Hutch man expected in court Wednesday in drug case
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 27-year-old man who is accused of causing problems at a local Dillon’s store back in August is scheduled to be back in court on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.
An employee reportedly advised Johnny Fenton III of criminal trespass and asked him to leave the store, but he refused and police had to be called.
He was arrested for criminal trespass, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The hearing on this case is before Judge Joe McCarville.
But, Fenton has another more serious case pending in front of Judge Trish Rose. That case is now over a year old and has Fenton charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell or distribute, possession of Alprazolam with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to package, criminal possession of a firearm, felony theft of a motor vehicle, felony criminal damage to property for damage to that same vehicle, and misdemeanor theft. All of those alleged crimes go back to Nov. 1, 2013.
Fenton has previous convictions for theft, burglary, drugs and identity theft.
Man suspected of kidnapping and rape scheduled for hearing
Eastham
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 35-year-old Montgomery County man paroled back in April and arrested here on charges of aggravated kidnapping and rape is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday.
Stephen Joe Eastham is accused of holding a Hutchinson woman against her will then forcing her into sex. This occurred at a home in the 600 block of North Jefferson back on May 3.
Eastham wasn’t arrested right away and the results of the investigation were sent to the District Attorney’s Office where they filed the formal charges and issued a warrant. As we told you in an earlier story, Eastham was picked up in Oklahoma on the Kansas warrant and was brought back to Hutchinson.
He is also listed as an absconder from parole for a Montgomery County case involving drugs.
The hearing is scheduled Wednesday in front of Judge Joe McCarville, however as always, any hearing before the court is subject to last minute continuances.
Father and son make court appearance in marijuana cultivation case
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The father and son arrested back on Nov. 23 on marijuana cultivation charges made a first appearance on the charges Tuesday morning where they were read the formal complaint against them.
51-year-old Johnny Lee Payne and his son, 30-year-old Jonathan Ray Payne are now both charged with cultivation of marijuana, conspiracy to cultivate marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to cultivate marijuana and personal use drug paraphernalia. The first count alone could see them each receive nearly seven years in prison.
Drug Unit Detectives are alleged to have found 12 marijuana plants at the home in the 1500 block of North Monroe.
Jonathan Payne has another case pending where he was charged along with a 20-year-old Cole Castle in a distribution of marijuana case that goes back to July 27.
Charges there include distribution of marijuana and conspiracy to distribute marijuana. The state alleges that the two conspired to distribute somewhere between 25 and 450 grams of marijuana. The state says the two arranged to distribute the marijuana using a telephone.
Both will be back on court on Dec. 17.