Great Bend man arrested again in Reno County on meth charges
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 38-year-old Great Bend man is jailed here in Reno County after he allegedly made a drug sale at the Kwik Shop in Haven. Apparently Eduardo Nunez parked at the store and went inside. DEU officers located a red and white can and found a baggie with a crystal-like substance inside that is believed to be methamphetamine. It weighed about 31 grams. A large amount of cash was found inside the console of the vehicle Nunez was driving.
Potential charges include possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell and no tax stamp. In court, the bond was left at $40,000. He is expected back in court next Wednesday to hear formal charges.
It was about a month ago that he was arrested here in Reno County on drug charges and an outstanding warrant after a traffic stop.
Charges in the earlier case include possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, possession of hydrocodone, no tax stamp, driving while suspended, and no proof of insurance. He also had an outstanding warrant out of Barton County.
He was stopped at Arlington and Halstead Road, south of Yoder, by a Reno County Sheriff Deputy for going 84 in a 55 mph zone.
In this latest case, he was believed to have been coming from Wichita and was being observed by the Reno County Drug Unit.
Hearing on state’s motion in multiple burglary case set for Thursday
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The man suspected of committing 19 local burglaries back in the early morning hours of May 14 of last year is scheduled to be in court Thursday over the state’s motion to include prior bad acts evidence when the case goes to trial next week.
Joseph Paul Jones Jr. is charged with a total of 45 charges, including the original 19 counts of burglary. The state added two additional felony counts, which includes felony theft and felony criminal damage to property. The rest are various misdemeanor charges of criminal damage and theft.
The state alleges that, between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., 20 local businesses were entered by prying open doors or breaking the glass windows with a crow bar. Jones allegedly cut the telephone lines on several of the businesses before making entry. During the investigation, police found surveillance video of the suspect entering Papa Murphy’s Pizza located in the State Fair Shopping Center at 2420 N. Main. Pictures were taken from the video and sent to his parole officer in Missouri. That officer testified at the preliminary hearing that it’s a high probability that it was Jones involved in the local burglaries.
Judge Trish Rose will decide whether to allow the state to present evidence of crimes Jones committed in Missouri and other places.
The trial is scheduled to begin next Tuesday.
Parolee formally charged in aggravated burglary case
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 36-year-old Partridge man jailed last week after he allegedly entered a home and other properties without permission is scheduled for a status hearing on Wednesday.
Lucas Willhite is now charged with two counts of aggravated burglary and burglary. According to the complaint the state filed, the charges all occurred on Dec. 31.
Bond remains at $25,750.
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.
Hearing in drug distribution case continued for plea negotiations
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 35-year-old parolee jailed after drugs were found in a search of his residence was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday and everyone showed up. But, they ended up continuing the case because of plea negotiations.
Bruce Alexander II is charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, criminal possession of a firearm, defacing, defacing identification marks on a firearm and personal use drug paraphernalia.
A drug-related search was served on his home back on Oct. 22 and officers say they found new and used packaging materials, digital scales with crystal residue, a glass pipe with burnt residue, a Benelli 12-gauge shotgun with the serial number filed off and two grams of methamphetamine.
Bruce remains jailed on an $18,000 bond and the case is being placed back on a future waiver-status docket to see how the negotiations are going, or if an agreement has been reached.