Hutch woman accused of aggravated battery makes court appearance
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 44-year-old woman has been formally charged with four counts of aggravated battery by the state.
Samantha Sprecher appeared via video from the Reno County Jail and was told of the charges. She indicated to the judge that she kind of understood the charges. That wasn’t good enough for Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen. He had earlier assigned her an attorney with the Regional Public Defender’s Office and decided to have her appear again Thursday morning to allow time for an attorney to explain the charges.
She’s accused of intentionally ramming her vehicle into another with four people inside. This occurred in the 1700 block of East Blanchard back on May 13.
One of the victims, 25-year-old Joshua Cunningham, suffered back pain as a result of the incident and was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. According to police, Sprecher was angry at the four and didn’t want them at her residence any more.
She’s known to law enforcement with convictions for two counts of being in possession of opiates from 2013 and forgery in 2010.
The appearance Thursday morning will be at 9:30.
Hearing in stabbing case scheduled to resume Thursday
Sims
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The preliminary hearing for a 32-year-old man charged with aggravated battery for allegedly stabbing a 30-year-old man after the two got into an argument is scheduled to resume Thursday afternoon.
Judge Joe McCarville granted a recess in the case against Drew Sims because the victim was not present at the last hearing.
Sims in accused of stabbing Brandon Zeh back on Feb. 23. Officers and EMS were dispatched to the area of 12th & Monroe and found Zeh with a stab wound to his chest. He was transported to an area hospital and underwent emergency surgery. But, in testimony at the last hearing, it was determined that the stabbing actually occurred at Zeh’s apartment on West 11th.
Apparently Sims and his fiancee started to drive the victim to the hospital, but decided they needed to call for an ambulance.
Back on Feb. 6, Sims had been granted community corrections for two counts of theft, forgery and giving a worthless check. Those crimes go back to July of last year.
Local woman formally charged in flee and elude case
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 31-year-old woman accused of trying to elude law enforcement while having two kids in her vehicle was back in court Wednesday for the formal reading of charges.
Kendra Nichols is charged with felony flee and elude, two counts of endangerment of a child, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, possession of stolen property, that being lottery tickets. She’s also charged with driving while suspended.
Police attempted to stop her during the noon hour on May 11 after she allegedly tried to cash a stolen lottery ticket at a Pic-Quik. She’s then alleged to have eluded officers, but once again in court, she denied that she tried to elude them saying she left the convenience store before police even arrived.
With the formal charges filed, her case moves to a future waiver-status docket.
Local man formally charged in aggravated assault case
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A local man arrested by police early Monday has been formally charged with three counts of aggravated assault, stalking and violation of a protection from abuse order.
Jason Orem is alleged to have entered a home in the 600 block of West 13th early Monday morning for his mother who apparently has a protection from abuse order against him. That led to an argument with a man who was a friend of the resident of the home with him pulling a knife and threatening the three in the home.
Police spotted him in the 500 block of West 13th and he was taken into custody.
He’s jailed on a bond of $21,500 and his case now moves to a waiver-status docket in front of Judge Joe McCarville on June 10.