HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 29-year-old Hutchinson man with five drug related cases pending was scheduled for a pretrial hearing Thursday, however the defense for Arthur Adams requested more time to consider a plea offer from the state.
Adams waived his right to a preliminary hearing and entered “not guilty” pleas in all five cases and was to consider the plea offer from the state by the time he was arraigned, but that didn’t happen. The pretrial hearing has been continued to May 14.
Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton says the problem is the defense attorney in the case is in Wichita and the defendant is being housed in Chase County. They apparently have had some difficulty connecting, so the attorney wants more time to discuss the offer. Stanton says he is still considering adding a charge of racketeering if Adams fails to except the plea offer.
In the first case, Adams is currently charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute drugs and two counts of no tax stamp. This case goes back to October 18, 2012.
He also faces charges of possession of marijuana with a prior conviction and criminal possession of a firearm, a 45-caliber handgun from a case that goes back to March 28, 2013.
The next case has just one charge, that being aggravated failure to appear for the case just mentioned. The state alleges he failed to surrender within 30-days of a bond forfeiture in the case. This goes back to April 6, 2013.
The next case charges Adams with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession or morphine, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to package drugs, criminal possession of a firearm, a shotgun. He’s also charged with possession of a shotgun with a barrel less then 18” long, interference with law enforcement, defacing identification marks on a firearm and possession of personal use drug paraphernalia. These crimes allegedly occurring on October 28, 2013. Its this case, the state would consider amending the complaint adding that racketeering charge.
The final case has Adams charges him with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to package drugs, possession of marijuana with a prior conviction and personal use drug paraphernalia. This case goes to back to October 29, 2013.