After both defendants in a drug case waived their preliminary hearing to give them time to consider a plea offer by the state, one has rejected that offer.
21-year-old Dwayne Lewis of Wichita and 24-year-old Rayland Brown of Hutchinson are both charged with possession of crack cocaine and marijuana, both with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to package.
The state had earlier indicated that they would amend the complaint against the two upping the severity level on the possession of cocaine charge, changing the marijuana charge to having a form of synthetic marijuana with intent to distribute and adding two new charges of being in possession of two different prescription type drugs. The defendants had the option to plead out, meaning the state wouldn’t amend the complaint, leaving it as is. They had until arraignment in their cases to make a decision. Lewis was arraigned Friday and declined the offer.
The case centers on a Hutchinson Police Officer making a traffic stop in the 500 block of East 1st. That allegedly led to the discovery of crack cocaine and marijuana, both allegedly in a distribution amount.
Brown has another case pending where he’s charged with the sale of cocaine going back to February 27. He also waived the hearing in that case.
Both men are under supervision here in Reno County for previous drug cases and face probation violation hearings in those cases.
Brown has convictions for sale of drugs, being in possession of a precursor for the manufacture of meth, possession of opiates and no drug tax stamp. Lewis has previous convictions for the sale of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and no tax stamp.