HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 53-year-old Hutchinson man convicted of two counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer was denied a downward, or durational, departure when he was sentenced Friday by Judge Joe McCarville.
James L. Paige entered “no contest” pleas to the two crimes after he 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. This incident occurred in August of last year.
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 occurred 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. There is some question as to whether that has been paid, but the defense says the money to Central Bank & Trust has been paid.
Judge Joe McCarville went along with the plea agreement in that he would allow the sentences to run concurrent to each other and the two cases concurrent for a total sentence of three years and seven months in prison.
Paige has a criminal history score of “A” with 25 prior convictions, including five person felonies. Those convictions include aggravated assault, criminal threat, battery, possession of drugs, robbery, two convictions for burglary, unlawful possession of firearms and criminal damage to property.
Judge McCarville told the defendant, “you got a theme going here.” He said you’re lucky the police chief talked the city council into purchasing better tasers, otherwise they would have had to shoot you.
Paige did say he was sorry for his actions and says when he uses drugs and alcohol he doesn’t make good choices.