuit.

Officers saw Kastler shooting at them from the vehicle before he lost control and crashed. Kastler was arrested. Officers found the loaded firearm on the center console and two spent shell casings laying on the driver’s side floorboard. Officers also found a methamphetamine glass smoking pipe with residue, three cell phones, and four open containers of alcohol.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Kastler has prior felony convictions for distributing methamphetamine and aggravated domestic battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718383894436.png" alt="Kastler has previous convictions for aggravated domestic battery, violation of the offender registration act and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-photo Cherokee Co.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kastler has previous convictions for aggravated domestic battery, violation of the offender registration act and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-photo Cherokee Co.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Galena, Kansas, man who shot at police officers during a high-speed pursuit from Joplin, Mo., into Kansas was sentenced in federal court this wek for illegally possessing a firearm.Adam Everett Kastler, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 13 years and six months in federal prison without parole.On Feb. 6, 2024, Kastler pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Kastler admitted he was in possession of a Smith &amp; Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun on Feb. 23, 2023.Joplin, Mo., police officers spotted Kastler, who had outstanding arrest warrants, inside a Chevrolet Tahoe that was pulled over in a traffic stop on 7th&nbsp;Street. Kastler, who was in the passenger’s seat, pointed a firearm at the driver and said he would shoot him if he did not flee from the police. Instead, the driver got out of the vehicle and laid on the ground.After the driver got out of the vehicle, Kastler moved from the passenger’s seat to the driver’s seat and fled from the scene with the officers in pursuit. Kastler drove through town at high rates of speed, ignoring multiple stop signs. The pursuit continued into Kansas, where deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the pursuit.Officers saw Kastler shooting at them from the vehicle before he lost control and crashed. Kastler was arrested. Officers found the loaded firearm on the center console and two spent shell casings laying on the driver’s side floorboard. Officers also found a methamphetamine glass smoking pipe with residue, three cell phones, and four open containers of alcohol.Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Kastler has prior felony convictions for distributing methamphetamine and aggravated domestic battery.

Kansas man shot at officers during high speed pursuit

Maughan’s disciplinary penalty to last 12 months, while Samsel’s was set at two years

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court suspended Friday the law licenses of a current and a former member of the Kansas House based on evidence they violated of rules of professional conduct for attorneys.

The state’s highest court determined the license of Rep. Carl Maughan, R-Colwich, should be suspended for one year after engaging in a conflict of interest while representing in Sedgwick County the intoxicated driver of a vehicle that killed two disabled men in a 2016 traffic accident in Wichita.

A state disciplinary panel responsible for monitoring licensed attorneys in Kansas originally proposed a six-month suspension of Maughan’s license, which would have been converted to probation if he complied with a rehabilitation program.

Alice Walker, the state’s deputy disciplinary administrator, recommended the Supreme Court impose a 12-month suspension of Maughan’s license. During Supreme Court oral argument in May, Walker said the harsher penalty was warranted because Maughan had refused since December to cooperate with the office of disciplinary administration. He also failed to attend, due to a claim of car trouble, the Supreme Court’s hearing in May on his disciplinary case.

“At this time,” Walker said, “I don’t believe that Mr. Maughan is able to comply with a probation plan.”

Maughan, who has been a licensed attorney in Kansas since 1997, agreed he engaged in conflicts of interest that undermined representation of his client, Bret Blevins, who was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Dusty Atterbery and Dirk MacMillan. Evidence presented at trial indicated Blevins was intoxicated and consumed methamphetamine before running a stop sign in a residential neighborhood and steering a Cadillac Escalade broadside into a van carrying the men who died.

Blevins’ girlfriend Tammy Akers was the only other person in the vehicle. Akers was a longtime client of Maughan, and she offered to help pay $30,000 to Maughan to defend Blevins. During legal proceedings involving Blevins, Maughan asserted he secured conflict-of-interest waivers from Blevins and Akers. Part of Maughan’s strategy in defending Blevins was to argue Akers was driving the Cadillac at the time of the accident. Akers pointed a finger at Blevins.

Maughan represented Akers in a separate legal matter while serving as counsel to Blevins in the deadly traffic accident case, court records show.

After a trial in Sedgwick County District Court, Blevins was found guilty of 14 criminal offenses and sentenced to more than 725 months in prison. At the direction of the Kansas Court of Appeals, a hearing was conducted in Sedgwick County District Court to determine whether Maughan had a conflict of interest that undercut his ability to properly represent Blevins.

A Sedgwick County judge said there was no such conflict. At that time, Maughan’s wife was a sitting judge in the Sedgwick County District Court.

In 2021, the Kansas Court of Appeals issued a decision reversing the district court and affirming Blevins’ claim of inadequate counsel by Maughan. The case was returned for retrial in Wichita. In March, Blevins was resentenced to 205 months of incarceration.

The Court of Appeals had this to say about Maughan’s concurrent representation of Akers and Blevins: “It is not hard to imagine the significant risk of conflicting pressures upon an attorney when representing both a longtime client who is not only paying his bill but also implicated in the very crime with which his new client is charged, along with a new client whose only defense is to incriminate the attorney’s former client.”

At several junctures in the legal drama, Maughan claimed he secured oral or written waivers from Blevins and Akers. Maughan said those waivers allowed him to “zealously, diligently” represent Blevins in the murder case. The state Court of Appeals, however, concluded Blevins “did not waive his right to a conflict-free attorney.”

Maughan conceded during the state’s disciplinary investigation that he hadn’t obtained waivers from Blevins or Akers regarding his conflicts of interest.

“Even if he had not,” the Supreme Court’s decision said, “the evidence before the hearing panel clearly established the charged misconduct.”

Maughan was found by the justices to have engaged in conflict of interest, conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice and other infractions of professional conduct.

To return to legal practice in Kansas, the Supreme Court decided, Maughan must undergo a reinstatement hearing prior to that court considering restoration of his license.

Maughan is on the ballot for reelection to the Kansas House despite an assertion that his campaign was suspended two months ago.

In March, he was arrested in Shawnee County on suspicion of driving while drunk. The charging affidavit related to the DUI said Maughan had a loaded semi-automatic handgun, an empty bottle of Fireball whiskey and an opened case of beer in the vehicle when pulled over by an officer of the Topeka Police Department.

In response to his arrest in the DUI case, Maughan said his actions set a poor example for his family, constituents in the 90th District and citizens of Kansas.

“I made a grave error in judgment and apologize and accept responsibility for my actions,” he said.

Former Rep. Mark Samsel, a Wellsville Republican elected in 2018 and reelected in 2020, had his law license suspended by the Supreme Court for two years. That suspension was stayed pending his completion of a two-year probationary period that would include treatment for a mental health disorder, the order said.

In April 2021, Samsel was working as a substitute teacher at Wellsville High School when he kicked and shoved a student and grabbed another student by the shoulders. He was arrested on three counts of battery, but entered a guilty plea in September 2021 to three counts of disorderly conduct. He was instructed to serve one year of probation, seek mental health treatment and avoid interaction with social media.

The episode in the Wellsville classroom included comments by Samsel about suicide, sex, masturbation, God, the Bible, foster care and homosexuality. Students captured Samsel’s remarks on video. The video included the moment Samsel gave students permission to kick one of their classmates in the groin. He warned a male student that he was in jeopardy of receiving “the wrath of God.”

“Do you believe me when I tell you that God has been speaking to me?” Samsel said on video. “Who likes making babies? That feels good, doesn’t it? Procreate. You haven’t masturbated? Don’t answer that question. God already knows.”

Samsel lost his reelection campaign to Carrie Barth, a Baldwin City Republican who currently serves that Kansas House district. Samsel left office two years ago.

The Supreme Court took note of evidence Samsel attempted to preserve his substitute teaching license by sending a letter on official Kansas House letterhead to the Kansas State Department of Education. In that letter, Samsel expressed a desire to resolve his teaching license problem so the Department of Education could continue to work effectively with the Legislature. In the end, he voluntarily surrendered his teaching license.

He also signed an agreement with the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator in which he conceded his conduct violated rules of professional conduct for an attorney and that his misconduct was the result of an untreated mental health disorder. He agreed his criminal acts reflected adversely on his fitness to practice law and that he had improperly implied an ability to dictate legislative policy on public education.

Samsel and the disciplinary administration office had agreed to a one-year suspense of his law license, but the Supreme Court determined a two-year suspension was appropriate. The justices stayed the sanction pending Samsel’s completion of two years’ probation, which included monitoring and supervision of his practice of law.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718457256302.png" alt=" The Kansas Supreme Court issued a one-year suspension of the law license held by Rep. Carl Maughan, R-Colwich, for violating the professional code of conduct of attorneys for the way he represented in Sedgwick County District Court the driver of a vehicle that killed two disabled men in a 2016 traffic accident. He engaged in a conflict of interest by concurrently representing the defendant in the murder case, Bret Blevins, and the only other person in the vehicle, Tammy Akers, who Blevins claimed was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> The Kansas Supreme Court issued a one-year suspension of the law license held by Rep. Carl Maughan, R-Colwich, for violating the professional code of conduct of attorneys for the way he represented in Sedgwick County District Court the driver of a vehicle that killed two disabled men in a 2016 traffic accident. He engaged in a conflict of interest by concurrently representing the defendant in the murder case, Bret Blevins, and the only other person in the vehicle, Tammy Akers, who Blevins claimed was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Maughan’s disciplinary penalty to last 12 months, while Samsel’s was set at two years</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court suspended Friday the law licenses of a current and a former member of the Kansas House based on evidence they violated of rules of professional conduct for attorneys.The state’s highest court determined the license of Rep. Carl Maughan, R-Colwich, should be suspended for one year after engaging in a conflict of interest while representing in Sedgwick County the intoxicated driver of a vehicle that killed two disabled men in a 2016 traffic accident in Wichita.A state disciplinary panel responsible for monitoring licensed attorneys in Kansas originally proposed a six-month suspension of Maughan’s license, which would have been converted to probation if he complied with a rehabilitation program.Alice Walker, the state’s deputy disciplinary administrator, recommended the Supreme Court impose a 12-month suspension of Maughan’s license. During Supreme Court oral argument in May, Walker said the harsher penalty was warranted because Maughan had refused since December to cooperate with the office of disciplinary administration. He also failed to attend, due to a claim of car trouble, the Supreme Court’s hearing in May on his disciplinary case.“At this time,” Walker said, “I don’t believe that Mr. Maughan is able to comply with a probation plan.”Maughan, who has been a licensed attorney in Kansas since 1997, agreed he engaged in conflicts of interest that undermined representation of his client, Bret Blevins, who was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Dusty Atterbery and Dirk MacMillan. Evidence presented at trial indicated Blevins was intoxicated and consumed methamphetamine before running a stop sign in a residential neighborhood and steering a Cadillac Escalade broadside into a van carrying the men who died.Blevins’ girlfriend Tammy Akers was the only other person in the vehicle. Akers was a longtime client of Maughan, and she offered to help pay $30,000 to Maughan to defend Blevins. During legal proceedings involving Blevins, Maughan asserted he secured conflict-of-interest waivers from Blevins and Akers. Part of Maughan’s strategy in defending Blevins was to argue Akers was driving the Cadillac at the time of the accident. Akers pointed a finger at Blevins.Maughan represented Akers in a separate legal matter while serving as counsel to Blevins in the deadly traffic accident case, court records show.After a trial in Sedgwick County District Court, Blevins was found guilty of 14 criminal offenses and sentenced to more than 725 months in prison. At the direction of the Kansas Court of Appeals, a hearing was conducted in Sedgwick County District Court to determine whether Maughan had a conflict of interest that undercut his ability to properly represent Blevins.A Sedgwick County judge said there was no such conflict. At that time, Maughan’s wife was a sitting judge in the Sedgwick County District Court.In 2021, the Kansas Court of Appeals issued a decision reversing the district court and affirming Blevins’ claim of inadequate counsel by Maughan. The case was returned for retrial in Wichita. In March, Blevins was resentenced to 205 months of incarceration.The Court of Appeals had this to say about Maughan’s concurrent representation of Akers and Blevins: “It is not hard to imagine the significant risk of conflicting pressures upon an attorney when representing both a longtime client who is not only paying his bill but also implicated in the very crime with which his new client is charged, along with a new client whose only defense is to incriminate the attorney’s former client.”<h2>Misconduct ‘clearly established’</h2>At several junctures in the legal drama, Maughan claimed he secured oral or written waivers from Blevins and Akers. Maughan said those waivers allowed him to “zealously, diligently” represent Blevins in the murder case. The state Court of Appeals, however, concluded Blevins “did not waive his right to a conflict-free attorney.”Maughan conceded during the state’s disciplinary investigation that he hadn’t obtained waivers from Blevins or Akers regarding his conflicts of interest.“Even if he had not,” the Supreme Court’s decision said, “the evidence before the hearing panel clearly established the charged misconduct.”Maughan was found by the justices to have engaged in conflict of interest, conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice and other infractions of professional conduct.To return to legal practice in Kansas, the Supreme Court decided, Maughan must undergo a reinstatement hearing prior to that court considering restoration of his license.Maughan is on the ballot for reelection to the Kansas House despite an assertion that his campaign was suspended two months ago.In March, he was arrested in Shawnee County on suspicion of driving while drunk. The charging affidavit related to the DUI said Maughan had a loaded semi-automatic handgun, an empty bottle of Fireball whiskey and an opened case of beer in the vehicle when pulled over by an officer of the Topeka Police Department.In response to his arrest in the DUI case, Maughan said his actions set a poor example for his family, constituents in the 90th District and citizens of Kansas.“I made a grave error in judgment and apologize and accept responsibility for my actions,” he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619814603053.png" alt="The law license of former Rep. Mark Samsel, R-Wellsville, was suspended for two years by the Kansas Supreme Court due to an incident in which he was arrested in 2021 for battery of Wellsville High School students. The Supreme court suspended the sanction while ordering supervision of Samsel’s legal work as he addressed a diagnosed mental illness. Samsel 's booking photo from Franklin County" />
 <figcaption>The law license of former Rep. Mark Samsel, R-Wellsville, was suspended for two years by the Kansas Supreme Court due to an incident in which he was arrested in 2021 for battery of Wellsville High School students. The Supreme court suspended the sanction while ordering supervision of Samsel’s legal work as he addressed a diagnosed mental illness. Samsel 's booking photo from Franklin County</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Samsel’s disorderly conduct</h2>Former Rep. Mark Samsel, a Wellsville Republican elected in 2018 and reelected in 2020, had his law license suspended by the Supreme Court for two years. That suspension was stayed pending his completion of a two-year probationary period that would include treatment for a mental health disorder, the order said.In April 2021, Samsel was working as a substitute teacher at Wellsville High School when he kicked and shoved a student and grabbed another student by the shoulders. He was arrested on three counts of battery, but entered a guilty plea in September 2021 to three counts of disorderly conduct. He was instructed to serve one year of probation, seek mental health treatment and avoid interaction with social media.The episode in the Wellsville classroom included comments by Samsel about suicide, sex, masturbation, God, the Bible, foster care and homosexuality. Students captured Samsel’s remarks on video. The video included the moment Samsel gave students permission to kick one of their classmates in the groin. He warned a male student that he was in jeopardy of receiving “the wrath of God.”“Do you believe me when I tell you that God has been speaking to me?” Samsel said on video. “Who likes making babies? That feels good, doesn’t it? Procreate. You haven’t masturbated? Don’t answer that question. God already knows.”Samsel lost his reelection campaign to Carrie Barth, a Baldwin City Republican who currently serves that Kansas House district. Samsel left office two years ago.The Supreme Court took note of evidence Samsel attempted to preserve his substitute teaching license by sending a letter on official Kansas House letterhead to the Kansas State Department of Education. In that letter, Samsel expressed a desire to resolve his teaching license problem so the Department of Education could continue to work effectively with the Legislature. In the end, he voluntarily surrendered his teaching license.He also signed an agreement with the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator in which he conceded his conduct violated rules of professional conduct for an attorney and that his misconduct was the result of an untreated mental health disorder. He agreed his criminal acts reflected adversely on his fitness to practice law and that he had improperly implied an ability to dictate legislative policy on public education.Samsel and the disciplinary administration office had agreed to a one-year suspense of his law license, but the Supreme Court determined a two-year suspension was appropriate. The justices stayed the sanction pending Samsel’s completion of two years’ probation, which included monitoring and supervision of his practice of law.

Kan. Supreme Court suspends law licenses of state Rep. Maughan, former Rep. Samsel

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for allegedly skipping court.

Just after 7:30p.m. June 12, sheriff's deputies made a traffic stop in&nbsp;the vicinity of Kansas 20 and Kingfisher in rural Brown County, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

Deputies discovered the driver 24-year-old Mackenzie Blalock of Lawrence, had 2 outstanding Warrants&nbsp; from Douglas County for Failure to Appear.&nbsp; She was arrested and taken to the Brown County jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718308020462.png" alt="Blalock-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Blalock-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for allegedly skipping court.Just after 7:30p.m. June 12, sheriff's deputies made a traffic stop in&nbsp;the vicinity of Kansas 20 and Kingfisher in rural Brown County, according to Sheriff John Merchant.Deputies discovered the driver 24-year-old Mackenzie Blalock of Lawrence, had 2 outstanding Warrants&nbsp; from Douglas County for Failure to Appear.&nbsp; She was arrested and taken to the Brown County jail.

Deputies capture Kansas woman wanted on 2 warrants

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Thanks to a tip, Police detectives in Lawrence arrested 18-year-old Cir Allen Keith Glover on a requested charge of second-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Isaiah Neal. 

The tip led investigators to Miami County, Kansas where the Sheriff assisted Lawrence Police and Glover ultimately surrendered without incident.

Just after 1a.m. Thursday, police were called to 2406 Alabama Street in Lawrence where they found&nbsp; 17-year-old Isaiah Neal with multiple gunshot wounds and began performing life-saving aid until paramedics with Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical arrived on scene.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

LDCFM paramedics transported Neal to the hospital where he later died.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718395261944.png" alt="Glover-photo Lawrence Police" />
 <figcaption>Glover-photo Lawrence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Thanks to a tip, Police detectives in Lawrence arrested 18-year-old Cir Allen Keith Glover on a requested charge of second-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Isaiah Neal. The tip led investigators to Miami County, Kansas where the Sheriff assisted Lawrence Police and Glover ultimately surrendered without incident.Just after 1a.m. Thursday, police were called to 2406 Alabama Street in Lawrence where they found&nbsp; 17-year-old Isaiah Neal with multiple gunshot wounds and began performing life-saving aid until paramedics with Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical arrived on scene.&nbsp;&nbsp; LDCFM paramedics transported Neal to the hospital where he later died.