RENO COUNTY — A Kansas man charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy and four counts of failing to register as a sex offender was bound over for trial Monday in Reno County.

Richard Dean McHenry, 55, Hutchinson, is accused in the case where the victim testified about the relationship between the two started when she was 14, but changed over time.

His demeanor toward her also changed. The victim alleges the sexual encounters occurred numerous times while the two shared a home near Pleasantview.

The state only charged McHenry with two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, but the victim stated that some of the things he demanded that she do occurred on a daily basis.

She testified that during the last encounter when she came to get some of her belongings at his home, she was kicked and then sexually assaulted.
If he’s convicted of the sodomy charges, McHenry would be considered a persistent sex offender, meaning he could get double the sentence.
McHenry has a prior conviction for aggravated criminal sodomy for a case from 2000 in Jefferson County and is required to register as a sex offender, but again has failed to do so at least four times.

He will be arraigned on the charges December 5.

RENO COUNTY – A Kansas teen died in an accident just before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Reno County.

The Reno County Sheriff’s Department reported an early model Ford F250 pickup driven by Braden J. Gates, 19, of Rural Mt. Hope, was traveling in the 14700 Block of East Maple Grove Road just east of Worthing Road.

The pickup rolled and Gates was ejected. He was flown to Wesley Medical Center where he died.

Gates was not wearing a seat belt, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A former U.S. Army explosives expert has admitted in federal court that he illegally possessed grenades that authorities say were among a cache of explosives found in his Kansas home.

Forty-two-year-old John Panchalk of Overland Park pleaded guilty Monday in Kansas City, Kansas, to possessing two M-67 fragmentation grenades unregistered to him.

Federal prosecutors say they’ll recommend probation.

Panchalk caught investigators’ attention in May when police responding to a report of a stolen vehicle at a Parkville, Missouri, self-storage site found storage trailers vandalized. One of them, later linked to Panchalk, contained explosives that included ammunition canisters, blasting caps, C-4 explosives and military grenade simulators.

A search of Panchalk’s home uncovered 38 pounds of C-4 explosive, detonation cord, blasting caps, grenade simulators, incendiary devices and the two fragmentation grenades.

GEARY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Geary County are investigating a teenager for fraud and burglary.

On November 23, police arrested Zhuan Armory Itarell Soyke, 18, Junction City, at 820 S. Washington St., Room 223 (Budget Host Motel, according to Police Captain Keith Fitzgerald.

“There are multiple cases where we had vehicle burglaries and things of that nature, an officer developed tips and leads and upon doing follow-ups they determined Soyke was the suspect.”

Soyke faces 11 counts including suspicion of criminal use of a financial card and identity fraud.

He has status hearing in Geary County District Court on December 8.

MANHATTAN -A public input session on the future of the “Indians” as the mascot at Manhattan High School is scheduled for Wednesday at Rezac Auditorium.

Fourteen schools in Kansas have the mascot name “Indians,” making that the fourth most popular in the state.

The Indian mascot has been a tradition at Manhattan schools for nearly 75 years.

A faculty member who is also a member of the Pottawatomie Tribe created the current logo design in Manhattan.

At the conclusion of the formal presentations , all members of the audience who wish to address the Board will have 3 minutes to speak and will be timed by the Clerk of the Board. After the final person speaks, the Board will adjourn the meeting.

The Board of Education will meet again on December 7 at 6:30pm to finalize a decision.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Residential customers of Kansas Gas Service will pay an additional $1.25 a month under a settlement agreement approved by state utility regulators.

The Kansas Corporation Commission on Tuesday signed off on the deal that increases Kansas Gas Service’s revenue by $15.5 million. That includes the $7.4 million Gas System Reliability Surcharge, which is currently being recovered from customers as a separate line item.

Kansas Gas Service had proposed a $4.54 monthly increase that would have generated $20 million more than what the commission approved.

The utility withdrew a request for an alternative ratemaking mechanism that would reset rates each year.

WASHINGTON -The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) reported it has completed its initial review of a petition to list the Lesser Prairie Chicken as an endangered species and will move on to the next phase of review.  See more here.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service would try to list the Lesser Prairie Chicken as an endangered species, said Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins.”

“Just this past July, FWS withdrew the Lesser Prairie Chicken from a federal list of threatened species. They are simply ignoring the fact that the bird’s population has increased by 50 percent in recent years. I continue to oppose any federal efforts to list the Lesser Prairie Chicken as an endangered species and I will work the incoming administration to ensure state-led volunteer conservation practices remain the best approach for success.”