Hutchinson man charged in aggravated assault case
A 26-year-old Hutchinson man is jailed facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal discharge of a firearm at or in an occupied dwelling, possession of stolen property and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
Christopher A. VanWye is alleged to have threatened a man during an altercation back on December 15, 2014. He’s also alleged to have fired the weapon in a home in the 800 block of West 14th on that same date. Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Maxwell noted to the court that the bullet went through a wall. He also told the court that VanWye put the gun at a man’s head while threatening him.
The state also alleges that the weapon, an Astra 357 revolver was stolen from another individual and that at the very least, VanWye was in possession of stolen property. At the time of his arrest, he was also allegedly in possession of marijuana.
In court, VanWye was told of the potential charges, but there’s some question if he understood what the state was alleging. He told Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen that he has mental health issues and couldn’t recall what had happened and why he’s being charged with these crimes. He asked that he receive some sort of mental health examination at the same time admitting he has a drug problem.
Judge McEwen decided to set a status hearing for March 25, so that an attorney could be present to help him understand the charges and potential penalties.
Bond in the case is set at $15,000.
Pretty Prairie man faces drug distribution charges
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 33-year-old Pretty Prairie man was taken to jail Friday night on drug distribution charges.
Julian Sung Price was jailed for potential charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute and no drug tax stamp.
It started with a South Hutchinson Police Officer spotting a vehicle traveling 54 miles per hour in a 45 mile zone in that city. The tag lamp on the vehicle was also out, so the officer made a traffic stop at K-96 and Mills Ave. The officer says he could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The officer then began searching the vehicle and says he found a total of 178 grams of suspected marijuana along with $3,474 in cash.
In court, Price requested a reduction of his bond, but the state objected citing the large amount of marijuana and cash found, plus his prior criminal history. Price was convicted of aggravated battery, the sale of drugs and aggravated assault for cases out of Saline County. Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen agreed with the state and denied the reduction meaning the bond of $53,500 dollars will stay in place.
The judge set a status hearing in the case of March 25, to give the state time to file formal charges, however if the charges are filed prior to that, he could make another court appearance at an earlier time.
Hutchinson woman arrested for selling meth to Drug Unit detective
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 22-year-old Hutchinson woman was arrested by a Reno County Drug Unit detective after she allegedly sold him drugs.
It happened Sunday evening when the detective met with Alexa Rashelle Baugh at a convenience store in the 1400 block of East 4th.
The detective apparently set up the controlled buy using a communications device to do so. At around 8 p.m., he met Baugh where he allegedly purchased a small amount of a crystal substance, about 1.3 grams of suspected methamphetamine. She was taken to jail on a $27,000 bond and made an initial court appearance Monday morning where she was told of the potential charges.
Bond was left the same and her next court appearance will be on March 25, or whenever the state files formal charges.
Hutchinson woman arrested for stabbing incident on Saturday
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 28-year-old Hutchinson woman made a court appearance over a stabbing incident over the weekend.
Ashley Miles faces a single charge of aggravated battery for allegedly stabbing her brother during a domestic dispute on Saturday. Her brother suffered a single wound to the abdomen according to police. He was taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment and released. However, there may have also been a puncture wound to his leg, but didn’t require any treatment.
In court, she denied that she stabbed anyone and asked for a reduction of the $10,000 bond which was denied.
Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen set a status hearing in the case for March 25.