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.
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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.
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Local man faces a charge of aggravated indecent liberties
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 60-year-old Hutchinson man is jailed on a $25,000 bond after he was arrested for a charge of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
Police say the investigation is on-going against Juan Anguiano, but did tell us the report was made over the weekend and involved inappropriate touching of a child under the age of 10. He was arrested on Sunday evening on the charge.
Anguiano apparently doesn’t speak any English because an interpreter had to be brought in and he was brought to the court room for a first appearance. It also became known that he can’t read or write either.
Bond was left the same and he’ll be back in court Wednesday for a status hearing on the matter.
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Burglary and theft suspect faces more charges
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson man who is believed to be connected to a rash of burglaries in an area in August was back before the judge Monday morning where he was told he will face additional charges.
Michael Hodges faces additional charges of burglary, two counts of the theft, three counts of forgery and criminal damage to property.
He has been into custody on suspicion of ten counts of theft, six counts of burglary, six counts of criminal damage to property and four more counts of making false writings. Hodges is accused of breaking into numerous sheds, garages and homes in a narrow corridor along 4th. and 7th Avenues.
Bond in the new case is $20,500 and bonds now total $82,500. He’ll be back in court on Wednesday.