Haven teen busted for sexual exploitation of a child
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — An 18-year-old rural Haven man appeared via-video from the Reno County Jail on a single count of sexual exploitation of a child.
Trenton Knepp is accused of showing nude photos of his ex-girlfriend to others after the two broke up. The girl telling Haven Police that she was coerced into sending him the photos through her cell phone. The arrest of the teen occurring on Monday.
Knepp being 18 had no past criminal history, so Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen lowered the bond from $20,000 to $5,000 dollars.
He’ll be back in court next Wednesday for the formal reading of charges against him.
Abuse of a child trial underway in District Court
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The trial for a a local man on four counts of abuse of a child got under way this afternoon in front of Judge Trish Rose.
Bradley Cole is accused of causing severe bruising on their bodies, one a 3-year-old and the other, a 6-year-old. Two of the charges are alternate counts to the other two, meaning he can only be sentenced on two counts. The state alleges cruel and inhuman corporal punishment in the case. Cole was apparently asked to watch the kids by their mother while she and her sister were at work. The alleged crimes occurring back on August 1, 2013.
The two young boys took the stand, but one had trouble with the difference between a lie and the truth. That child who was three at the time did say that it was Brad who caused the bruising. The other child blamed his mother and brother for his bruising. He is now seven, but was six at the time. The defense didn’t cross exam either of the boys.
Also in the stand was the mother of the two alleged victims who testified that neither of her boys had bruising prior to them being left with Cole.
Prior to testimony beginning, the two sides gave their opening statements. The state alleges dramatic bruising and believes it had to be Cole because he was the only one with the kids while their mother and her sister were at work. But the defense argues that the statements of the two victims is all over the map and says even the investigating officer zig-zags his report. They question whether there may have been neglect involved with the mother and sister.
The trial is expected to continue into Wednesday.
Hutch man charged with drug distribution scheduled for hearing Wednesday
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 36-year-old Hutchinson charged with being in possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of drug paraphernalia is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday.
Ulysses Williams Jr. was arrested after he was pulled over in the 300 block of East Sherman on Oct. 31, 2014. When officers made contact, they discovered he had an outstanding warrant and he was taken into custody. Officers then alleged that they found three individually packaged zip-close bags of a crystal substance in his pocket weighing about a quarter of a gram each. They also say they found a digital scale and more packaging materials in the vehicle. Where he was stopped is within 1,000 feet of Hutchinson Middle School-7.
He also faces charges of possession of meth and drug paraphernalia from an earlier case.
The hearing is scheduled in front of Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen, however as with any criminal case, all hearings are subject to change.