Appeals Court remands case over failure to make inquiry
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 32-year-old man sentenced to roughly 28-years in prison will see his sentence come back to District Court because Judge Tim Chambers said no to allowing him to represent himself at sentencing
Apparently Deron McCoy Jr.. convicted of most of the counts against him involving a standoff with police wanted to be his own attorney during the sentencing hearing. Judge Chambers said no, but apparently did so without what the Kansas Court of Appeals in a recent opinion says was not a proper inquiry in the matter. That according to Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton.
Judge Chambers had also denied a motion for a new trial and judgment of acquittal in the case and any downward departure.
The case centers on domestic dispute when McCoy and the mother of his child were arguing over whether he would give her their child, but also whether she would enter the motel room.
McCoy was staying in a room at the Budget Inn Motel at 4th & Washington. After repeated attempts to contact him, police officials decided to rush into the room, and McCoy allegedly had a gun pointed in the direction of a woman he calls his sister, and is also accused of using the baby as a shield in front of his head when officers entered. He denies that he ever held the baby to shield himself. That was back on March 24, 2011. He was convicted of kidnapping and a number of charges of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, aggravated endangerment of a child, criminal possession of a firearm and possession of opiates.
No word on when the case might come back to District Court.
Alleged drug dealer scheduled for arraignment on Friday
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — One of two men arrested in a cocaine distribution case is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges against him Friday.
Malachi Lewis is charged with the sale of cocaine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and unlawful distribution of a controlled substance using a communications device. He had earlier waived his right to a preliminary hearing and entered “not guilty” pleas.
It was on Dec. 27, when the alleged crimes occurred. He was arrested along with 20-year-old Elijah Metheny. They alleged sold about 3.5 grams using a communications device. Drug Enforcement officers apparently had text Lewis to make the transactions.
Methany entered pleas in three cases against him including the one with Lewis and is scheduled to be sentenced next month.
Sentencing hearing in drug distribution case scheduled for Friday
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After the sentencing hearing for a 42-year-old man convicted in a 2012 case involving the distribution of drugs has been continued, its again scheduled for Friday afternoon.
Mark Wells was arrested on Nov. 8, 2012, after the Reno County Drug Unit served a search warrant on a 2012 Ford Focus. Wells had pulled up to a residence in the 1000 block of North Washington and, as they searched the trunk, allegedly found several zip-close bags of methamphetamine, about 400 grams all together. There were also additional bags used for packaging. Wells allegedly had a glass pipe on him with residue in his pocket.
According to the District Attorney docket, the case is scheduled for sentencing in front of Judge Trish Rose Friday afternoon.