Hutch man enters pleas in 5 cases
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 28-year-old Hutchinson man entered pleas to numerous charges in five cases in a deal the defense presented to the state and they accepted.
Matthew Gulick entered pleas to the sale of methamphetamine, using a communications device to sell the drugs, possession of stolen property, five counts of burglary, eight counts of felony theft, three counts of making false writing, aggravated intimidation of a witness or victim and criminal threat.
The state dropped some of the charges against Gullick including a racketeering charge. As part of the agreement, the two sides will recommend aggravated consecutive sentencing in each case and each case will run consecutive to each other. The state will not oppose recommending Community Corrections at sentencing. However, Gullick will have to have serve a full year in the county jail before being placed on corrections which may be close to being completed. Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton says he agreed to the recommended corrections because he wants the restitution in the cases paid which comes to over $64,200.
As part of that agreement, if Gullick violates his corrections, he cannot ask for a reduction of the sentence which will be substantial. Of course the agreement is between the state and the defense and Judge Tim Chambers is not obligated to follow that agreement.
Gillick is now convicted of selling less than a half a gram for one incident and just over two grams of meth in the second. The making false writing convictions involve three pawn tickets and the possession of stolen property crimes occurred in October and November of last year.
He remains jailed on a bond of $97,000 and sentencing is set for Jan. 30.
Pretty Prairie man busted on marijuana distribution charge
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – An 18-year-old Pretty Prairie man made a first appearance on Thursday morning after he was arrested for being in possession of marijuana with intent to sell within a 1,000 feet of a school.
Gage Benson is also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after a sheriff deputy stopped to check on two vehicles parked on the side of gas station. It was just after 12:30 a.m. when the deputy noticed two vehicles and says he checked to see if everything was ok. The occupants of the first vehicle told the deputy that they were just hanging out.
While checking with the occupants of the second vehicle, he says he could smell the odor of burnt marijuana. That eventually led to the search of Benson’s car. The deputy says in the passenger side door panel were two glass objects that appeared to be used to smoke marijuana. In a glove box, he says he found a plastic Ziplock brand storage bag which was full of other bags which appeared to have marijuana in them. Benson was placed under arrest while the passenger in his vehicle was released from the scene.
Benson appeared via-video from the county jail where he was told of the potential charges and his bond was left at $12,500. He’ll be back in court next Wednesday once the state files formal charges.
Sentencing in kidnapping case delayed for a second time
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After the sentencing hearing for a 32-year-old Hutchinson man found guilty of kidnapping was continued three weeks ago because no one knew he had been sent to the Kansas Department of Corrections, Judge Rose set a hearing for Friday, but now comes word that Todd Lloyd’s attorney requested a one week continuance for a medical reason which was granted.
Lloyd was came close to being shot by two Hutchinson Police officers during an altercation back on April 23.
Lloyd has another case pending where he’s charged with criminal threat. The state alleges that he threatened the life of two officers, Sgt. Josh Radloff and Sgt. Eric Buller. This reportedly occurring in open court after Lloyd was found guilty in the kidnapping case. They’re the same two officers who came close to shooting him during an altercation where he held his girlfriend at knife point leading to the kidnapping charge.
So, it will be one more week before we learn the sentence in the kidnapping case while the criminal threat case is still pending a preliminary hearing.
Turon man scheduled for status hearing in attempted murder case
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – We could learn Friday whether a plea deal has been reached for a 25-year-old Turon man facing an attempted murder charge.
Judge Tim Chambers had earlier set a motions deadline for Tyler Truhlar, but no trial date because of possible plea negotiations.
Truhlar was arrested by Reno County Sheriff’s deputies back on April 2, after a domestic altercation with a woman in that city who alleges she was badly beaten and choked.
The attempted second-degree murder charge is in the alternative to a charge of aggravated battery. That means he could be convicted of one or the other, but not both. Truhlar is also charged with aggravated burglary and criminal threat.
The judge set a status hearing for Friday during his regular motion docket to see where things stand with the case and if a trial date needs to be set. It was four months ago that he was bound over for trial after a preliminary hearing and was arraigned shortly after.
The case centers on the incident where the alleged victim claims that she told Truhlar she didn’t want him to come over to her home after he had sent her a text, but later showed up anyway and the two then began arguing. He then allegedly punched her as many as 20 times, striking her on the left side of her face, including hitting her on the nose and then choked her. She managed to get outside to call 911, but he followed her and at some point knocked her to the ground, then slammed the left side of her head into the pavement a couple of times. She was taken to Pratt Regional Medical Center for treatment after the incident.
The two had dated at some point and the victim testified that he didn’t like her texting or talking with other men.
Truhlar is currently free on a $6,750 bond.