Hutch man formally charged in assault of law enforcement case
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 53-year-old Hutchinson man arrested for two counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and criminal damage to property in a domestic case was in court Wednesday where he was told of the formal charges by District Judge Tim Chambers.
James L. Paige is charged with the crimes against the officers after he came at them with a knife. Officers came very close to shooting him, but ended up tasing him instead. He had claimed in court last Friday that he wanted the officers to shoot him.
He is also charged with damaging a woman’s property by throwing it out the door of the home.
The bond in the case remains at $100,000 because of the nature of the charges, but also prior convictions for aggravated assault, criminal threat, battery, possession of drugs, robbery, two convictions for burglary, unlawful possession of firearms and criminal damage to property.
With the formal charges filed, the case will move to a waiver-status docket on Sept. 17 in front of Judge Joe McCarville.
Missouri man charged by the state involving high-speed chase
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 39-year-old Bates City, Mo., man who led law enforcement on a high-speed chase over the weekend is free on bond and appeared in court Wednesday in front of Judge Tim Chambers for the formal reading of charges.
Timothy Felix is now charged with felony flee and elude with five or more moving violations and driving under the influence of alcohol, his second.
It started when a Reno County Sheriff Deputy saw a vehicle drive past him early Sunday going 81 mph in a 55 mph zone. The deputy says he attempted to stop the vehicle at one point, he thought the driver was going to do so, but then accelerated and the chase reached speeds of around 90 mph and ended up in Stafford County where deputies deployed stop sticks, puncturing the driver’s side front tire. Eventually the vehicle stopped, but the driver was uncooperative and had to be tased. He was identified as Felix.
With the filing of formal charges, he will next appear in court next month as part of a waiver-status docket.
Hutchinson man charged in a drug case waives preliminary hearing
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 28-year-old Hutchinson man who saw his corrections revoked and served time in prison for drug cases going back to 2008 and 2011, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday in the latest case against him.
Benito Montalbo faces charges of possession of morphine, possession of marijuana with a prior conviction, possession of a controlled substance with a prior conviction, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while suspended. The state apparently made a plea offer, but he has a new attorney, that being Charlie O’Hara of Wichita. He hasn’t had a chance to review the offer and wanted the hearing continued, but Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton was against it and told the defense they could waive the hearing, then consider the offer. They could then make it known what their decision is at a future pretrial hearing.
Montalbo was stopped by a Reno County Sheriff Deputy back on Jan. 21 at 6th & Porter when the deputy apparently knew his driver’s license was suspended. Allegedly on his person was a small plastic bag of synthetic marijuana or K-2. On the console of his vehicle was a small amount of marijuana, morphine pills, and zig-zag rolling papers.
No date was set for that hearing.
Suppression hearing in child sex case scheduled for Thursday
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — They are expected to try again Thursday to have a hearing to determine if the confession in a child sex case should be suppressed.
Brandon Cousins is charged with five off-grid felonies that could see him get life sentences on each count with no chance of parole for 25 years. He’s charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy and now three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The alleged crimes involving a then 6-year-old girl and allegedly occurred between Jan. 7 and July 23 of 2012. The investigation led to Cousins arrest back on Dec. 15, 2012.
The defense wants the alleged confession made by the defendant during an interview by law enforcement suppressed, saying the statements were not given voluntarily.
The trial for Cousins was continued about four months ago, but is now rescheduled to begin in late September.
Judge Rose told us the hearing is a go as of Wednesday afternoon.