Two suspected drug dealers waived their preliminary hearing
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 31-year-old Hutchinson man and 37-year-old Hutchinson woman who are accused of drug related charges in two cases were back in court Wednesday morning where they both waived their preliminary hearing.
The latest arrest of Brian Butler and Jennifer Ramsey came back on Sept. 10, after the Reno County Drug Unit served a search warrant at a home where the two lived and report that they found a black Nike bag that contained a large plastic bag of a crystal substance that field tested positive for meth, about 345-grams worth. Also in the bag was a loaded Smith & Wesson handgun and a small amount of suspected marijuana weighing about four grams. Also in the bedroom were 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. Both face drug distribution charges within a thousand feet of a school in this case.
The other case goes back to May 27 when they 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 faces additional charges of 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. The arrest came during a traffic stop in the 100 block of North Plum in the middle of the afternoon.
Ramsey also has two other cases pending, one for making false information and the other for possession of methamphetamine.
Arraignment was set back to December 1, in front of Judge Tim Chambers so that the two sides could work on possible plea deals.
Both are jailed with high bonds. Butler’s is set at $200,000, while the bond for Ramsey is at $220,000. Her request for a reduction was denied by Judge Joe McCarville.
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Robbery and Battery case scheduled for hearing Thursday
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 24-year-old Hutchinson man charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated battery is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday. 
Justin T. Brown was arrested back on Sept. 15, after he allegedly battered a woman so severely that she had to be taken to the hospital for treatment. He’s accused of punching the victim in the face with a closed fist, then kicking her when she was on the ground. She was taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment of multiple injuries which included a broken arm. He is also accused of taking her wallet by force during the exchange.
He was also arrested on three warrants for other cases, including failing to appear for arraignment for domestic battery and no driver’s license and a pretrial hearing for illegal consumption of liquor.
The hearing is scheduled in front of Judge Joe McCarville.
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Kidnapping and rape suspect makes initial court appearance
Eastham
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 35-year-old man paroled back in April and arrested on charges of aggravated kidnapping and rape made a first appearance in court in the charges.
Hutchinson Police Detective Tyson Myers told us that Stephen Joe Eastham is suspected of holding a Hutchinson woman against her will then forcing her into sex. This occurring at a home in the 600 block of North Jefferson back on May 3.
In court, he told Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen that he wished to represent himself in this case. The judge started to tell him the hazards of doing that. The defendant then requested discovery in the case. The judge told him he would have to file a motion for that. He told the judge he didn’t know how to do that, in fact admitted he had no experience in representing himself at all. The judge told him, he would need to figure out how to the do that if he wishes to represent himself. That changed Eastham’s position and he then requested a court appointed attorney. He was assigned Alice Osburn.
Eastham wasn’t arrested right away and the results of the investigation was sent to the District Attorney’s Office where they filed the formal charges and a warrant was issued. Eastham was no longer in Hutchinson and was picked up in Oklahoma on the Kansas warrant and was brought back to Hutchinson and booked into the county jail on Tuesday.
He also has a Department of Corrections warrant for absconding from parole for a Montgomery County case involving drugs.
His case now moves to a waiver-status docket on Nov. 12.