Hutch man as expected enters pleas in two cases
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 53-year-old Hutchinson man accused of two counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and criminal damage to property entered pleas in that case as well as another.
James L. Paige entered “no contest” pleas to the crimes after he allegedly came at officers with a knife. Officers came very close to shooting him, but ended up tasing him instead. He was also charged with damaging a woman’s property by throwing it out the door of the home, however as part of the plea agreement, the state dropped that charge.
He also entered a plea to impairing a security interest by defrauding Central Bank & Trust of a Big Dog mower which the bank owned. That occurring back on Aug. 8, 2014. The state as part of the agreement dropped a second count of impairing a security interest. For this charge, the victim was Salt City Pawn and involved $2,800.
The bond in the case remains at $100,000 because of the nature of the charges, but also prior convictions for aggravated assault, criminal threat, battery, possession of drugs, robbery, two convictions for burglary, unlawful possession of firearms and criminal damage to property.
He requested that he be released this weekend for a funeral and that was denied by Judge Joe McCarville who set sentencing for February 6.
Hutch man bound over in flee and elude case
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 22 year old Hutchinson area man arrested after he allegedly led officers on a high speed chase has been bound over for trial.
Benjamin McKinney is accused of felony flee and elude, aggravated assault, felony theft, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal use of a financial card and no drivers license.
The case starts in June of last year with a stolen vehicle reported to Hutchinson Police. The vehicle was spotted in Haven and that led to a sheriff deputy attempting to make a traffic stop on K-96. McKinney allegedly refused to stop leading to a chase that went across the eastern part of the county, briefly into Harvey County and ended near Trails West and Worthington Roads after he allegedly drove into a ditch.
The keys were apparently left in the vehicle and there was also a credit card inside that was allegedly used in Wichita leading to the charge of criminal use of a financial card.
McKinney has been on probation for another flee and elude case from 2013 and with him bound over in this case, he’ll be arraigned on February 6.
Hutch Man enters plea in aggravated assault case
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson man who was found guilty of direct contempt of court when he showed up in court with the victim in a domestic case back in September was back in court Tuesday. Brandon Brandhorst entered “no contest” pleas to a single count while the state dropped two other charges
Brandhorst, 25, entered the plea to one count of aggravated assault and as part of a plea agreement, the state dropped the second count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a third charge of domestic battery.
Brandhorst is accused of pulling a knife and a Highpoint 380 ACP handgun and threatening the victim with it. He’s also accused of striking her during the altercation which is reported to have occurred at an apartment in the 600 block of North Maple.
The contempt of court finding occurred when Senior Judge William “Buck” Lyle got angry because he argued with him showing up in court with the victim. He then did the same thing with Judge Joe McCarville and then used foul language in court. Judge McCarville found him in direct contempt and sentenced him to ten days in jail. There was a no-contact order in place as part of his bond. That meant he wasn’t supposed to have any contact with the victim.
He also thought he could get the charges dropped with her not wanting to pursue the case, but the state in court says that she may have been forced to come.
With him entering the plea, he’ll be sentenced on February 6.