HUTCHINSON, Kan. – After District Judge Trish Rose made a ruling in the civil case for a 25-year-old Hutchinson man convicted of attempted manufacture of methamphetamine and attempted 2nd degree murder, the state did appeal that decision and they made arguments to an appeals court panel on Wednesday.
Paul Stotts had argued is his civil filing that he has ineffective counsel before and during trial and at the appellate level, while the state argues there’s no basis for either.
His main argument was never being told by his attorney of a plea offer from the state that would have reduced his sentence to 162-months. Judge Trish Rose agreed with the defendant and ordered the state again offer a plea agreement to Stotts.
Stotts is serving roughly 25-years after being convicted of attempted 2nd degree murder for crashing his vehicle into another, badly injuring the other driver. The state says it was intentional, while Stotts maintains it was an accident. He was also found guilty of having items consistent with a meth lab inside his vehicle, two counts of aggravated battery, and several counts of flee and elude. The case has to do with the 24-minute high speed chase through both South Hutchinson and Hutchinson which ultimately ended with the crash on K-61 back on March 26th of 2007.
What will happen with the appeal won’t be known for awhile, but we’ll keep you informed.