A preliminary hearing for a 37-year-old Hutchinson man who allegedly choked someone to the point that they lost consciousness was continued at the request of the state so they could have time to locate the alleged victim in the case.
Michael Keaton is charged with aggravated battery which could see him serve as much as 172-months in prison if convicted. The other charge is criminal damage to property, in this case damage to a porch.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Maxwell stated in court that the subpoena for the alleged victim was sent out on March 11, not all that long ago, but came back because the last know address where the alleged victim lived in now vacant. The defense as you would expect objected to the continuance, but it was granted anyway by Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen. He reset the hearing for April 21.
If convicted, Keaton’s criminal record won’t help his cause any. His priors include unlawful manufacturing, possession of drugs, obstruction and driving while suspended from the case where he was just released from prison. Earlier felonies include burglary, forgery, trafficking in contraband inside a correctional facility and possession of drug paraphernalia for cases in both Pratt and Reno Counties.
The crimes in the new case occurring back in January.