SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after a traffic stop.

On Tuesday,  Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Interdiction Unit conducted a traffic stop on I-70, eastbound just east of the West Union Road exit, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.

The traffic stop resulted in the seizure of approximately 145 pounds of marijuana that was destined for the Topeka area.  The marijuana has an estimated street value of $500,000.

Deputies arrested Janae N. Williams, 30, of Topeka, on requested charges that include Possession of Marijuana with Intent to distribute and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  

 

 

COLUMBUS, Kan. (AP) — A woman who was a fugitive with her son for two years after an Oklahoma man was killed has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison.

Diana Bohlander was sentenced Tuesday to 59 months in prison for her role in the death of 64-year-old James McFarland, of Tulsa, whose body was found in April 2017 in southeast Kansas.

Bohlander’s 23-year-old son, Ty, was given the same sentence Sept. 3.

Bohlanders were living in a van with McFarland when he was killed. Investigators believe McFarland suffered blunt force trauma when he and Ty Bohlander fought. Diana Bohlander was accused of helping her son conceal the crime.

The Bohlanders were fugitives until Ty Bohlander was arrested in March in Santa Monica, California. His mother turned herself in the next month.

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WICHITA – A registered sex offender living in western Kansas was convicted today on federal child pornography charges, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said in a news release Wednesday.

A federal jury convicted Wayne Benjamin Wasson, 59, Great Bend, on four counts of uploading child pornography to the internet and one count of possessing child pornography.

During trial, a prosecutor presented evidence that Yahoo and Google detected child pornography originating from Wasson’s residence. The digital trail led investigators to Wasson, who admitted he had received child pornography via Skype and had operated a number of other accounts. Investigators found child pornography within the accounts and on Wasson’s devices.

Wasson registered as a sex offender in 2007 following a conviction for possession of child pornography.

Sentencing is set for Dec. 13. He faces a penalty of not less than 15 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

McAllister commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.

BARTON COUNTY – A civilian employee of the Barton County Sheriff’s Office was arrested today by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, according to a news release Wednesday.

On Wednesday, at approximately 10:40 a.m., KBI agents arrested 64-year-old Jimmy L. Hapes, Great Bend, at 1408 Kansas, in Great Bend. He was arrested for one count of rape connected to an incident that occurred on June 7.

Hapes is a civil process server for the sheriff’s office, and was placed on administrative leave following the accusation.

The KBI initiated the investigation on June 24, when the Great Bend Police Department requested KBI assistance after the rape was reported to them.

The Barton County Attorney is expected to prosecute the case.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have a third suspect in custody.

With assistance from the United States Marshals Service, law enforcement located and arrested 22-year-old Lavonte D. Johnson Wednesday in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, according to Topeka police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.

Johnson was arrested on a Shawnee County warrant for first-degree murder and criminal use of a weapon. He is awaiting extradition to Shawnee County.

On July 25, police were dispatched to the area of SE Fremont and SE Irvingham in reference to gunshots heard in the area.  Officers responded to the area and at SE 37th & SE Pennsylvania in Topeka and located a white passenger car with one male victim later identified as 16-year-old Joaquin Aj McKinney of Topeka suffering from life threatening injuries.

He was quickly transported to an area hospital by ambulance, where he was later pronounced deceased.

Danny Kaye Williams and Zachary Jacob McFall have also been charged in relation to this investigation. Williams and McFall have been charged with one count each of first-degree murder and criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle. Investigators are not seeking any additional suspects at this time.

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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and continue the search for one suspect.

Just after 3:30p.m. July 25, police were dispatched to SE 37th and SE Pennsylvania in Topeka located a white passenger car  with 16- year-old Joaquin Aj McKinney suffering from life threatening injuries. He was transported to a local hospital where he died.

On July 27, 2019 a suspect in the case, 16-year-old Zachary Jacob McFall turned himself in to law enforcement. He is being held in the Juvenile Department of Corrections for 1st Degree Murder.

On July 28, 2019 officers located and arrested an additional 16-year-old suspect in the case. He was transported to the Juvenile Department of Corrections for 1st Degree Murder.

Police are attempting to locate 22-year-old Lavonte D. Johnson for questioning in the case.

Police said if you know his location, please do not attempt to apprehend him, call 911 to report his location

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A University of Kansas football player is charged with two misdemeanors after his arrest at a Lawrence bar.

Sophomore linebacker Thomas Patrick Barrett was charged Tuesday with two counts of contributing to a child’s misconduct. An attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Police Sgt. Amy Rhoads says Barrett, from Cleveland, Ohio, was arrested on Aug. 31 at the Jayhawk Cafe. Two 17-year-old girls inside the business were in possession of what was believed to be alcohol.

The girls were released to their guardians.

Barrett turned 21 the same week he was arrested. He’s scheduled for another court appearance Oct. 2.

The Kansas athletic department said it’s monitoring the situation while it goes through the legal process.