HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The case against a Hutchinson man accused of being involved in the kidnapping of a man who considered him a friend ended with the defendant entering pleas in the case for a second time.
57-year-old William Runyon was originally facing trial for aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery and aggravated battery but entered pleas dropping the aggravated part of the first two charges. He then had second thoughts and went before Judge Trish Rose who granted his request to withdraw his pleas, so the original charges were put back in place and they began jury selection Tuesday morning in front of Judge Tim Chambers who was covering the case for Judge Rose.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Maxwell says that he entered pleas for a second time to charges of kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated battery and felony flee and elude. The final charge coming from a second case which was also pending. In exchange for the plea, both sides will recommend nine years, two months in prison.
The victim in the case went for a ride with Runyon and they ended up near a field on east G, east of Hutchinson where he was beaten, then taken to Salina where he was again beaten, placed in the trunk of vehicle there but managed to escape and call police there. He escaped by pushing out the back seat of that vehicle that was allegedly being driven by 25-year-old Thomas Beatty of Salina. After he escaped, Beatty let him go. He says as a result of the beatings, his kidneys failed and he also suffered severe bruising of his ribs. He ended up in the hospital in Salina. All this occurring back on September 19, of last year.
In the other case, Runyon was charged with felony flee and elude and interference with law enforcement. This case involved sheriff investigators being on the lookout for Runyon because of the kidnapping incident. They spotted him at a local home and he then led law enforcement on a chase around the city on October 10, of last year. The chase ended when he fled the truck he was in near the scene of a fatal fire and was captured by Hutchinson Police Detectives.
With him entering pleas in the case, sentencing will be on November 14, in front of Judge Chambers.