Suspect in officer-involved shooting sentenced to prison
Matthews
HUTCHINSON, KS. — The 29-year-old man wounded by a Hutchinson police officer back in November and entered “guilty” pleas to two of the three charges against him was sentenced Tuesday to a year and seven months in prison.
Justin Matthews was found guilty of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, that being a knife and criminal threat against his mother. The state as part of the plea agreement, dropped the charge of aggravated assault against his mom.
The defense sought probation with the state objecting and stating in court that District Attorney Keith Schroeder had ruled that Police Lt. Josh Radloff was justified in the shooting. Judge McCarville agreed with the state and denied the motion for probation and handed down the 19-month sentence.
Radloff was the first to arrive at the scene that day and confronted Matthews, who charged at him with a knife. The officer then fired, wounding Matthews who was then taken to Via Cristi St. Francis Regional Medical Center for treatment of the gunshot wound to his right shoulder. This occurred at a home on 300 East 10th, back on Nov. 10, 2014.
Trial in solicitation case underway
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Testimony for a 55-year-old Hutchinson man charged with electronic solicitation and aggravated violation of the offender registration act is underway with the state presenting their case.
Steven Peterman was arrested back on Feb. 12, 2014 when he was allegedly waiting to pick up an underage girl in the parking lot of the Hutchinson Mall. He is accused texting via cell phone with Sheriff Detective Diana Skomal, who posed as the 15-year-old. He allegedly went to the mall to pick her up with the intention of assisting her in running away from home, but also to teach her sex.
Testimony Tuesday came from two sheriff detectives, Mitch Harris who told the jury that while working as the compliance officer for the county, he had been tipped off that a registered sex offender, Steven Peterman may have a phone that was not reported to his office. They traced the number and came back as belonging to Craig Child’s. He says he had his colleague, Diana Skomal call the number and ask for Craig. The person on the other end told her she had the wrong number. She then began the texting him eventually convincing him that she was 15 and was looking to get away from her mother. That led to the setup of the meeting at the mall.
Skomal also took the stand and the state showed the jury the text messages between the two.
The state and the defense also agreed to stipulated facts over Peterman’s previous criminal history which included convictions for two counts of attempted rape and electronic solicitation of a child from a case in 2001. Because of those convictions, he’s required to register as a sex offender and that includes notifying the sheriff’s office of any new electronic devices such as a cell phone and that cell phone number. The state claims he failed to do so.
The trial is expected to continue Wednesday.
Suspect in stabbing incident expected in court Wednesday
Sims
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 32-year-old man arrested as the suspect in a recent stabbing incident is expected back in court Wednesday for a status hearing.
Drew David Sims was arrested for suspicion of aggravated battery for allegedly stabbing 30-year-old Brandon Zeh after the two got into an argument over money.
It was back on Feb. 23 around 9:30 a.m. when officers were dispatched to the area of 12th & Monroe for the report of the stabbing. They found Zeh with a stab wound to his chest. He was transported to an area hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
Sims has a bond set at $50,000.
It was just back on Feb. 6 that Sims was granted community corrections for crimes that included two counts of theft, forgery and giving a worthless check. Those crimes go back to July of last year. But, he has other convictions that go back to 2001 and 2007, that includes flee and elude and theft.