Wichita man arrested in Reno County on child sex charges
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 19-year-old Wichita man managed to get his bond lowered to $50,000 after his arrest Tuesday here in Reno County on charges of rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, indecent liberties and indecent solicitation. 
Samuel Peterson appeared via-video from the Reno County Jail where he was told of the possible charges. He has already had hired a Wichita attorney who argued for the reduction in bond which was initially set at $150,000. District Attorney Keith Schroeder told Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen that he had no problem with a reduction because of the suspects lack of criminal history. The defense wanted a possible signature bond or a $20,000 surety bond, but Schroeder suggested a $50,000 bond would be appropriate. Judge McEwen went with the states recommendation. He was still be held on that bond as of Wednesday evening.
Peterson apparently made contact with the victim, a 12-year-old girl through the internet and then met up with her east of Hutchinson back on September 2, where the alleged sexual encounter occurred. She apparently made a report leading to the investigation by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and eventually to him being arrested.
Peterson will be back in court next Wednesday for a status hearing and if he makes bond he’s restricted from even coming to Reno County except for court. The judge also ordered no contact with the victim in the case. He will be supervised by his parents, who are both attorney’s in Wichita.
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Trafficking and rape trial for former bonding agent continues
The trial for a former bonding agent charged with human trafficking and rape continues in District Court.
Dwight Jurgens is 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.
The state contends that the victims were forced into providing sexual favors with the threat that they could be sent back to jail if they didn’t. The defense question the credibility of the alleged victims and says any sex between any of the women was consensual.
One of the victims took the stand Wednesday afternoon and says that Jurgens bonded her out and took her to a motel in South Hutchinson. She says nothing happened and that he asked her, “you know what I’m doing right?” She told him “yes, but I’m not going to do this.” She also testified that he didn’t threaten her with being taken back to jail, in fact took her to a local fast food place so she could catch a ride to McPherson. She apparently agreed to wear a wire when she met him at a later date outside the courtroom.
Earlier, another alleged victim testified to what went on between her and Jurgens and how his DNA got on her sweatshirt. She says she eventually gave the shirt to detectives, but it was sometime after the incident that she did turned it over.
On the stand Wednesday morning another of the four women told of being bonded out early only to be taken to the Trails West Motel in South Hutchinson where he bought her heroin and when she took the drug and became high, he took advantage of the situation as she would pass out, wake up and pass out again. She says she recalls him being on top of her at one point and that is when he is alleged to have raped her. She says her boyfriend was going to bond her out the next day, but Jurgens bonded her out early so he could spend time with her.
The jury trial is continuing in front of Judge Trish Rose.
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Local man busted again for suspected drug distribution
A 31-year-old Hutchinson man arrest back in May on drug distribution charges is in trouble again for similar crimes.
The Reno County Drug Unit served a search warrant early Wednesday morning at the home of Bryan Dale Butler located in the 600 block of North Adams. They say on the arrest sheet that in his bedroom, they found a black Nike bag that contained a large plastic bag of a crystal substance. It weighed 345 grams and field tested positive for methamphetamine. Also in the bag was loaded Smith & Wesson handgun, a small amount of suspected marijuana weighing about four grams. Also in the bedroom was nine methadone pills, a small bag of mushrooms, a glass pipe with burnt residue, new and used packaging materials, digital scales with residue and around $1,600 in cash. His home is within a thousand feet of Reno County Early Head Start.
Potential charges include possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of methadone, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of a firearm and no drug tax stamp. Butler has prior felony convictions making it unlawful for him to have a firearm.
He made an appearance in court where he was asked about the $100,000 bond. He wanted it lowered calling it “ridiculous.” But the state asked that it remain because of his criminal history and another case pending. Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen agreed with the state and the bond was left the same.
It was back on May 27 when he along with 37-year-old Jennifer Ramsey were arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute and no tax stamp. Ramsey was also charged with possession of marijuana and personal use drug paraphernalia. Butler was also charged with possession of stolen property, driving while suspended, an alleged habitual violator.
The complaint indicates they may have been attempting to distribute at least 100-grams of methamphetamine, but less the 1-kilogram.
The arrest of the two came during a traffic stop in the 100 block of North Plum in the middle of the afternoon.
Those cases are still pending.