By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
WAKEENEY — John Reeder, former president of Trego County USD 208 schools, waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday and entered into a plea agreement.
According to the plea agreement, Reeder, also a Trego County appraiser, pleaded guilty to one count of marijuana distribution and one count of possession of methamphetamine. The plea agreement calls for 15 months “non-prison sanction” on the distribution charge and 11 months on the possession charge, with sentences to run consecutively. The agreement also calls for 36 months of supervision by community corrections. A non-prison sanction allows for the possibility of a defendant being placed on probation or under the supervision of community corrections.
According to the Kansas Attorney General’s office, a non-prison sanction is allowed per statute if the court finds an individual can be admitted to an appropriate treatment program or if “the non-prison sanction will serve the community safety interests by promoting offender reformation.”
Sentencing is scheduled for 1 p.m. April 8, at which time the plea agreement will be finalized or the court has the authority to impose an alternate sentence.
Reeder, 52, who resigned his school board post immediately following his Dec. 20 arrest, was represented in court by Michael Holland II, Russell, while Kimberly King served as special assistant attorney general for the prosecution.
Reeder remains free on a community corrections bond.