A 37-year-old inmate accused of attempted second degree, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and trafficking contraband in a penal institution was found guilty by a Reno County jury after less then two hours of deliberation
The jury got the case against Dejaun Wilkerson around 3:30 p-m, Wednesday after both sides gave their closing arguments.
Wilkerson was charged for attacking William Kendall, a former sergeant at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility Central Unit back on July 6, 2010. Kendall suffered severe injuries when Wilkerson beat him with his hands and feet. The officer had to retire from his position because of those injuries. That included a busted jaw, broken nose and bumps on his head and shoulder and a laceration to the back of the head. One of the bumps to the head was behind his ear and has effected his hearing.
The defense believes there was insufficient evidence to support that Wilkerson committed the crimes considering there are no witnesses that saw it happened. Defense Attorney Alice Osburn argued that even though blood matching the victim was found on the defendant’s sweats, it could have come from one of the officers. She says no blood was found on the shoes Wilkerson was wearing. But, Assistant District Attorney Daniel Gilligan contends that Wilkerson did a lot of walking after the incident and any blood could have been wiped away.
Osburn also stated that there was no swelling of her clients hands and doesn’t believe there was any “intent” to kill anyone. She had asked for a judgment of a acquittal after the state rested. That was denied by Judge Tim Chambers.
Gilligan argued in his closing that Wilkerson was the only inmate free in that cell block at the time and is seen walking toward where the incident happened and then back shortly after. They also found a shank in his cell hidden is some of his legal papers.
When sentencing occurs next month, Wilkerson could be looking at a substantial sentenced added to what he is already serving. He is currently serving time for 1st degree murder and attempted 1st degree murder for crimes in Sedgwick County going back to September 13, 2001.