Hunter Logan Smith was sentenced Wednesday in Riley County District Court to life in prison for the 2024 killing of 24-year-old Parker Tumlinson. The sentence was part of a plea agreement that reduced the charge from pre-meditated first-degree murder to first-degree murder. Smith will be eligible for parole after 25 years. Judge Kendra Lewison ordered Smith, 25, of Manhattan to reimburse the Crime Victims Compensation Board a total of $3,823 for restitution to Tumlinson’s family. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more Riley County news.
Author: Rose Gruenbacher
A Manhattan man set to be sentenced Monday for first-degree murder in Riley County District Court may now try to withdraw his guilty plea. He faces sentencing on Wednesday. Hunter Logan Smith, 25, was supposed to receive his sentence Monday afternoon, but the hearing was postponed following a 45-minute recess for Smith to speak with his attorney. Trey Bryant, chief public defender, said he needs additional time to discuss with his client whether to proceed with sentencing or withdraw his plea, and requested Judge Kendra Lewison grant a continuance to facilitate that discussion. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.…
Riley County police director Brian Peete is working with other law enforcement agencies like the Kansas Bureau of Investigations and Kansas Highway Patrol to assemble a multi-agency task force to combat human and sex trafficking in the region. Riley County Law Enforcement Agency Board member Kaleb James said in Tuesday’s board meeting that the top issues community members want addressed are sex and human trafficking and fentanyl. James said he wants to make sure the police department and board have a “strategic focus” on human and sex trafficking. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local…
Officials released Riley County police director Brian Peete’s new contract, which dictates an annual salary of $197,088. It also includes provisions of an unmarked police vehicle for job-related duties, a monthly clothing allowance, a smartphone and cellular coverage for Peete’s personal iPad. Peete and the county law enforcement agency board last month agreed to a contract extension for his employment for a term ending Dec. 30, 2027. As previously reported by The Mercury, Peete’s employment as RCPD director began Dec. 30, 2022 with a starting salary of $160,171. His pay in 2024 was reported as $178,777. To view the full article visit…
Two Manhattan men facing a laundry list of drug charges made their first appearances in Riley County District Court Friday afternoon. Both deny the allegations against them. David Alan Labombarbe, 39, and Scott Charles Marchand, 48, appeared in front of Judge Grant Bannister. Labombarbe appeared via Zoom in custody of the Riley County Jail, while Marchand was present in person. Labombarbe’s alleged offenses come from three cases, all of which took place in the last three weeks. He was arrested with Marchand by Riley County police Dec. 30 and released on a $150,000 bond Jan. 2, arrested again Jan. 13…
There is no reason for significant concern about contraband in the Riley County jail, Riley County police director Brian Peete said on Wednesday. In October, Peete confirmed an internal investigation looking into the possible introduction of contraband by jail personnel. Peete said the police department had reason to believe some contraband items were introduced into the jail from outside, and though the investigation is ongoing, Peete said no employees were fired in connection to the investigation. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more Riley County news.
The trial for a Leonardville man began Tuesday in Riley County District Court with jury selection. Adam Michael Marston faces charges of domestic battery, criminal threat and domestic battery. Marston, 41, was arrested in March for the charge of domestic battery. The two other counts were added later by the Riley County attorney’s office. The charges concern a March 27 incident involving a woman that Marston knows. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more Riley County news.
A man from Laredo, Texas appeared in Riley County District Court Monday, to plead not guilty in a case charging him with multiple sexual battery charges. Abel Gutierrez Jr., 35, appeared for arraignment with Judge Kendra Lewison. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual battery and two counts of sexual battery. Gutierrez was arrested last January, in after a warrant was issued by Riley County police in 2023. The warrant and arrest are connected to events in July 2022. A complaint filed with the court said Gutierrez touched three people born in 2003, 2002 and 1988 without…
The city water serving Manhattanites’ and visitors’ favorite Aggieville bars and businesses is running through the same system that’s been in place for 116 years. Danielle Dulin, Manhattan city manager, on Wednesday said Aggieville’s infrastructure hasn’t changed since 1910 and is now failing. The aging system is being replaced as part of the roadway construction happening in Aggieville. “Brian (Johnson) and Randy (DeWitt) tell me every day that we don’t have a water main break on Moro Street is a good day, so we know that we have that failing infrastructure,” Dulin said. “So when we’re getting into Aggieville, and…
RCPD director Brian Peete, reflecting Thursday on the shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE officer, called parts of the incident “troubling.” The woman, 37-year-old Renee Good, was in her vehicle when she was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Wednesday. Federal officials, including members of the Trump Administration, defended the shooting as lawful, saying that the agent who fired his weapon was acting in self defense. City and state officials described those accounts as “propaganda,” and “garbage,” with a video showing that the woman’s vehicle appeared to be turning away from the officer…