HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 47-year-old Wichita man managed to get his bond lowered while making a first appearance Thursday morning in front of Reno County District Judge Joe McCarville.
Reno County Sheriff Officers on Tuesday evening were called to the Cheney Lake area for a report of a disturbance. Allegedly, Charles Lynn Gray had picked up the victim in Wichita and drove to the lake. She alleges that she became uncomfortable with him because he was using drugs. At some point, she lost consciousness and when she woke up, she didn’t know where she was.
According to Reno County Sheriff Captain Darrian Campbell, Gray wouldn’t let the woman use her cell phone. According to statements made in court, he threw her cell phone out the window of the vehicle and would not let her call her mom to let her know where she was and that she was OK. He also reportedly wouldn’t take her anywhere and eventually drove off leaving her. She was able to get to someone who had a phone and call for help.
When deputies arrived, they were able to make contact with the alleged victim and Gray. They ended up doing a search of his vehicle and allegedly found the drugs some considered to be a seller’s quantity.
The alleged victim was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment, more as a caution than anything else.
This incident occurred on the west side of Cheney Lake near the Reno/Kingman County line, in the Hobie Beach area.
Charges against Gray include criminal restraint, distribution of drugs, possession of drugs, no tax stamp and personal use drug paraphernalia.
While appearing via video from the Reno County Jail, Judge Joe McCarville told him of the potential charges. While discussing bond, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Davidson noted that Gray has a substantial criminal history. He served time in prison for convictions out of Sedgwick County for robbery, burglary, theft and aggravated escape from custody. Despite that, Judge McCarville agreed to lower the bond from $19,000 to $15,000.
Gray will be back in court on July 30, or whenever the state files formal charges.