Wednesday fire in Ford County- photo Ford Co. Fire and EMS
FORD COUNTY – Fire crews responded to a camper fire in Ford County on Wednesday.
Just after 4 p.m. three fire units were dispatched to Highway 54 south of Dodge City for a camper on fire, according to a social media report.
Initial units arriving on scene reported a fully involved trailer with fire spreading to the surrounding ditch.
Crews were able to contain the blaze without incident. There were no injuries reported. Details on what caused the fire and what was in the vehicle were not available late Wednesday.
Sam Vanochen in court last month – pool photo Hutch News
HUTCHINSON – A Reno County judge on Wednesday ordered an additional mental evaluation for a Kansas teen convicted of setting the fire that killed his mother and sister.
Judge Trish Rose ordered the evaluation for 17-year-old Sam Vanochen as part of the presentence investigation which could take up to 120 days to complete.
Sentencing for Vanochen was originally scheduled for September 30.
District Attorney Keith Schroeder argued against the new evaluation noting that jury didn’t buy the fact that he suffers from any mental disease or defect.
Last month, a jury convicted Vanochen of setting the September 2013 fire at the family’s home in Hutchinson that killed his mother and sister.
In addition on Wednesday, the state failed in their effort to get a Kansas teen convicted of two counts of murder, attempted murder and aggravated arson moved to the Reno County jail from juvenile detention.
Judge Trish Rose ruled Wednesday that she believes there has not been a problem with 17-year-old Samuel Vonachen being housed in Reno County Youth Services.
She also noted that once he is sentenced, he would be housed in a juvenile facility until he turns 18. He would then be sent to an adult facility.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge says she’ll appoint an expert to determine the scope of Sixth Amendment violations she says have been committed against inmates at a private federal prison in Kansas.
U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson on Wednesday questioned federal prosecutors about how much they knew about the Corrections Corporation of America prison in Leavenworth taking silent recordings of inmate-attorney meetings and phone calls.
Federal defense attorneys say such recordings violate attorney-client privilege guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
The judge later told the courtroom that an assistant prosecutor had entered her chambers Aug. 25 while she was on vacation. That’s where some evidence taken from the prison was being held.
The judge stopped short of calling the prosecutor’s actions sinister but said she felt everyone needed to know what had happened.
KANSAS CITY (AP) — A male inmate at a Kansas City area jail has been charged with raping a female inmate after another inmate freed him using a key that a guard left in a door.
The Jackson County prosecutor’s office said Wednesday that 29-year-old Dontae Jefferson of Kansas City is also charged with burglary and sexual abuse in the incident at the Jackson County Regional Correctional Center.
It’s unclear how Jefferson got inside the woman’s cell.
Online court records don’t list Jefferson’s attorney. Bond is set at $1 million.
Another female inmate last month alleged she was assaulted in her cell, prompting an investigation into reports that three inmates were wandering freely in the jail. That investigation continues. An independent audit also was ordered.
Authorities subsequently removed nearly two dozen female inmates from the facility.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), in a recent letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald and phone conversation with VA Inspector General Michael Missal, pressed the VA for details regarding multiple allegations of sexual abuse in the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System against former Physician Assistant Mark Wisner. At issue is the VA’s knowledge of Mr. Wisner’s criminal history prior to his employment, the VA’s reaction to Mr. Wisner’s admittance of wrongdoing and the possibility that Mr. Wisner’s abuses were not limited to the Leavenworth VA Medical Center.
“It is deeply disturbing that someone entrusted to care for our nation’s veterans would instead subvert that trust to perpetrate such heinous crimes,” said Sen. Moran. “The facts surrounding these abuses must be fully examined in order to prevent a situation where veterans are subjected to an individual who adds to their wounds of war rather than healing them.”
Mr. Wisner has been charged with aggravated sexual battery, aggravated criminal sodomy and misdemeanor sexual battery and faces numerous federal lawsuits stemming from his actions while as an employee of the VA.
A full copy of the letter may be found here and an excerpt may be found below:
Dear Secretary McDonald,
I am writing to call your attention to the tragic and disturbing allegations of abuse of veterans by a Physician Assistant in the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System, Mark Wisner. As a result of veterans bravely coming forward with their experiences, Mr. Wisner faces two criminal cases in Leavenworth County that include charges of aggravated sexual battery, aggravated criminal sodomy and three misdemeanor charges of sexual battery. While the court proceedings for these cases are underway, Mr. Wisner also faces numerous lawsuits filed in federal court by the veterans who allege they were subjected to his abuse. Revelations regarding Mr. Wisner’s criminal background and lewd behavior have surfaced in press reports, calling into question what the VA knew, or reasonably should have known, to protect veterans from a criminal who eventually abused them.
Recent reports and evidence of Mr. Wisner’s medical credentials show that he admitted he was convicted of a crime when applying for his state licensure. It is unclear whether the VA investigated Mr. Wisner’s criminal record as part of his application process and hiring by the VA. It is extremely troubling that a criminal can admit to having committed a crime and yet be hired for a position where veterans are under his or her care. Please explain the vetting process for hiring VA personnel and answer these specific questions:
What information is a medical provider applicant required to provide or answer as part of the VA hiring process?
Does the VA Central Office or a local medical center or facility oversee the hiring of medical provider applicants? Please describe the offices involved in and responsible for the hiring of medical providers.
Does the VA conduct a criminal background check on all applicants? Is there a different standard specifically for medical providers who seek a position in patient care? Please explain the criminal background check process for applicants to serve in the VA.
In the scenario of an applicant who has been convicted of a crime, what is the standard or threshold to determine if the applicant’s crime is a disqualifying factor?
Is there any VA directive, guidance, regulation or rule that sets a standard or threshold to determine what type of crime is a disqualifying factor for an applicant? What office is responsible for making this determination?
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 70-year-old man accused of robbing a bank in Kansas told investigators he would rather be imprisoned than live with his wife.
Court documents say Lawrence John Ripple gave a note to a bank teller in Kansas City on Friday, demanding cash and warning he had a gun. Ripple took the money and went to sit in the lobby where he told a guard he was the “guy he was looking for.”
Officers arrived quickly. An FBI agent wrote in the affidavit that Ripple had earlier been arguing with his wife. He told investigators he wrote the note in front of his wife, telling her he would “rather be in jail than at home.”
Ripple was charged with bank robbery Tuesday.
Online court records don’t list an attorney for Ripple.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — U.S. Geological Survey researchers say they’re upgrading the strength of an Oklahoma earthquake that struck over the weekend to a 5.8 magnitude, making it the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the state.
USGS research geophysicist Daniel McNamara said Wednesday the previous strongest recorded quake in Oklahoma — a 5.6-magnitude temblor in 2011 — also is being upgraded to a 5.7-magnitude quake.
Saturday’s earthquake centered near the north-central town of Pawnee damaged more than a dozen buildings and left one man with a minor head injury after a fireplace collapsed.
McNamara says the volume of injected wastewater from oil and gas activity likely played a role.
He says Oklahoma’s two earthquakes this year greater than magnitude 5.0 will increase the likelihood of larger quakes in the future.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Lawmakers are raising questions as Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration works to overhaul the state’s protocol for employee layoffs and rehiring.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that legislators on a regulatory advisory committee are studying the Kansas Department of Administration’s plan for altering policy on employee layoffs and rehiring, annual performance ratings, and donation of unused sick leave.
Some of the proposed alterations include capping the donation of unused sick leave at 80 hours, and restricting worker options for appealing regular job performance ratings
Some lawmakers say the proposed regulations are too vague and could be manipulated to weaken the standing of the most experienced staff. Legislators are also unhappy that the state workers or employee unions were asked for their input.
A department spokesman has said the changes have been in development since 2014.
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in southeast Kansas are investigating a suspect arrested early Wednesday after a high-speed chase and manhunt.
Just after 12:30p.m. on Tuesday, an off duty police officer was called to the Short Stop Convenience store to check on a suspicious person, according to a media release.
The man claimed to have mechanical problems with his vehicle. The officer checked his name, which the officer believed to be fake, and determined he did not have a license to drive.
Two on-duty officers were dispatched and when they arrived they were advised of the situation.
The officers wanted the driver to exit the car.
The driver slammed the vehicle in reverse backing up nearly hitting the deputies’ vehicle and then drove forward nearly hitting several items at the convenience store and the high speed chase was underway..
The suspect vehicle was thought to reach speeds of around 150 mph.
The vehicle was last seen driving North on Kansas 99 towards Sedan when the trail went cold.
A citizen of Chautauqua County, knowing of the vehicle deputies were looking for, spotted it on his property and called 911 and did not approach the vehicle.
A search determined the suspect was on foot south of Sedan.
Just before 8 a.m. on Wednesday, the suspect was apprehended allegedly driving a stolen pickup in Montgomery County, according to Chautauqua County Sheriff Richard Newby. Investigators were still working to learn the name of the suspect. “He had no identification and gave several names of suspects wanted elsewhere.” said Newby.
Photo by Stephen Koranda/KPR Four former governors made a stop Tuesday at the Kansas Association for Justice headquarters in Topeka during their tour campaigning for the retention of Kansas Supreme Court justices. From left are moderator Reggie Robinson, director of the KU School of Public Affairs and Administration; Republican Bill Graves, Democrat Kathleen Sebelius, Republican Mike Hayden and Democrat John Carlin
By Sam Zeff
A bipartisan group of four former Kansas governors is predicting dire consequences if conservatives successfully oust four state Supreme Court justices.
Former Democratic Gov. John Carlin has the harshest assessment. If the justices are kicked off the bench in November’s retention election, “then the hole this (Brownback) administration has dug for us may be too deep to get out of,” said Carlin during a stop Tuesday in Kansas City. Carlin, who served as governor from 1978 to 1986, also called this retention fight “chaos” and said it has “an indirect effect on economic growth” in the state.
The governors are on a two-day tour organized by Kansans for Fair Courts, the group campaigning on behalf of the targeted justices. Judges’ political activity is severely restricted.
The four appeared at the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce before moving on to Topeka for a similar event; they headed to Wichita next.
Former Gov. Bill Graves, a Republican who served from 1994 to 2002, agreed. “We have the potential in this election to have tremendous upheaval in the stability, the institutional knowledge, the whole character and ability in our court system in our state.”
Conservative groups — including Kansans for Life, the state Republican Party and the state Chamber of Commerce — are committed to removing four Kansas Supreme Court justices: Carol Beier, Dan Biles, Marla Luckert and Chief Justice Lawton Nuss.
Also up for retention is the newest member of the court, Caleb Stegall, who was appointed by Gov. Sam Brownback.
Most conservatives are asking voters to retain Stegall but get rid of the other four. The former governors said they want all five justices to retain their seats.
“We’re suggesting that there’s no reason that they shouldn’t all be retained, regardless of which governor appointed them or which party that governor belonged to,” said former Gov. Mike Hayden, Republican governor from 1986 to 1990.
Conservatives have three main complaints about the four justices they seek to oust: the court’s rulings on school finance, abortion and the death penalty.
The toughest rhetoric has come from Kansas House Republicans. In an email last week, they said the four have a “shameful disregard for the law and that they’ve been scolded on numerous occasions by the U.S. Supreme Court.” House Republicans also said the justices use “their own erratic and illogical method” of interpreting laws.
But Hayden strongly disagreed and said he holds the court in high regard.
“While we may have some disappointment or maybe some disagreement, 99.5 percent of the time the court’s been upheld. That’s a tremendous record, and it should stand on its own merit,” he said.
Graves said this is all driven by the politics of Brownback and conservatives in the Legislature. Brownback has called several times for changing the current merit selection process for judges, and the Legislature has tried but failed to pass a constitutional amendment dumping merit selection.
“There’s clearly energy on the other side, if you will, and we just think it’s important that there be energy in support of retaining these five justices,” Graves said. “So someone has to speak for the justices, and we’ve chosen to do that.”
Clay Barker, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party, had little reaction to Tuesday’s event. He did say that Stegall has been on the high court for just a year so “he hasn’t done anything to have the voters not retain him.”
— Sam Zeff is co-host of the political podcast Statehouse Blend
SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating the disappearance of a man on Friday.
Joseph Blake Hoffman, 26, Salina, was last seen on September 2nd at about 4:30 p.m., walking westbound on Pueblo Avenue just north of Sunset Elementary School, according to Salina Police Captain Chris Trocheck.
Hoffman said he was going for a walk and never returned.
Police say Hoffman is 6’1″ and weighs 228 lbs.
He has brown hair, brown eyes, and a black chinstrap beard.
He was last known to be wearing a grey cut off Adidas shirt, black basketball shorts, and black and green flip flops.
He has a scar on his nose and has a four leaf clover tattoo on his upper left arm and a memorial tattoo on his upper right arm as well as a tattoo of the names Joshua and Jesse on his chest.
Hoffman may also go by the names Joe Black, Ace, Crack or Joey.
Those with information regarding Hoffman’s disappearance are asked to contact Salina Police 785-826-7210
JACKSON COUNTY – A driver involved in Monday’s crash in Kansas City that killed two children has been charge with drunk driving.
The Missouri State Highway patrol reported just after 6p.m. on Monday a Cadillac Escalade driven by James L. Green, 60, Odessa, MO., was traveling on Interstate 70 just west of Adams Dairy Parkway.
The Cadillac rear-ended a 2015 Hyundai Elantra driven by David C. Beaird, 39, Warrenton, Missouri.
The collision pushed the Hyundai into a 2002 Acura, a 2005 Chevy Tahoe and a 2011 Ford Escape.
Two passenger in the Hyundai Chloe Beaird, 7, and Gavin Beaird, 13, Warrenton, Mo., were pronounced dead at the scene.
David and Jennifer Beaird were transported to a local hospital in serious condition, according to the MSHP.
Green was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. He was arrested and was charged with felony driving while intoxicated, two counts of vehicular manslaughter, two counts of vehicular assault, careless and imprudent driving and driving while revoked, according to the MSHP.
