WICHITA – A Kansas man was indicted Wednesday on charges of striking a Kansas Highway Patrol aircraft with a beam from a laser pointer, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Armando Rodriguez-Leyva, 29, Wichita, is charged with one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.

pic.twitter.com/n3cFlYeUia

— KHP Air Support Unit (@KHPAircraft) December 16, 2018

The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office are campaigning to educate the public about the dangers of pointing lasers at aircraft. When aimed at an aircraft from the ground, the powerful beam of light from a handheld laser can travel more than a mile and illuminate a cockpit, disorienting and temporarily blinding pilots. The effect is similar to a flashbulb going off in a dark car at night. Each year, thousands of laser strikes are reported, and the FBI estimates that thousands more go unreported.

“Engaging in such activity is not a prank; it is extremely dangerous and a federal felony offense,” McAllister said. “Federal authorities are dedicated to rapidly bringing offenders to justice. The charge in this case was brought, and the defendant was arrested, within 5 days of the alleged commission of the offense.”

According to court documents, on December 15 a fixed wing aircraft owned and operated by the Kansas Highway Patrol for law enforcement purposes was flying over south Wichita to assist local law enforcement agents with a case. During the flight, a green-colored laser struck the aircraft several times and illuminated the cockpit of the aircraft, presenting a serious risk to the pilot.

The pilot tracked the laser light to a residence in the 1100 block of South Terrace in Wichita. The defendant was sitting in a car behind the residence when he was arrested.

If convicted, the defendant faces a sentence of up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas Highway Patrol, the Wichita Police Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan McCarty is prosecuting.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on moderate Republicans in the Kansas legislators switching parties (all times local):

10 a.m.

A Kansas state senator has switched to the Democratic Party to become the fourth moderate suburban Kansas City lawmaker to leave the Republican Party in a week.

After many conversations and careful thought, I have decided that when I return to #ksleg I will do so as a member of the @KansasDems
Press Release: https://t.co/4MlIfnYuVs

— Dinah Sykes (@dinah_sykes) December 19, 2018

State Sen. Dinah Sykes of Lenexa said Wednesday that she could either fight to change the GOP or fight for her constituents. She won her seat in 2016.

Rep. Stephanie Clayton of Overland Park also switched parties Wednesday. Clayton was first elected to the House in 2010 and said she could best support public schools by becoming a Democrat.

The GOP’s majorities slip to 84-41 in the House and 28-11 in the Senate, with one independent there.

Last week, state Sen. Barbara Bollier of Mission Hills and departing Rep. Joy Koesten of Leawood also switched to the Democratic Party.

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9:35 a.m.

A Kansas House member has switched to the Democratic Party to become the third moderate suburban Kansas City lawmaker to leave the Republican Party within a week.

Here is a link to my press release regarding my recent news: #ksleg https://t.co/MOAJnOZM4I

— ❄Stephanie Clayton❄ (@SSCJoCoKs) December 19, 2018

Rep. Stephanie Clayton of Overland Park said Wednesday that she believes she can better support public education as a Democrat. Clayton has been an outspoken GOP moderate who was first elected to the House in 2010.

Clayton has been a strong advocate of government transparency measures and an organizer of a bipartisan Women’s Caucus.

The GOP’s House majority will slip to 84-41.

Sen. Barbara Bollier of Mission Hills and Rep. Joy Koesten of Leawood switched to the Democratic Party last week.

Clayton won re-election this year, but Koesten lost her GOP primary and leaves office in January. Bollier’s four-year term goes through 2020.

SALINE COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Tuesday in Saline County.

A 2006 Buick LeSabre driven by Dean Swisher, 88, Gypsum, was northbound on Ninth Street, according to Salina Police Seargeant Brent Rupert.

The driver ran a red light at Magnolia and struck a westbound  2011 BMW driven by Christian York, 21, Salina.

Swisher continued north on Ninth Street and was conscious enough to get his vehicle off of Ninth Street and onto the access road near three restaurants.

Witnesses reported that Swisher was unconscious once he had his car on the access road, Rupert said. The car came to a stop in the drainage ditch, according to Rupert.

Witnesses removed Swisher from the car and administered CPR until EMT personnel got to the scene. Swisher was transported to Salina Regional Health Center, where he died.

Authorities determined Swisher was suffering from a heart attack at the time of the crash.

York was not injured.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate a shooting which injured a 16-year-old Kansas boy.

Just before 5p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting in the 2800 block of south Hillside, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers located the 16-year-old victim who had a gunshot wound to his chest and left hand.  The teen was transported to an area hospital for medical treatment.  Davidson did not have an update on the teen’s condition early Wednesday.

An investigation revealed the victim was walking on the east side of Hillside when two unknown suspects exited a white pickup and fired multiple shots, striking him and then fled in the pickup.

Police believe the shooting to be gang related.

Police are seeking additional information from the community on the shooting.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will pay $1.1 million to a Missouri man who spent nearly 17 years in prison for a robbery that he argued was committed by his doppelganger.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Tuesday that a settlement had been reached with 42-year-old Richard Anthony Jones, of Kansas City, Missouri. Schmidt said Jones was the first to settle a payout under a new state law that provides compensation to people who are wrongly imprisoned. Jones also was granted a certificate of innocence.

Eyewitness testimony sent Jones to prison for an attack and robbery in the parking lot of a Walmart in Roeland Park, Kansas. No physical evidence linked Jones to the crime. He was freed after supporters found evidence that another man who looked just like him lived near the Walmart.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for a series of burglaries.

On June 24, police responded to a suspicious character call at All Metal Recycling, 800 E. 21st Street North, according to officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, Officers located 30-year-old Callen Rose on the roof of the building and arrested him without incident.

Through the investigation, investigators connected Rose to multiple burglary and theft cases.

On Wednesday, the cases were presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office who charged Rose with the multiple counts of burglary, one count of attempted burglary, two counts of felony theft, three counts of misdemeanor thefts, four counts of criminal trespass, one charge of felony criminal damage to property and one charge of misdemeanor criminal damage to property, according to Davidson.

FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a sexual assault and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.

Just after 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, police were called to the southeast area of Garden City for a reported residential burglary in progress. Upon arrival, officers went inside the residence and located an adult woman, according to Sergeant Lana Arteaga.

The initial investigation revealed an unknown man entered the woman’s residence armed with a weapon. Once inside, the man sexually assaulted the woman and caused significant injury to her.

The suspect then fled the area. The woman was transported to St. Catherine Hospital by Finney County EMS. Her injuries were not thought to be life-threatening, according to Ortega.

Due to the location of the incident, Victor Ornelas Elementary and Charles O’ Stones Intermediate Center were placed in lockdown while officers searched the area for the suspect.

The man was described as being approximately six-feet tall, brown eyes, dark eyebrows, and approximately 40 years old. He was clean-shaven, and of slim build, wearing a brown Carhartt style coat and a stocking hat.

The man was wearing a light gray hooded sweatshirt with unknown wording printed on the front and had a light gray t-shirt underneath. He was wearing a brown watch on his left wrist and had a large tattoo on the front of his chest. He also had three tattoos on his right ribcage where each of the three appeared to be similar to each other.

Anyone with information related to this incident, you should call the Garden City Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – A man who was part of a $4 million drug conspiracy operating out of a barbershop in Kansas City, Kan., was sentenced Tuesday to 52 months in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Jason Bell, 38, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. In his plea, Bell admitted he was part of a drug ring with co-defendant Edwin Pacheco. Pacheco owned Cocoliso’s Barbershop at 1201 Minnesota in Kansas City, Kan., where Bell was employed.

During the course of a federal investigation, Bell sold thousands of dollars’ worth of methamphetamine to undercover investigators. Bell was arrested when investigators served a search warrant at the barbershop. They found more than 12 pounds of methamphetamine in Pacheco’s Jeep Liberty and seized more than $15,000 from the barbershop’s closet. Investigators calculated that the conspirators sold approximately $4 million worth of illegal drugs.

 

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a series of burglaries.

Just before 3:20 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a larceny in progress call at a residence in the 1300 block of Coach House Court in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, Officers began circulating the area and located 52-year-old Glen Moler of Wichita inside another vehicle in the 12000 block of West Briarwood Circle.

Moler was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.

Through the investigation, police connected Moler was  to five separate WPD cases and stolen items were recovered in connection to the cases.

Moler is being held on five counts of burglary, five counts of theft from a vehicle and two counts of destruction to an automobile, according to Davidson.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Penny Marshall, who starred in “Laverne & Shirley” before becoming one of the top-grossing female directors in Hollywood, has died. She was 75.Mashall’s publicist, Michelle Bega, said Marshall passed away in her Hollywood Hills, Calif., home on Monday due to complications from diabetes.

Marshall starred alongside Cindy Williams in the hit ABC comedy “Laverne & Shirley,” which aired from 1976 to 1983. As a filmmaker, she became the first woman to direct a film that grossed more than $100 million with “Big,” the 1988 comedy starring Tom Hanks. She also directed “A League of Their Own,” ”Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and and the Oscar-nominated “Awakenings.”

Her acting career dated back to 1953 when she appeared at the age of 10 on “The Jackie Gleason Show,” according to IMDB.com.