KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty today to assuming his brother’s identity to get a loan and buy a car, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
John Nolan, Jr., 64, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. In his plea, Nolan admitted he fraudulently used his brother’s Social Security number to purchase a Chevrolet Suburban from a car dealership in Merriam, Kan. Nolan filled out a Wells Fargo credit application using his brother’s name, date of birth and Social Security number. He also provided a driver’s license with Nolan’s picture and his brother’s identifying information. Nolan’s brother was living in Saudi Arabia and had not communicated with the defendant for years.
Sentencing is set for Jan. 24. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 30 months in federal prison.
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement and officials at USD 305 are investigating report of a weapon in the possession of a student.
According to a letter sent to parents, Salina South High School Principal Curtis Stevens said the weapon was located in a student’s vehicle parked off campus. Police found and secured it.
“The safety of our students and staff is our number one priority and we will continue to be vigilant and encourage reports of any safety concerns,” wrote Stevens.
Authorities have not reported the type of weapon involved in this incident.
There was no reported disruption to the school day.
Kansas City (AP) – A 17-year-old Kansas City boy has been charged with pointing a gun at the head of a kneeling 13-year-old after a video of the incident was widely shared on social media.
Photo courtesy Independence Police
Alexander Schrader, of Independence, was charged Wednesday with first-degree robbery for allegedly taking money from the younger teen. A police detective wrote in charging documents that Schrader pressed a semiautomatic handgun against the victim’s head Saturday while another teen told the boy to kiss his feet. A video also shows a friend of Schrader punching the victim in the face in an Independence neighborhood. The boy was bruised but refused medical treatment.
The juvenile that punched the boy and another juvenile that recorded the incident also were arrested. Police spokesman John Syme says he doesn’t know if they have attorneys.
JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an assault and have a suspect in custody.
According to Independence Police, Alexander Schrader, the person of interest in an assault case, turned himself him at IPD police headquarters late Tuesday. Two other juvenile subjects have also been taken into custody.
Authorities have not released details on criminal charges.
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JACKSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an assault and searching for a person of interest.
According to a report from Independence Police Department, a disturbing video is being shared on social media showing someone pointing a pistol at a juvenile victim, who is later punched several times by another person.
Police have received numerous calls from the public about this case. Just before 9:30 PM Monday, the Independence Police Department received a report of this incident that occurred on Saturday.
The IPD criminal investigations unit is currently investigating this case and the suspects have already been identified and is being sought.
Detectives would like to speak with 17 year old Alexander (Alex) Schrader. He is white male, approximately 5-foot-5, 120 lbs, with blue eyes and blonde hair.
Anyone who knows where Alex is, please call the Tips Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS, IPD tips at (816) 325-7777 or email [email protected]
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the horrific abuse and slaying of a 3-year-old boy whose body was found encased in concrete in the laundry room of his home four months after his death.
Stephen Bodine, 41, of Wichita, was convicted Wednesday in the May 2017 death of Evan Brewer. Bodine was also found guilty of child abuse, aggravated child endangerment and two counts of kidnapping. He will be sentenced December 17.
Bodine faces a potential sentence of life in prison with parole eligibility after 25 years on the murder conviction.
Prosecutors called dozens of witnesses and presented more than 550 pieces of evidence during six days of trial, including parts of the concrete tomb found in the rental home where the boy had lived with his mother, Miranda Miller, and Bodine. Jurors saw videos and photos showing Evan being abused, including footage of him chained and naked in a basement, being berated by Bodine and Miller, and forced to stand in a corner for hours.
Carlo Brewer, Evan’s father, celebrated the verdict but said his joy was tempered by sadness because of the cruelty his son had endured. Brewer had been fighting for custody of Evan in the months leading up to his death, and authorities had been alerted at least six times that Evan was being abused .
Evan Brewer- courtesy photo
“(Evan) didn’t get to have the imagination like other children, where they think there’s monsters in their closets or under their beds,” Brewer said. “He had real monsters.”
Miller is also charged with murder in her son’s death. In exchange for testifying against Bodine, she will be allowed to plead guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree murder.
Much of the evidence at trial came from a cache of 16,000 photos and video files collected by the couple’s home surveillance system. In one video, Bodine and Miller are heard chastising Evan over the course of several hours, less than two months before he was killed.
Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said the jury performed an extraordinary service to the community for enduring the sometimes grisly testimony.
“I can’t really overstate what a difficult task it was to sit and absorb the kind of wretched details of how this little boy lost his life and the role this defendant had in it,” Bennett said.
Miller testified that Bodine had been punishing Evan for not eating on May 19, 2017, when he took the screaming boy into the bathroom. She said he soon came out with her son’s wet and lifeless body in his arms.
She said during a preliminary hearing that a few days later Bodine told her that he wanted “to take care of Evan before he started to smell.” She said he mixed up several bags of concrete and buried the boy’s body in it.
Evan was discovered entombed in the concrete in early September, after Miller and Bodine had moved out of the property.
An autopsy couldn’t determine the cause and manner of Evan’s death because his body was so badly decomposed by the time he was chipped out of the block of concrete. He had Benadryl in his system, and Miller said she thinks Bodine sickened him in the days leading up to his death by force-feeding him large amounts of salt.
Bodine’s own daughter, Samantha Johnson, also testified about the physical abuse she suffered from her father, saying her experience was similar to Evan’s.
Brewer said he hopes his son’s death will lead to more efforts to confront child abuse.
“Take a step back and question what you’re doing as a parent, question if it’s the right way to discipline or not or if it’s abuse,” Brewer said. “Because it’s got to stop. It’s got to stop.”
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man was convicted Wednesday of first-degree murder in the killing of a 3-year-old boy whose body was found encased in concrete in the laundry room of his home four months after his death.
Stephen Bodine, 41, of Wichita, was accused in the May 2017 death of Evan Brewer.
Prosecutors called dozens of witnesses and presented more than 550 pieces of evidence, including parts of the concrete tomb found in the rental home where the boy had lived with his mother, Miranda Miller, and Bodine.
Miller is also charged with murder in her son’s death.
Evan had been subject to a monthslong custody battle and authorities had been alerted at least six times that he was being abused.
Much of the evidence at trial came from a cache of 16,000 photos and video files shot by the couple’s home surveillance system, including images of Evan naked and chained up in the basement. In one video, Bodine and Miller are heard chastising Evan over the course of several hours, less than two months before he was killed.
Miller testified that Bodine took her screaming son into the bathroom on May 19, 2017, and came out with her son’s wet and lifeless body in his arms. Evan was discovered entombed in concrete in September after Miller and Bodine had moved out of the property.
An autopsy couldn’t determine the cause and manner of Evan’s death because of the condition of his body when he was chipped out of the block of concrete. He did have Benadryl in his system, and Miller said she thinks Bodine sickened him in the days leading up to his death by force-feeding him large amounts of salt.
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Jurors deciding the fate of a man accused of killing a 3-year-old boy found encased in concrete were shown photos and video of the child chained up in the basement of his rental home in Kansas.
The judge sent the jury home Tuesday evening without a verdict after deliberations began that afternoon in the first-degree murder trial of 41-year-old Stephen Bodine. He’s accused in the May 2017 death of Evan Brewer.
Prosecutors called dozens of witnesses and presented more than 550 pieces of evidence over six days, including what’s left of the concrete tomb found in the rental home where the boy lived with his mother and Bodine in Wichita.
The defense rested its case without calling witnesses.
Bodine faces charges of child abuse and aggravated child endangerment, along with other crimes related to a threat against the boy’s biological father.
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Both sides have rested in the trial of the Wichita man accused of killing a 3-year-old boy whose body was found encased in concrete.
Forty-one-year-old Stephen Bodine is on trial charged with first-degree murder in the May 19, 2017, death of Evan Brewer. He also faces charges of child abuse, aggravated child endangerment as well as other crimes related to an alleged hatchet threat against the boy’s biological father, Carlo Brewer.
Tuesday marked the sixth day of witness testimony and evidence presentation by prosecutors.
Defense attorney Casey Cotton rested his case without calling anyone to the witness stand.
Jurors watched on Monday photos and video of Evan chained naked in the basement of the rental home where he lived with Miller and Bodine in Wichita.
RENO COUNTY – A Kansas man faces charges in connection with a home invasion attack.
Thompson -photo Reno Co.
Titus Thompson 38, Hutchinson, faces potential charges, of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated burglary, criminal threat, burglary and theft.
On Monday, Thompson and an unknown white male forced their way into a home in the 400 block of East B in Hutchinson, according to police. They demanded prescription drugs from the homeowner believed to be in his 50s.
The homeowner tried to fight back, but was kicked repeatedly. The suspects took a knife the victim used to try to defend himself and put it to his neck and threatened him with his life.
Thompson then forced the man to search the home looking for prescription drugs. The suspects took some prescription medications as well as the victim’s wallet, cell phone, a big screen TV and clothing from the home.
They then blindfolded the victim and loaded him and the stolen items into the victim’s car.
The suspects left and at some point stopped a Kwik Shop, a liquor store in Burrton and traveled to a farmhouse in eastern Reno County.
This is where Thompson allegedly tried to sell some items to two individuals. The victim was still in the back seat and saw an opportunity to escape. He jumped into the front seat of the car and took off. During that time a TV fell off the top of the car where it had been placed.
The victim’s call 911 started the investigation.
Thompson was later found walking in the 1800 block of Landon in Hutchinson. Based on the description from the victims and surveillance video from Monday’s incident, police arrested Thompson.
The victim in the kidnapping suffered bruises and cuts according to police.
Thompson is jailed on a $167,000 bond and during a first court appearance was denied a bond reduction.
He has prior convictions for obstruction, domestic battery, and driving while suspended for a case in Reno County in 2008. He also has priors for convictions of aggravated burglary and criminal possession of a firearm for a case in Sedgwick County in 2001.
CLOUD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect who fled on foot from officers in Concordia on Tuesday afternoon and was hospitalized after a chase and crash in Clay County.
Trimble from an August arrest in Saline County
On Tuesday, the suspect wanted on felony warrants and identified as Brent Trimble, 33, Salina, was seen getting into a Ford Fusion near the area of 6th and Broadway in Concordia, according to Undersheriff Nick Patterson.
Just before 5:30p.m., a Cloud County Deputy located the vehicle in the Sonic parking lot in the 1300 Block of Lincoln Street and attempted to apprehend Trimble.
The suspect fled in the Fusion southbound on U.S. 81 and continued eastbound on U.S. 24 into Clay County, according to Patterson.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office as well as Clay Center Police Department assisted by deploying tire deflation devices at three different locations. Two of these deployments were successful. Trimble continued through Clay Center and then went southbound on K 15 Hwy. While southbound on K 15 Hwy the vehicle left the roadway in the 1300 section of K 15 Hwy where it struck a guardrail and then rolled several times before coming to a rest in the west ditch
Trimble was transported by Clay County EMS to Clay County Medical Center and was then airlifted to Salina Regional Health Center.
Trimble faces charges that include felony flee and attempt to elude law enforcement and aggravated robbery, according to Patterson.
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CLAY COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident during a chase just before 6p.m. Tuesday in Clay County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Ford Fusion driven by Brent Keith Trimble, 33, Salina, was southbound being pursued by deputies on Kansas 15 just north of 13th Road.
The car left the roadway to the west, struck a guard rail, overturned and came rest in the west ditch.
Trimble was transported to the hospital in Clay Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
Authorities are expected to release additional details on what prompted the chase that started in Cloud County later Wednesday.
BARTON COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 2p.m. Tuesday in Barton County.
Photo courtesy Barton Co. Sheriff
A Kenworth semi driven by Randy Schriner, 68, Albert, was eastbound on Northwest 90 Road approaching 130 Avenue, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.
The driver was traveling too fast when he attempted to turn onto Northwest 130 Avenue. The truck and trailer filled with corn traveled into the east ditch and rolled onto its top, according to Bellendir.
Schriner was trapped inside the truck. The Albert Fire Department and Great Bend EMS responded to the location and were able to extract him after about 30 minutes and he was transported to the hospital in Great Bend.
Officers believe vehicle speed and a shift in the load were contributing factors in the accident, according to Bellendir.
The Kansas Department of Transportation started work this week on a mill and overlay project on K-383 in Norton County.
The project area covers a 10-mile portion from the east U.S. 36 junction to the Phillips County line. Flaggers and a pilot car operation will control traffic through the work zone during daylight hours and minor delays, not exceeding 15 minutes, should be anticipated. Work is expected to be complete in early November, weather permitting.
Venture Corporation is the primary contractor for the project with a total contract cost of approximately $776,000. For more information, contact KDOT construction engineer Jim Riener at 785-543-2163 or [email protected].
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on possible explosive devices sent to former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton (all times local):
10:18 a.m.
The White House is condemning attempted attacks made against former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says in a statement Wednesday: “These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” She adds: “The United States Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies are investigating and will take all appropriate actions to protect anyone threatened by these cowards.”
The U.S. Secret Service said Wednesday that agents have intercepted packages containing “possible explosive devices” addressed to former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
In addition, the building that is home to CNN in New York was evacuated Wednesday after officials reported a similar package.
The Secret Service says neither Clinton nor Obama received the packages, and neither was at risk of receiving them because of screening procedures.
Hillary Clinton was campaigning for Democrats in Florida and wasn’t at the family’s suburban New York residence when a suspicious package addressed to her was seized by the Secret Service.
Former President Bill Clinton was at the family’s Chappaqua, New York, home when the package was intercepted at a Westchester County, N.Y., facility. That’s according to a person familiar with his schedule who spoke on condition of anonymity and wasn’t authorized to speak publicly.
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10:11 a.m.
The U.S. Secret Service says agents have intercepted packages containing “possible explosive devices” addressed to former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
The agency says neither Clinton nor Obama received the packages, and neither was at risk of receiving them because of screening procedures.
It says the devices were discovered late Tuesday and early Wednesday.
A U.S. official tells The Associated Press that a “functional explosive device” was found during screening at Bill and Hillary Clintons’ suburban New York home.
The official says investigators believe the explosive is linked to one found Monday at the compound of liberal billionaire George Soros.
The Secret Service says a second package was addressed to Obama and was intercepted in Washington.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita police officer will not be charged in the fatal shooting of a man who was holding his girlfriend at knifepoint.
Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said Tuesday the officer who shot Jose Ortiz in August 2017 used reasonable force in firing one shot that struck Ortiz in the head.
Bennett says an autopsy showed Ortiz was using methamphetamine during the confrontation, and the meth caused Ortiz to believe his girlfriend was hiding men in her bathroom.
The district attorney says SWAT officers who entered the home found Ortiz holding his girlfriend with a knife. He hands were tied behind her back.
Ortiz ignored commands to release his girlfriend. Bennett says when the woman winced in pain, the officer believed she was being stabbed and fired once.
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have a suspect in custody.
Bentley photo KDOC
Just after 4a.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting at the Delux Inn, 8401 W. Kellogg in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
Officers located 43-year-old Jackie Jerome of Wichita with multiple gunshots to his body. Jerome was transported to an area hospital where he died.
Police have arrested 22-year-old Cory Bentley of Wichita on charges of first degree murder and criminal possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with the shooting.
The investigation revealed Bentley and other individuals arrived at the hotel, a disturbance ensued between Bentley and Jerome when Bentley fired multiple times from a handgun, striking Jerome.
Bentley has previous convictions for theft, burglary and flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
This was not a random incident. This is Wichita’s 41st homicide for 2018, according to Davidson.
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police are searching for a suspect after a fight at a motel left one man dead.
Crime scene tape outside the motel rooms where police are conducting Monday’s investigation -image courtesy KWCH
Police say the victim was in a fight at a west Wichita motel early Monday before the shooting.
The victim, a man in his 40s, died at a hospital.
Police have not issued a description of the suspect and other details were not immediately released.
RENO COUNTY — A Kansas man was injured in a farming accident on Tuesday in Reno County.
The Reno County Sheriff’s department reported Brian M. Miller, 31, was driving a New Holland tractor and pulling a 30-foot no till drill, planting wheat near Blanchard and Dean Road
Miller’s father told the sheriff’s department he believes Brian got off of the tractor to spread the wheat seed in the drill and for an unknown reason the tractor shifted into gear. The tractor was supposed to automatically shift into park if the driver’s seat was unoccupied.
According to his father, Brian last had contact with a friend at approximately 3:19 P.M. and hadn’t been heard from since.
His father began looking in the field for Brian and eventually found him just before 9:30p.m.
Brian told his father he had been run over by the drill. The tractor was located approximately a quarter of a mile away and had been stopped after running into a tree. The tractor was still running and was in gear.
Brian was airlifted to Wesley Medical Center by Life Team for injuries to his upper body, according to the sheriff’s department.
GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug charges. Just before noon Monday, police made a traffic stop for speeding on Interstate 70 at the Marysville-Herington exit, according to the Junction City Police Tour Log.
Nehring -photo Geary Co.Putnam -photo Geary Co.
Officers arrested Lathyn Nehring, 18, Duquoin, Illinois; Tyrese Vinson, 18, Carbondale, Illinois; and Dante Putnam, 23, West Frankfort, Illinois on suspicion of Possession of Marijuana, Distribute Marijuana, No Drug Tax Stamp, and Possession of Paraphernalia.
Vinson -photo Geary Co.
Vinson was also arrested on suspicion of Interference with LEO and Putnam on Fleeing / Eluding and Maximum Speed Limits.
John Nolan, Jr., 64, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. In his plea, Nolan admitted he fraudulently used his brother’s Social Security number to purchase a Chevrolet Suburban from a car dealership in Merriam, Kan. Nolan filled out a Wells Fargo credit application using his brother’s name, date of birth and Social Security number. He also provided a driver’s license with Nolan’s picture and his brother’s identifying information. Nolan’s brother was living in Saudi Arabia and had not communicated with the defendant for years.
