OLATHE — A man arrested at a Kansas storage unit with two of his children and his dismembered wife’s remains has been convicted of three felony counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Jurors deliberated until around 12:30 a.m. Thursday before finding 36-year-old Justin Rey guilty of the felonies, as well as misdemeanor counts of child endangerment and contributing to a child’s misconduct. Rey said he cut up his wife, Jessica Monteiro Rey, after she died in October 2017 after giving birth at a Kansas City, Missouri, hotel. He was arrested with the couple’s newborn and 2-year-old at a storage…
Author: KMAN Staff
Update 4 p.m. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s chief spokeswoman is calling a Republican tax relief bill “irresponsible.” Kelly spokeswoman Ashley All said Thursday that the bill endorsed by a Senate committee would undo the state’s progress toward getting its finances in order. But she stopped short of saying the governor would veto the measure if it passes. The committee advanced the bill on a voice vote Thursday. The full Senate expects to debate it next week. The measure is designed to prevent Kansas residents and businesses from paying more in income taxes to the state because of changes in federal…
LARNED — A 65-year-old patient at the Larned State Hospital has been convicted of aggravated sexual battery involving a staff member at the hospital. Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett reports Russell McFarland was convicted Wednesday. Testimony during his trial indicated that in Mary 2018, he followed a 19-year-old female staff member into a staff-only area of the hospital, forced her into a corner and tried to kiss her. He was a patient in the hospital’s sexual predator treatment program at the time. Another patient intervened and the staff member was able to get free. The Hays Post reports additional testimony…
Manhattan area residents will get a chance to see what local non-profit organizations offer to the community Saturday, Feb. 2. The 2019 Community Fair, hosted by the Manhattan Town Center, will feature organizations representing low income residents, families, military personnel and children. Also present will be healthcare, education and recreation groups. They’ll have booth locations throughout the mall from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. “Our annual Community Fair continues to grow and provide a great venue for members of the community to learn about local organizations,” said Jeff Sutton, Manhattan Town Center Marketing Manager. “We’re pleased to offer this event free of charge to our…
The City of Manhattan’s assistant director of community development says the community should no trouble maintaining a 20 percent flood insurance discounts for residents in areas with high flooding risk. Chad Bunger says the discounts are provided through the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System, a voluntary program that rewards communities that engage in floodplain management and flood mitigation projects. The city has to submit verification of what projects are ongoing each year to re-certify for the discount. “We submit the information [every year], they come and inspect and/or seek a full-blown report every five years, but in between that…
TOPEKA — A proposal to strip the Kansas secretary of state’s office of its power to prosecute voter fraud cases has cleared its first major hurdle in the Legislature. The bill endorsed Wednesday by a House committee would dismantle a key piece of former Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s political legacy. The Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee’s unanimous voice vote sends the bill to the House for debate. Kobach received prosecution power in 2015 after arguing that his office needed the power to pursue cases on its own because local prosecutors often don’t have time. He is an attorney but…
TOPEKA — The new head of Kansas’ prison system is telling legislators that more frequent inmate transfers and housing offenders two to a cell helped contribute to several riots during the past two years. Interim Corrections Secretary Roger Werholtz’s assessment of the factors behind inmate disturbances led lawmakers to say Wednesday that they previously did not have the full picture of what happened. Werholtz has painted a picture of a prison system in crisis in briefings for lawmakers this week. He has suggested that understaffing is compromising safety and said several prisons sustained serious damage from riots in 2017 and…
KANSAS CITY — The owner of a defunct laboratory in Lenexa has been ordered to pay $544,287 for storing hazardous waste without a license. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister announced Tuesday that 63-year-old Ahmed El-Sherif was found guilty of storing the waste at Beta Chem Laboratory. Kansas health officials took control of the laboratory in 2013. Environmental Protection Agency agents found numerous containers of hazardous wastes and radiation contamination during a search in January 2014. During a bench trial, U.S. District Court Judge Julie Robinson found that Beta Chem was a defunct operation by 2012 and hazardous chemicals were being stored…
TOPEKA — The Kansas attorney general says the state has dropped former Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s appeal of a contempt order arising from a lawsuit over a proof-of-citizenship law. Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Tuesday that the state dropped the appeal after the American Civil Liberties Union accepted $20,000 for attorney fees and expenses. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the state’s obligation was $26,200 before the deal was reached. U.S. District Court Judge Julie Robinson found Kobach in contempt of court last year for failing to follow her instructions in ACLU’s lawsuit challenging a statue requiring Kansans to show proof…
Officers filed a report for burglary in the 200 block of N Juliette Ave in Manhattan on January 30, 2019, at approximately 1:00 PM. Officers listed Darius Denson, 22, of Manhattan as the victim when it was reported an unknown suspect entered his residence and took his Xbox and other miscellaneous items. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $1,440.00. Police ask that anyone with information contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.…