Author: Brandon Peoples

Geary County authorities have identified a man and woman who led a Nov. 1 pursuit east of Topeka following an alleged kidnapping of an infant. Online court records list 31-year-old Clarence Watkins of Junction City and 30-year-old Pamela Broadnax of Kansas City, Missouri, each with a count of kidnapping. Watkins faces several additional counts of battery, flee or attempt to elude, interference with law enforcement and aggravated child endangerment. Both remain in custody. Bond has been set at $100,000 each. Both will appear for preliminary hearings on Tuesday in Geary County District Court. The Kansas Highway Patrol was alerted Friday…

New details made public Wednesday by the Riley County District Court Clerk’s office, allege 130 counts of sexual abuse perpetrated by Manhattan restaurant owner Robert Iacobellis against three underage victims. Iacobellis was initially charged with one count of rape and two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child in three separate incidents involving young girls. He was arrested on Aug. 2. An amended complaint filed this week saw that number skyrocket, adding 127 new charges. All told, Iacobellis faces one count of rape, three counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, one count of aggravated indecent solicitation and 124 counts of…

USD 378 voters have approved a $15 million school bond that will see some much anticipated upgrades to facilities in the district. The issue passed by a margin of 810 to 505 during Tuesday’s election. Riley County Schools Citizens Advisory Committee Treasurer Karen Schroeder says they appreciate the voters supporting them in this matter. “We’re very excited. I’ve gotten all kinds of emails and texts from people and the main word has been ‘thankful.’ Everybody is very thankful that this has passed and we can move forward and fix our schools,” she said. Schroeder says after failing to pass a…

RILEY COUNTY RESULTS UNOFFICIAL FINAL NUMBERS AS OF 11/5/19 10:13 PM Manhattan City Commission (three seats) Aaron Estabrook  – 2906 Mark Hatesohl – 3606 Kaleb James – 1899 Linda Morse (incumbent) – 3649 Maureen Sheahan – 1895 Mary Renee Shirk – 1614 Sarah Siders – 2776 Vincent Tracey – 1059 Two highest vote earners receive four-year terms. The third-place candidate receives a two-year term. ——————————————————————————————— City of Manhattan 0.3 percent retail sales tax increase question Yes: 3359 No: 4187 ——————————————————————————————— USD 378 Riley County Schools $15 million bond question Yes: 810 No: 505 ——————————————————————————————— Ogden Mayoral (vote for one) Robert…

An amended complaint filed Tuesday in Riley County District Court lists 130 new charges against Bob’s Diner owner Robert Iacobellis. Those charges, add another layer to the complicated criminal case building against Iacobellis, who was arrested Aug. 2 on one count of rape and two counts of aggravated indecent liberties. Each alleged case involves minors said to be between the ages of 10 and 15. Each of those incidents occurred between 2014 and 2018. The amended complaint will be made public by the district court clerk. Iacobellis had been appointed Assistant Public Defender Phyl Yau to represent him, but a…

A Manhattan man charged with first-degree murder made his initial appearance Monday in Riley County District Court. Judge Kendra Lewison read the formal charges against 29-year-old Richard Goens, including first-degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery, in the Nov. 1 shooting death of 24-year-old Tanner Zamecnik of Manhattan. Goens has not entered a plea. A criminal complaint filed with the court Monday alleges Goens fired the fatal shot in an attempt to rob Zamecnik. The complaint states Goens approached Zamecnik’s vehicle in the 1400 block of Cambridge Place with a handgun with intent to steal cash and marijuana but was prevented…

A pursuit which began in Jackson County and ended with a rollover crash in Atchison County resulted in a hospital trip for a St. George man Sunday. The Kansas Highway Patrol’s crash log says 49-year-old Ronald Snowberger of St. George was a passenger in the car driven by 56-year-old Robert Neal Kirk of Topeka. Authorities with the Jackson County Sheriff’s said in a news release that they had initiated a traffic stop around 5 a.m. Sunday. The vehicle failed to yield to the deputy continuing on several county roads before crashing near the K-9, US 159 junction, about three miles…

Longtime Manhattan City Clerk Gary Fees said goodbye Friday to colleagues at a retirement ceremony. “I’m retiring from the city today, but I’m not retiring from other pursuits. I want you all to know how an important part of my dash, that you all have been,” Fees said. Fees, who has served in the role since 1999, announced his retirement recently and was honored during an event at Manhattan City Hall. Esteemed guests included former commissioners, former city officials and members of other entities who worked closely beside him, all of them noting Fees’ professionalism and character. “I never heard…

Update Sunday 6 a.m. The victim from Saturday’s shooting has been identified as Tanner Zamecnik, 24, of Manhattan. Update Saturday 9:18 p.m. A Manhattan man is charged with murder following the death of a shooting victim from an incident late Friday. The Riley County Police Department says 29-year-old Richard Goens was arrested Saturday on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated assault and aggravated robbery. He’s currently jailed on a $1 million bond. Police were called out around 10 p.m. Friday to the sound of a gunshot in the 1400 block of Cambridge Place, near the intersection of Claflin and Seth Child.…

Riley County Police are attempting to locate a suspect who escaped custody early Saturday morning. Police say 33-year-old Cory Ryan Calkins escaped after being arrested on probable cause offenses of aggravated burglary, possession of meth, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. It’s advised that if you see Calkins, do not attempt to approach him, but call 911 or RCPD at 785-537-2112. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers.