Hutch man bound over in battery LEO and theft case
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 35-year-old Hutchinson man accused of getting into an altercation with an off-duty sheriff deputy was bound over for trial after a hearing in the case Monday.
Sonny Bray is accused of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, felony theft, battery and interference with law enforcement. Bray is accused of biting one of the officers as he tried to take him into custody. This occurred at Tractor Supply at 1203 N. Lorraine back on Sept. 26. He is also alleged to have battered a woman at the store while all this was occurring. Deputy T.J. Perez suffered three broken ribs as a result of the exchange and was off duty for a short time as a result.
Perez was off duty and, along with the manager, saw Bray leave the side of the store and throw three pairs of boots over a fence. Bray then was attempting to climb the fence when Perez took off after him. That led to the altercation and the deputy being injured.
Bray is currently serving time for another felony theft conviction where he was given a year and four months in prison. He was waiting sentencing in that case when this latest incident occurred. That theft occurred back in July of 2013.
Bray has other convictions for aggravated battery, criminal possession of a firearm, burglary, criminal damage, criminal discharge of a weapon and an aggravated weapons violation. Those crimes stretch over a period from 1997 to 2004.
Arraignment in the case will come next week.
Suspect in robbery and battery case enters plea
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 24-year-old man charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated battery avoided a preliminary hearing and possible trial by entering a plea in the case Monday.
As part of a plea agreement, the state dropped the aggravated robbery count charged against Justin T. Brown and also dropped the intentional aggravated battery count down to reckless aggravated battery, which would mean less time ordered at sentencing. However, it’s believed that Brown has a criminal history score of A. That would mean a sentence of 11 years and four months in prison. However, both sides will be allowed to argue disposition at sentencing.
Brown was arrested back on Sept. 15 after battering a woman so severely that she had to be taken to the hospital for treatment. He also punched the victim in the face with a closed fist, then kicked 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 was 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 sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 2, 2015.
Reno County hunting guide sentenced for violating migratory bird act
WICHITA, Kan. — A professional hunting guide from Reno County pleaded guilty and was sentenced Monday for violating the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
36-year-old Ryan Warden, of Haven, pleaded guilty to three counts of violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In his plea, he admitted the violations occurred while he was guiding two agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who were working undercover when they hired him. Warden was a co-owner of a guiding business called Misty Morning Outfitters with a business location at 109 S. Kansas in Haven.
During the hunt, Warden shot a mourning dove from a motor vehicle, which is a violation. He also took one more than the daily bag limit of 15 mourning doves. He did not tag the birds when he took them back to the company’s lodge for storage.
Warden was sentenced to five years on probation, a fine of $2,500 and restitution of $5,000 to the state of Kansas. During probation he is prohibited from hunting, trapping, guiding or outfitting – as well as deriving any income from those activities. He also is prohibited from possessing firearms and archery equipment.