HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The jury trial for one of the suspects in two home invasion cases from last year got underway Tuesday in front of a jury consisting of 11 women and 1 man.
Nineteen-year-old Dakota Anderson is charged with aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated robbery, one count of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated burglary.
On the stand Tuesday afternoon was one of the victims, a 92-year-old World War II veteran who told of being awaken by three men one who hit him in the head with a gun and then forced him to lay face down on his bed with a gun to the back of his head.
He says he was then robbed of a number of items including his war metals including his purple heart and gold and silver metals, $450.00 in cash, his van and some of his late wife’s jewelry.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Maxwell during his opening statement noted that the items taken from this victim were found in the residence where Anderson was living. The defense during their opening indicated that there is some question as to whether that was actually Anderson’s residence. Plus says Defense Attorney Donald Snapp, others had access to that home including having keys to it.
It was just two weeks ago that Fredrick Lemons Jr. involved in the other home invasion where a local man was beaten and robbed was convicted as charged. He’s now convicted of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, two counts of aggravated battery, criminal threat and two counts of criminal damage.
Anderson is also accused of being involved that home invasion as well.
A third defendant, 19-year-old Jordan Leffel waived his right to a preliminary hearing faces a total of eight counts, including aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated robbery and three counts of aggravated burglary. That includes the taking of cash, cars, electronics and firearms.
A juvenile, Brendan Jones had his charges heard in juvenile court.
The two home invasions occurring in the 3600 block of Rockwood Dr. and the other in the 3400 block of North Waldron, the first occurring on May 4 and the second on May 14.
The trial is expected to continue into Wednesday.