Riley County police director Brian Peete is pushing back against the notion that the proposed police budget increase is too high. Peete was responding to criticism from police board members during last week’s meeting, some of whom said the city and county governments — which fund the police department in an 80-20 split — might not be able to pass a similar increase for their budgets. Jim Morrison, a Manhattan city commissioner and member of the Riley County Law Enforcement Agency Board, had said the initial police budget proposals for 2027 can be set up in a better way. He…
Author: Rose Gruenbacher
A Riley County District Court judge sentenced a St. George man to more than 66 years in prison for rape and other crimes Tuesday in Riley County District Court. Ricky Dunklin, 30, was convicted of rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated domestic battery in connection with an incident in April 2021. All four charges involve the same victim. The Mercury does not identify victims of sexual crimes. Dunklin’s previous counsel had made a motion for durational departure. Defense attorney Aaron Gipson elected not to present argument, saying, “Five minutes of talking wouldn’t help my client or the court.”…
Riley County District Court granted an Ogden man a bond modification Monday after he entered a plea agreement with Riley County prosecutors. Ashton Daniel Troughton, 22, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault of law enforcement officers and agreed to take anger management classes. He will also register as a violent offender. In exchange for his plea, attorneys for the state dropped Troughton’s remaining charge of reckless driving. Police arrested Troughton Dec. 21 for the crimes after he drove his vehicle toward two Riley County Police Department officers who were leaving a call for service at 20949 Tuttle Creek…
Development in the Manhattan Business Park near the Manhattan Regional Airport is moving along, according to the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. Daryn Soldan, director of economic development for the chamber, briefed the Riley County Commissioners during their meeting Thursday on progress in the area. Soldan said work on the new Amazon facility is nearing completion, with landscaping work being done currently. He did not give an exact date for the facility’s expected completion. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
Members of the Riley County Health Department are preparing for a possible influx of foreign or unseasonable diseases this summer as soccer fans from across the globe travel to Kansas City for the FIFA World Cup. Michelle Horstmeier, public health emergency preparedness coordinator, said she’s been attending weekly FIFA updates and webinars updating the state on possible infectious diseases that may be introduced by incoming visitors. She said the main focus of the webinars have been outbreaks, foreign diseases, cyber security and active shooter training. One main concern for the department is respiratory syncytial virus and flu season. To view…
The jury in a Riley County District Court case against a former Junction City Middle School wrestling coach decided the man was not guilty Thursday morning of sexual misconduct against two girls he knows. Mason Dusseault, 23, of Junction City was found not guilty for one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and one count of indecent liberties with a child. He was accused of inappropriately touching two 7th grade girls involved with the wrestling team. Dusseault maintained his innocence throughout the court proceedings.
A Junction City man took the witness stand Wednesday in Riley County District Court and denied claims that he had inappropriate sexual contact with two Junction City Middle School girls. Mason Dusseault, 22, was an assistant wrestling coach at JCMS when, prosecutors for the state said, he fondled two girls aged 13 and 14 years old who were involved with the team. Police arrested Dusseault April 29 and charged him with aggravated indecent liberties with a child and indecent liberties with a child. He was released from jail on a $50,000 bond. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
A Riley County District Court jury heard opening statements Tuesday in the case of a 22-year-old Junction City man charged with sex crimes against children he knows. Mason Dusseault was an assistant wrestling coach at Junction City Middle School when prosecutors for the state say he fondled two 7th grade girls involved with the team. Police arrested Dusseault April 29 and charged him with aggravated indecent liberties with a child and indecent liberties with a child. He was released from jail on a $50,000 bond. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
An ex-Riley County Police Department officer is scheduled for a September jury trial in Riley County District Court after the parties failed to reach a plea agreement Monday. Stephen Benjamin Clark, 42, of Manhattan is charged with two counts of breach of privacy disseminating sexual media of a person aged 18 years or older, harassment by telecom device and unlawful computer acts. Court records show Monday’s hearing was originally set as a plea deal, but any potential deal apparently fell through as the case continued with arraignment and Clark pleaded not guilty to all four counts. To view the full…
Prosecuting attorneys on Wednesday began laying out the case against a Texas man charged with drug distribution in Riley County District Court. Jose Miguel Rivera, 33, of Balch Springs is charged with distribution of at least 1 kilogram of cocaine, between 100 grams and 1 kilogram of cocaine, between 100 grams and 1 kilogram of psilocybin — also known as mushrooms — and between 25 and 450 grams of marijuana. He is also charged with using a cell phone to commit, cause or facilitate the commission of distribution of controlled substances. On Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, assistant Riley County…