By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

In brief court appearances Monday, July 18, Holliann Marie Stramel, 24, and Trevor Jay Calvin, 27, plead not guilty to all counts stemming from a hit-and-run incident that resulted in the death of Ellis County resident John J. Befort, 67, on July 18, 2015.

Stramel and Calvin appeared in person during the proceedings – the first appearance for both since a preliminary hearing found probable cause in the case on May 4 of this year.

Judge Glenn Braun presided over today’s arraignments that lasted less than 30 minutes, with both defendants declining to have the charges against them read.

Now the case will proceed to a jury trial, to be preceded by a pretrial that will be scheduled within 180 days.

Before the trial commences, Tom Drees, Ellis County attorney, said he intends to file a motion to consolidate the cases and Paul Oller, Calvin’s attorney, said he intends to object to the motion.

Oller also informed the court he intends to file a motion to suppress evidence and a Jackson-Denno motion. That motion calls for a hearing outside the presence of a jury to determine the admissibility of Calvin’s statements to police officers.

Calvin is charged with two counts: Concealing or altering evidence of a crime and impeding or obstructing an officer’s duty.

Stramel is being charged on three counts: Failure to stop and render aid at a fatality accident, concealing or altering evidence of a crime, 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.