HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After the civil case for a former sheriff and law enforcement instructor convicted in a child sex case was continued last Thursday because one of the attorneys was sick, they had the hearing Monday afternoon in front of Judge Trish Rose.
James Ryan Bloom was convicted on several felonies and sentenced to 27-and-half years in prison in a child sex case. He was seeking relief claiming ineffective counsel during plea negotiations prior to the criminal trial, but now is claiming ineffective counsel during the hearing in his civil case last year.
Sam Kepfield represented him during that hearing where both his attorney’s testified about them presenting the plea offers from the state and how he turned them all down. Now, he claims that Kepfield was ineffective when he failed to question Sarah Sweet McKinnon over information provided by Larry McNeely who had information of a conversation with Kiel Rathbun who had stated that they thought the speedy trial had passed and also that they had told Bloom that the state couldn’t prove the rape allegation. They also brought up the fact that Rathbun was disbarred from practicing law. The state considers all of this irrelevant and at best hearsay because Rathbun was not present to testify on Monday.
Kepfield did take the stand and told the he couldn’t recall the information given but admits there was contact with McNeely by e-mail and phone.
McNeely and Bloom became friends while Bloom was still an instructor with the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.
Judge Rose took the new matter under advisement saying she wanted to review the transcripts of what happened in the other hearing a year ago.
Bloom had been found guilty of one count of rape, six counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and one count of lewd and lascivious conduct. The victim in the case was a 12-year-old girl. The crimes occurring over a period of time in 2006. He’s not eligible for parole until the year 2029.