TOPEKA— The Supreme Court Friday affirmed Phoebe Shaylor’s conviction in Reno County District Court for failure to register as a drug offender under the Kansas Offender Registration Act.

Shaylor, 41, claimed she should not have been required to register because the requirement was imposed after her original conviction for manufacture of methamphetamine in 2002.

In 2007, the Legislature amended the law, imposing the requirement on persons convicted of unlawful manufacture of controlled substances or controlled substance analogs “unless the court makes a finding on the record that the manufacturing or attempting to manufacture such controlled substance was for such person’s personal use.”

Shaylor argued her conviction for failing to register violated the ex post facto clause of the United States Constitution, which prohibits Legislatures from retroactively punishing previously committed crimes. The principal issue for the court was whether registration requirement was punishment for the original manufacture of methamphetamine conviction. A divided Supreme Court held Shaylor failed to demonstrate that it was.

Writing for the majority, Justice Dan Biles noted under existing Kansas case-law regarding sex offenders that registration was a non-punitive civil regulatory requirement and not punishment. Based on that precedent, Biles continued, Shaylor needed to make a sufficient evidentiary showing in the district court to prove the prior case-law was inapplicable to drug offenders.

Since Shaylor didn’t do that and raised the issue for the first time on appeal, the majority held her constitutional challenge was not valid and affirmed her conviction.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man has been sentenced to probation for a hit-and-run that killed a U.S. Marine.

The Sedgwick County district attorney’s office says 27-year-old Dreu Wikle was sentenced Friday to two years of probation. He would serve three years in prison if he violates probation.

Wikle pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident.

The accident in May 2016 killed 31-year-old Grant Burris, of Haysville, a Purple Heart recipient who was checking the mail at his parents’ home when he was hit.

Witnesses told police the driver didn’t stop after hitting Burris, who served four tours in Iraq. He died 11 days after being hit.

Court documents say Wikle thought he hit a mail box but didn’t stop.

SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder scene and have identified the victim.

Just after 8 a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to 15th and Topeka Blvd. in Topeka after report of an unresponsive man later identified as 44-year-old Kenneth Leray Vetaw, according to a media release. He had wounds consistent with being shot. Authorities have not confirmed how he died.

An investigation determined Vetaw was injured in the 1400 Block of SW Harrison, left that area on foot and died where first responders found him.

No additional details were released. Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call police.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A top Democratic lawmaker says he is joining the crowded race to replace Republican Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback.

House Minority Leader Jim Ward of Wichita announced his candidacy Saturday. He had named former Democratic Party chairman Lee Kinch as his campaign treasurer earlier this week.

Brownback is serving his second term and is expected to leave office early to become U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

Ward was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 2002, and is the ranking Democrat on the House committee on Education.

Other Democrats in the race include former Wichita mayor Carl Brewer and former state representative Josh Svaty. GOP candidates include Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer.

SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated robbery and continue the search for two suspects.

Just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the area of SE 6th and Gilmore in Topeka after reports of an aggravated robbery and car theft, according to a media release.

A woman told police she had been parked inside her black 2008 Dodge Caliber when a white Mercury passenger car pulled up beside her.

Two white males, one armed with a handgun got out of the vehicle fired the gun and forced her from her car.  She was not injured. The suspects drove away in her car that had a temporary tag.

The suspects are described as white males. The first is 6-foot 2-inches tall and weighing approximately 250-pounds. He wore a black shirt, blue jeans and was armed with handgun.

The second suspect is described as skinny and wearing a multi-colored mask.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call police.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Six horses at a Finney County facility will be euthanized after becoming infected with equine infectious anemia.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture said in a news release Friday that it was contacted this month about a positive test for the disease. All the exposed horses were tested and five other horses tested positive. Because the disease isn’t curable, the animals will be euthanized.

The remaining horses at the facility will be observed and retested in 60 days. The facility is under quarantine.

EIA is most commonly spread by biting flies and ticks. It doesn’t affect people but can be spread to horses, mules and donkeys.

JACKSON COUNTY—  Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug, theft and weapons charges.

On Thursday afternoon, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Deputies stopped Stephen Mai, 33, of Ellinwood, for a traffic violation near Mayetta.

A caller reported a 2002 Honda DRV matching Mai’s vehicle description driving recklessly, according to a media release.

Deputies were able to stop the vehicle and arrested Mai on the scene.

During the arrest, deputies found a handgun that had been reported stolen.  Mai also had in his possession, a large amount of substances believed to be methamphetamine, marijuana and other controlled substances. He had a large assortment of collectable coins and metals, firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition and other property.

Deputies booked Mai into the Jackson County Jail for the following charges: Possession and with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of stolen property, criminal use of a firearm, unlawfully in possession of a prescription drug with the intent to distribute, and driving while suspended.  Bond on Mai was set at $30,000.00.