Hutch man enters pleas in robbery and burglary case
McCroy
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After a 26-year-old Hutchinson man was found by the Reno County Sheriff on outstanding warrants including not appearing for hearings in a robbery and aggravated burglary case, he appeared in court Friday where he entered “guilty” pleas to those two charges.
Patrick McCroy admitted to breaking into a Hutchinson apartment and beating the occupant, wanting items from his apartment.
It started on July 1, of 2013 when the victim says he heard a loud knock on his apartment door around 11 p-m. He looked through the peep hole and could partially see the head of a man outside the apartment, but couldn’t see exactly who it was, so he cracked open the door to get a better look and it was then that McCroy allegedly forced his way into the apartment and began beating the alleged victim with a stick. He was demanding a television that he claimed belonged to his sister, but also allegedly wanted pills, the victims phone, money, computers and other electronic items.
The victim says he was beaten at first with the large stick which he described as being 3 and half foot long, then when the stick broke, the defendant allegedly used his fist and beat him some more. He stated that he was able to escape at one point and ran to the neighbors home yelling, “help, I’m being robbed.”
McCroy was also on corrections for convictions for obstructing the legal process, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. He waived a hearing on a motion to revoke his corrections.
Judge Trish Rose set a sentencing hearing for July 17 and they will also hand down disposition for the community corrections violation at that time.
McCroy has other felony crimes including criminal possession of a firearm, drugs, burglary and criminal damage to property.
Etric Jones granted corrections in indecent liberties case
Etric Jones
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A man who entered a “no contest” plea to a single count of aggravated incident liberties with a child was granted a departure sentence as recommended by both the state and the defense.
Judge Trish Rose granted Etric Jones II, three years community corrections on a nearly five year or 59 month sentence. He was found guilty of the single count by Judge Trish Rose for having a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl, although in court he still denies he sexually assaulted or raped her.
Jones, who was 18 at the time of the crime, was charged with forcing the girl into inappropriate sexual relations. She claims that she told him no and to stop, while Jones claims she never said that. The two are said to have left school together, parked in an alley and things escalated from there.
The victim didn’t speak, but her mother did through an interpreter and told the court that what he did, damaged the family and her daughter. She told the court that her daughter told her she was raped. The victims sister spoke briefly and told the court that her sister isn’t the same.
District Attorney Keith Schroeder told the court that victim in her statement as part of the presentence investigation says what happened “changed her forever.”
Attorney Carl Maughan argued for the departure saying his client has a good job, is engaged and has no real criminal history.
Judge Trish Rose went along with the recommendation of the two sides and granted the downward departure to community corrections.
Man arrested on aggravated assault and drug charges makes court appearance
A 49-year-old man was taken to jail Thursday evening after he allegedly threatened another man with a knife at an apartment in the 400 block of East 4th.
Gary Chaney was arrested for aggravated assault, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. In court, he told Judge Joe McCarville that the claim that he threatened a man with a knife was a lie.
34-year-old Justin Whitt made the allegation of the threat around 7 p.m. Thursday evening.
Judge Joe McCarville set the case for a status hearing next Wednesday and left the bond at $13,000.