WICHITA — A Wichita baby sitter who produced child pornography in her home has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. The Wichita Eagle reports 47-year-old Stefanie Larsen was sentenced Thursday. Prosecutors say Larsen allowed a man to produce a series of videos in which he masturbated in the presence of a sleeping 7-year-old girl who she was babysitting. When the child woke up and cried out, Larsen told her it was just a bad dream. Authorities say the man paid Larsen to let him make the videos. The man, 55-year-old Bill Harold Raymond, was sentenced earlier to 17…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA — A Topeka attorney has filed a lawsuit alleging Shawnee County is violating the rights of an inmate being kept in custody on an immigration detainer. David Alegria contends the county has held Elidio Perez-Ramirez longer than allowed by law. He is seeking Perez-Ramirez’s immediate release and unspecified compensation. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the lawsuit names the county corrections department, the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Shawnee County counselor Jim Crowl said Wednesday the federal government gave the corrections department valid documentation directing it to hold Perez-Ramirez. The lawsuit says Perez-Ramirez was convicted in…
Officers with the Riley County Police Department responded to the report of a battery on Linear Trail near Richards Drive in Manhattan at approximately 1 p.m. Thursday. Preliminary information gathered by investigators suggests there was one male attacker who battered a lone female runner. The 15 year-old victim suffered a head injury. She was transported to Via Christi for treatment. The suspect has not been apprehended at this time and the investigation is ongoing. The RCPD is asking citizens to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings. RCPD Public Information Officer Hali Rowland told KMAN officers spoke to an older…
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue was in Manhattan Wednesday for a full day of tours and discussion panels. He began the day at River Creek Farms east of Manhattan with Kansas Senators Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran, then co-hosted an open Q&A panel at K-State’s Stanley Stout Center with Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer. Finally, Perdue delivered the keynote speech for the Kansas FFA Convention on the K-State campus that evening. One person at the panel with Colyer praised the work Perdue was doing, as well as President Donald Trump and Colyer. “I’m not from Kansas — I vote in Georgia…
Updated: Thursday, 2:11 p.m. Riley County Commissioner Ben Wilson announced Thursday he will not be seeking a second term. “After much consideration, I have decided not to run for reelection or for any other office this year,” Wilson declared during Thursday morning’s county commission meeting in Manhattan. “I have greatly enjoyed working with the county commission and our amazing county staff. It’s been a great experience overall for me and I loved it.” Wilson, a Republican, represents Riley County’s First District. It encompasses the southern portion of the county including the city of Manhattan, Ogden and much of Fort Riley.…
Thursday’s guests were Mike Shepherd of the Little Apple Chorus, along with The Charades featuring Steve McKinzie, Leonard Purvis, Tom Fish and Ken Garwick. Later in the show, Eisenhower Presidential Library Director Dawn Hammatt talked about Saturday’s Symphony at Sunset in Abilene. Shepherd: Hammatt:
WICHITA — The homicide rate in Wichita so far this year is double that from the same time period last year. The Wichita Eagle reports 16 people were killed in Wichita between January and April. Three more people have been killed in May. Last year, eight people died from January through April. District Attorney Marc Bennett said recently that Wichita could be on track to record 55 to 60 homicides this year. Last year, 38 people were killed. Police say in most cases, the victims and suspects know each other. The homicides are frequently tied to drugs and many of…
Following last week’s fire on the Hale Library roof, K-State has announced a fundraiser to cover the cost of damage. The fundraiser, named the “Help for Hale” initiative, has already raised $15,000 according to Jeff Morris, K-State Vice President for Communications and Marketing. Morris told the Mercury recently that all of the funds will be going toward the repairs, though the total cost of those repairs are still unknown pending the investigation results. It has not been determined if the university will be responsible for its $500,000 insurance deductible and adjusters are still working on their investigation. Morris told the…
Wednesday’s guest was Dr. Timothy Shaffer, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at KSU and Assistant Director of the K-State Institute for Civil Discourse and Democracy.
A body was found in between two buildings in Junction City Monday afternoon, according to information released from the Junction City Police Department late Tuesday afternoon. According to a press release from the JCPD, officers were advised of the body at 2:25 p.m. in the area of 140 E. 2nd St. in Junction City. The body was identified as a white female approximately 5-foot-9 in height. Tuesday the body was transported to the Shawnee County Coroners Office in Topeka. She was wearing shorts that were dark in color. She was wearing “Pali Hawaii” flip flops. JCPD Public Information Officer Capt.…