Author: Brandon Peoples

More details have emerged in the case of a former Wamego Middle School science teacher arrested Sunday on suspicion of a sex crime involving an underage victim. Allen Sylvester, 51, of rural Wabaunsee County, was formally charged Wednesday with one count of unlawful sexual relations. According to Wabaunsee County Attorney Tim Liesmann, the victim was 17 and turning 18 during the relevant time period, sometime during the 2020-21 school year. In an email to KMAN, Liesmann says the booking information, implying the acts were with someone under 16, was inaccurate. Because of likely dual jurisdiction, he says it’s possible the…

The deadline to file for the August primary came and went Wednesday with only a slight change to local races. In Pottawatomie County, Nathan Gotsch filed before the deadline for the 1st District commission seat and will be an independent in the November election. Gotsch also ran in 2018, but lost to Republican Dee McKee, of Blue Township, who has also filed for re-election. McKee will face off against Republican Hans Tessmann, of St. George, in the primary. Tessmann is a former mayor of St. George. In Riley County, Republican incumbent John Ford, of Manhattan, is unopposed in the race…

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says Riley County’s COVID incidence rate moved into the moderate category during the week of May 21st through the 27th, recording 32 new cases. The new data, provided in Wednesday’s weekly update from the health department, moves Riley County from the substantial incidence category to moderate, which is 10-49 cases per 100,000 people. This week, that rate was 43.1, a nearly 15 point drop from the week before. As of Wednesday, Ascension Via Christi Hospital was caring for one COVID-19 positive patient. Two more COVID-related deaths were verified by the Office of Vital…

Riley County Police have requested charges of attempted second degree murder and aggravated battery to be filed against a Manhattan man accused of stabbing a victim in the neck with a pocket knife. RCPD arrested 32-year-old Mark Rickenbacker Tuesday following an alleged attack from this past weekend. A 27-year-old male victim reported the incident occurred Saturday in the 1300 block of Flint Hills Place. The victim, who was not identified by police, was treated and released from Ascension Via Christi. According to Wednesday’s arrest report, Rickenbacker remained jailed with no listed bond.

Update: 6 a.m. Wednesday Two Wamego School District employees have resigned amid a child sex crime investigation, involving one of them. According to the Wamego Times, Allen Sylvester, who worked as a middle school science teacher, and his wife Deborah Sylvester, a Wamego High math teacher, both submitted their resignations Tuesday at a special meeting of the USD 320 school board. The resignations came after Allen Sylvester was arrested Sunday in Wabaunsee County. The 51-year-old was booked on charges of unlawful sexual relations, sexual exploitation of a child and electronic solicitation with a child between the ages of 14 and…

Upgraded charges have been filed against a Manhattan man accused in a recent stabbing incident. At a Zoom hearing Friday, in Riley County District Court, prosecutors amended 44-year-old Jarman Morgan’s charge of attempted second-degree murder to attempted first-degree murder, and added a disorderly conduct charge. He also faces a charge of aggravated battery for the alleged stabbing of a female victim in the neck on May 19th in the 1000 block of Moro Street. Authorities have said the two are known acquaintances. Morgan’s next court date is at 1 p.m. June 7th. He remains jailed on a $400,000 bond.

The Boys and Girls Club of Manhattan has a new CEO. Hannah Coash has rejoined the Manhattan team after 14 years of experience with the Boys & Girls Club across three clubs. Her career began with the Manhattan chapter in 2008. Coash fills the role previously held by Trent Jones, who left the organization in January. Development Director Melissa Soldan had filled the role on an interim basis. The local Boys & Girls Club chapter offers before and after school programs, as well as some summer programming at 11 club locations in Manhattan and Wamego.

A Junction City woman is charged in federal court with theft. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Topeka says 27-year-old Chelsea Pulse has been charged with single counts of embezzlement of the mail and delay of mail as well as two counts of theft of the mail. The U.S. Postal Service is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Walton is prosecuting.

A Fort Riley soldier has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Topeka for his alleged role in a romance scheme that netted approximately $150,000 in fraud claims from at least 25 individuals. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 24-year-old Innocent Ugwu, of Fort Riley, is charged with five counts of wire fraud, five counts of laundering monetary instruments and one count of procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully. Court documents say the scheme happened for an undetermined amount of time up until January 2021. Ugwu is accused of conspiring with others to defraud money from individuals in the United…

Memorial Day services are planned across the area Monday. The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley will conduct the annual ceremony at 11:40 a.m. Monday at the Post Cemetery at 193 Huebner Road. The observance honors the men and women who died while serving our country. Outgoing Fort Riley Garrison Commander Colonel Will McKannay will speak as part of the ceremony. He and Command Sgt. Major Speichert will place a wreath in honor of those who have died while serving in the armed forces. The ceremony is open to the public, but those without a Department of Defense ID card…