Parolee arrested for aggravated burglary and other charges
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 36-year-old Partridge man is jailed after he’s alleged to have entered a home and other properties without permission. Lucas Willhite is suspected of aggravated burglary, burglary, theft and criminal damage.
The first report came in on Dec. 31, of an aggravated burglary in progress in the 11,000 block of West 30th. The victim reported that a man with a thin build, facial hair and a dark colored hoodie had left that home in a white pickup. Efforts to locate that individual were unsuccessful.
On Jan. 1, there was another report of a burglary in the 1900 block of South Riverton Road. Deputies located tire tracks and shoe prints that matched what they found at the first location. Then in Jan. 4, they received photos taken from a trail camera in the 7400 block of North Tobacco Road and a resident stated that a man came onto that property asking about turkey hunting. An email from another victim on North Tobacco Road showed that a white truck with a man fitting the description from the other reports had come and knocked on the door. The woman at the home told authorities that by the time she got up to look, someone was knocking at her back door, then turning the knob and attempting get in. She stated that she looked through the blinds and saw the man. When he saw her, he got back in his truck and drove away.
Sheriff investigators shower a photo lineup to the victims and they all identified Willhite as the person who came on their property. One of the victims stated he was the one she saw at her bedroom door while she was in bed.
In court, he was told of the potential charges and bond was left at $25,750. He’s expected back in court next Wednesday to hear any formal charges the state may file.
The Kansas Department of Corrections website shows that Willhite is on parole for convictions for burglary and possession of drugs out of Chautauqua County. He was paroled here in Reno County back on Oct. 10.
Two of four teens make court appearances in stolen weapons case
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Two of four teens arrested by police for allegedly being involved with stolen weapons were back in court Wednesday for the formal reading of charges. set
19-year-old Javiar Edwin Garcia is free on bond and appeared before the judge where he was told he was being charged with felony theft and conspiracy to commit a theft. 18-year-old Drake Lindsay was still in jail and appeared via-video where he was told of the charges against him. That includes felony theft, conspiracy to commit a theft and criminal damage to property.
They were arrested along with 17-year-old Dayton Justus and 18-year-old Zachary Curtis Cox
The guns were taken from a family member of one of the suspects and included several weapons. According the complaint, the weapons taken included two handguns, a BB pistol, an AK-47-mill rifle, a Topper 48 shotgun, a Champion Shotgun and a Crossman firearm.
There was also some indication that they may have been attempting to sell the weapons.
The case against Garcia and Lindsay will now move to a waiver-status docket on February 4.
Hearing date set for HCF inmate in rape and sexual battery
Stumper
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A preliminary hearing for a 28-year-old Hutchinson Correctional Facility inmate charged with rape and aggravated sexual battery has been set.
The hearing for Steven Stumpner is set for Feb. 5, according to Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton. The charges stem from an incident occurring on July 17 of last year. The state alleges he forced a contract worker for the prison into sex without her consent. This occurred at the central unit of the prison according to Stanton.
Stumpner is serving time in prison for two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of theft and battery of a correction’s officer. The first four counts are for crimes in Johnson County, while the final conviction is out of Pawnee County.