Trial for former bonding agent begins Tuesday.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The trial for a former bonding agent charged with human trafficking and rape is scheduled to begin Tuesday with jury selection.
The trial for Dwight Jurgens comes after several delays. He’s charged with four counts of aggravated human trafficking, two counts of attempting to commit aggravated human trafficking, rape and aggravated criminal sodomy. The human trafficking and aggravated counts are charged due to his authority of controlling persons because of his bonding business. He worked for TNT bonding at the time of the initial arrest.
All four victims allege they were threatened with being taken back to jail if they didn’t agree to have sex with him.
The trial is scheduled to begin in front of Judge Trish Rose.
Former newspaper employee enters plea in felony theft case
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A former Hutchinson News employee who was arrested for three crimes associated with embezzling thousands of dollars while collecting money from customers entered a plea Monday to just one of the charges.
Gregory Todd Jerauld had been charged with a computer crime, making false writing and felony theft, but entered the plea to felony theft, while the other two charges were dropped by the state.
The crimes occurring in a period between January 1, 2011, and December 2, 2013.
Jerauld would collect money, but keep some of that money for himself, then falsified the records on three different accounts. Apparently, back in November of last year, the newspaper conducted an audit and discovered the missing money which is alleged to total over $20,000. In court Monday, his attorney Greg Bell presented the court with two cashiers checks, one for $500.00 dollars which will go directly to the newspaper. The second going to their insurance company in the amount of $19,883.00.
Sentencing in the case is set for October 10, and he will most likely be granted some form of probation.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Tuesday’s County Commission agenda appears to be light with only two actual items on the list.
That includes recognizing the 100 th anniversary of IMCA, the International City/County Management Association. There to receive the proclamation will be Hutchinson City Manager John Deardoff and South Hutchinson City Manager Matt Styles.
The other item is consideration of an application by the Reno County Health Department to the Hutchinson Community Foundation for an Early Childhood block grant.
They will discuss the establishment of “Share the road” signs on the old K-61 highway, which would include having signs for combined traffic bike lane. However, the current set up of the old highway does not accommodate a bike lane, so markings on the highway itself wouldn’t work, but they could post signs indicating a bike route with the additional sign underneath which says “share the road.” Sid Arpin, with BG Consultants who acts as the county engineer is suggesting such signs could be posted at north bound lane north of 43rd, two for both northbound and southbound lanes near 56th, and one for the southbound lane south of 82nd.
The meeting starts at 9 a.m.