By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

Holliann Stramel, 24, Hays, was in court Friday afternoon on a second bond hearing stemming from a alleged hit-and-run accident that killed John Befort on July 18.

After failing to meet the requirements of her original bonded release, Ellis County Attorney Thomas Drees argued today that full-time tracking and alcohol monitoring be ordered and administered by Community Corrections.

Stramel’s attorney, Ian Clark of Wichita, was not opposed.

“I think she is going to comply to every order of this court,” he said. “I don’t think she is a public safety concern.”

Clark also said he felt she is not a flight risk, but her mother, Karen Stramel, testified in the proceeding that she felt otherwise.

“She has stated very clearly that she will not stay with me or her father,” Karen Stramel said. “I don’t want to be involved in this bond anymore.”

Stramel put up the original bond for her daughter through a local bondsman.

Despite Holliann Stramel’s original bond being forfeited after failing to appear last week, District Judge Glenn Braun ordered the bond be reinstated and Stramel monitored through SOBERLINK, which will notify law enforcement if she leaves Ellis County or consumes alcohol.

While Stramel waits to be processed through Community Corrections, she will remain in the custody of the Ellis County Sheriff. That processing may take until Thursday.

Braun warned Stramel that after her processing, she must comply with every order of the court, including travel restrictions, no drug or alcohol use and no contact of any kind – including intermediary or electronic means – with Trevor Calvin, who was also charged today with allegedly helping Stramel cover up the incident.

Stramel will be responsible for the $12 daily charge for the monitoring.

Charges Filed in Case Friday; Stramel Faces Over 11 Years Incarceration

Charges in the case were also filed today in the District Court.

Stramel is being charged on three counts: failure to stop and render aid at a fatality accident, concealing/altering evidence of a crime/interference with law enforcement, and vehicular homicide.

The first two counts are felonies in Kansas and the third is a Class A misdemeanor.

Under Kansas sentencing guidelines the three counts together carry a punishment of 38 to 129 months in a state penitentiary, fines up to $402,500 and up to a year in county jail.

The case will proceed with a preliminary hearing – in order to determine if there is probable cause in the case – to be set a later date.