WICHITA- A Kansas man was sentenced Thursday to 46 months in federal prison for turning stolen mail into 14 false identities, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.

Jeremy Peterson, 43, Wichita, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to produce false identification documents. In his plea, he admitted that other conspirators provided him with stolen mail he used to produce counterfeit documents including driver’s licenses and state identification cards. He produced documents for 14 stolen identities that conspirators used to buy cars. Local auto dealers suffered an actual loss of more than $218,000 as a result.

Peterson was one of 13 defendants charged last year in USA v Below, an indictment alleging they took part in a $3.5 million fraud scheme.

He has previous drug convictions in Sedgwick County, according to the KDOC.

WASHINGTON, Kan. (AP) — A northern Kansas woman is fighting a decision by state fair officials to strip her champion lamb title and winnings because of alleged performance enhancement.

The Hutchinson News reports Kansas State University student Gabryelle Gilliam had the grand champion market lamb at the 2016 Kansas State Fair, but she was disqualified in January for “unethical fitting.”

The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Dr. Paul Grosdidier says he concluded after a carcass exam that a natural substance was injected into the animal “within a few days” of inspection. State fair rules prohibit treating animals with a substance to alter its body in any way.

Gilliam alleges in Reno County District Court documents that the fair’s actions weren’t supported by substantial evidence. She wants the disqualification overturned.

The Kansas Attorney General’s office is seeking more time to respond to her complaint.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman accused of driving into a group of teenagers, killing one of them, has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

A jury in Kansas’ Wyandotte County also convicted 41-year-old Tamika Pledger on Thursday of three counts of aggravated battery.

Authorities alleged Pledger drove into Tierra Smith and three other high school students in January 2015. Smith died about a week after the crash.

James Spies, a prosecutor, told jurors Tuesday that Pledger was driving at least 55 mph in a 20-mph zone when she crested a hill and hit the victims.

Pledger’s attorney, Michael Gunter, countered that his client was on her way to stop a fight from happening and couldn’t see anyone in the street when she got to the hilltop.

NEMAHA COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are working to identify the identity of a man whose body was found near State Highway 62 in Nemaha County.

Just after 11 a.m. Wednesday, authorities located the body of an unidentified white male approximately one half mile south of 32nd Road in Nemaha County, according to report from the Sheriff’s Department.
No additional details were released on Thursday afternoon.

BARTON COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities in Barton County are investigating a report of a weapon fired at at the police department building in Great Bend.

Just after 9 p.m. Wednesday, a police officer was exiting the front of the Great Bend Police Department building when he observed a dark colored passenger car driving northbound on Williams Street in front of the building, according to a media release.

The officer noticed a person hanging out of the passenger window and pointing what appeared to be some sort of assault rifle at the Police Department Building.

The officer then heard numerous (approximately 13) shots come from the direction of the car. Due to the sound of the shots, the officer believed the weapon to be some sort of air gun, such as an airsoft gun or BB gun. Because of this, the officer did not return fire on the vehicle. Officers were not able to apprehend the occupants of the vehicle.

Department personnel have examined the front of the building, and have been unable to locate any damage indicative of the building being shot. Due to this and the report by the police officer on scene, the agency believes that the occupants of the vehicle were most likely firing an air gun of some sort at the Police Department Headquarters Building.

Chief Cliff Couch, of the Police Department, said “this was obviously a very dangerous situation, whether the weapon used turns out to be real or not. I’m proud that the officer in this incident showed such restraint, but not all situations turn out that way. It’s very difficult for an officer to identify a fake weapon, across the street, in a matter of seconds; and the people in that car could have very easily been killed as a result of their actions.”

 

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at (620)793-4120 or Crimestoppers at (620) 792-1300. Crimestoppers is a program which allows people to give anonymous tips and receive a cash reward if their tip leads to an arrest.

LAWRENCE- The Kansas Board of Regents announced the appointment of Dr. Douglas A. Girod as the 18th Chancellor of the University of Kansas, according to a media release.

“I am honored to be here today to make this important announcement. Naming the next Chancellor is one of the most important jobs we undertake as the Board of Regents,” stated Zoe Newton, Chair of the Board of Regents. “Dr. Girod is the right person for this time of transition. His 23 years of service are a testament to Dr. Girod’s love and commitment to KU. He will honor KU’s traditions and history while leading this great university into the future.”

Douglas A. Girod, M.D., became executive vice chancellor of the University of Kansas Medical Center on Feb. 1, 2013, where he oversaw the educational, research, patient care and community engagement missions of the University of Kansas Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions, with their total annual enrollment of more than 3,300 students; a workforce of more than 2,100 faculty and more than 4,000 staff; and research funding of nearly $100 million.

“The number of top tier professionals who wanted to be the next KU Chancellor was impressive,” said Dave Dillon, Chair of the KU Chancellor Search Committee. “Dr. Girod will certainly use his impressive credentials and abilities to carry out the mission of KU, furthering the aspirations we have for our state, and the hopes we have for generations of Jayhawks.”

In addition to serving as executive vice chancellor, Dr. Girod also served as interim executive dean of the KU School of Medicine until March 24, 2014. Prior to those roles, he served as Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. A surgeon, Dr. Girod joined the University of Kansas Medical Center faculty in 1994 and quickly rose through the academic ranks, becoming chair of the Otolaryngology department in 2002. He was named Russell E. Bridwell Endowed Chair in 2008.

Dr. Girod earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of California at Davis and his medical degree from the University of California at San Francisco. He completed his residency and an NIH research fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to joining the University of Kansas Medical Center, Dr. Girod served as Vice Chairman and Research Director in the Department of Otolaryngology at the Naval Medical Center in Oakland, California. He served in the United States Navy Reserve from 1982, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander and later earning the Meritorious Service Medal.

SALINA – A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Wednesday.

Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester reported a 2007 Ford SUV driven by Holly Hickman, 31, Salina, was traveling at a high rate of speed in the 200 Block of South 2nd Street.

The SUV crashed into the city pump station. She was transported to Salina Regional Health Center for treatment.

Police indicated Hickman had been in an argument with her boyfriend. The boyfriend reportedly told police she intentionally crashed the vehicle.

The SUV sustained heavy front end damage. Authorities reported about $9,000 in damage to the exterior of the brick building.

Hickman faces possible felony damage to property charges, according to Hickman.

 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House has approved a bill that would phase in a $280 million increase in the state’s spending on public schools over two years even though some members said the extra money isn’t enough to satisfy a court mandate.

The vote Thursday was 84-39. The bill goes next to the Senate.

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled in March that the state’s $4 billion a year in aid to its 286 school districts is inadequate. The court did not say exactly how much spending must increase when it set a June 30 deadline for lawmakers to pass a new school funding law.

Attorneys for the four school districts that sued the state consider the plan inadequate and Democrats predicted the court will reject it. Many Republicans disagreed.

———

BY SAM ZEFF

The Kansas House debated a new school finance plan for five hours Wednesday, taking up two dozen amendments and finally voting 81-40 to advance a bill not much different from the one that had come out of committee. The measure is slated to get a final vote in the House Thursday. Then it will be the Senate’s turn.

The House bill calls for $279 million in new money over two years. After that, allocations to districts would be bumped up by the inflation rate.

In March, the state Supreme Court ruled current funding for schools inadequate. Would this new formula be enough to satisfy the justices? Nobody knows. But lawmakers seem to be comfortable coming back for a special session to appropriate more if need be.

“I trust the next phase in the process. Both sides get to present their case to the court and the Supreme Court will judge our work,” says Rep. Mellissa Rooker, a moderate Republican from Fairway.

Rooker has emerged as a leader in the school funding debate, helping to manage the bill on the House floor. She and many moderates who voted in favor of the finance plan Wednesday have their doubts whether the high court will bless it. But they feel pressure to move the process forward.

“What we have got in that bill right now hopefully will be sufficient and if it’s not I guess we’ll be hearing from the courts later,” says Republican Rep. Brenda Dietrich from Topeka, a former school superintendent.

Rep. Jim Ward, the Democratic leader from Wichita, has no doubt a special session is in store. “If this bill becomes law and (is) what’s sent to the court, I would plan on being back in Topeka in July. Unfortunately at that time our schools will be closed.”

The Supreme Court has said if a constitutionally adequate funding formula isn’t in place by June 30, it will shut down public schools.

An amendment pushed by House Democrats that would have instead added $600 million new dollars into k-12 education over three years was beaten back by conservatives and some more moderate Republicans.

Before the debate, Democrats felt good about their chances of boosting the amount of money in the bill. But when Majority Leader Don Hineman, a moderate from Dighton, stood up to oppose the amendment most believed he would take a lot of other moderates with him. That’s exactly what happened.

All sides like the formula itself. It looks a lot like the old formula that was scrapped for block grants. Districts will get a per-pupil base amount and additional money for at-risk students and English language learners, among other factors.

Ward says he likes the formula but there’s just not enough money put into it.

“You can have the nicest car in the driveway but if you don’t buy the gas it doesn’t go anywhere. And that’s the problem with this formula, it’s woefully inadequately funded,” he says.

Also Wednesday the Senate Select Committee on school funding passed out its school finance plan.

It has less new money than the House measure, $240 million over two years.

The Legislature may take a long Memorial Day weekend, leaving Friday and not returning until Tuesday. Senators were told a school finance bill won’t make it to the floor until next week.

And getting a bill to final action in the House wasn’t easy with so many amendments offered by members, including a couple that seemed to come out of nowhere.

Rep. Trevor Jacobs, a Fort Scott Republican, carried an amendment that would have required students to use the bathroom of their gender. The Rules Committee said it wasn’t germane to the bill and the amendment failed.

An amendment from Republican Rep. John Whitmer from Wichita, would have allowed optional gun safety training in schools. That was also ruled not germane and failed.

Democrat Rep. Jerry Stogsdill, who just returned to Topeka after recovering from a heart attack a week ago, tried to push through an amendment that would have restored due process for teachers. It also was ruled not germane.

Sam Zeff covers education for KCUR.org and the Kansas News Service and is host of the political podcast Statehouse Blend Kansas. Follow him on Twitter @SamZeff.

HARVEY COUNTY- A felony perjury charge against former Halstead City Administrator James R. Hatfield has been dismissed, according to a media release from Harvey County Attorney David Yoder.

After an investigation by the KBI and Harvey County Attorney in August 2016, the Harvey County Sheriff served an arrest warrant on Hatfield. He resigned from his position as city administrator in November.

The same investigation also charged former Halstead police chief Steven Lewis with one count of Felony Misuse of Public Funds and two counts of Misdemeanor Theft.

Court records show Lewis was convicted in February of two misdemeanor theft counts, and a felony count of misuse of public funds was dismissed at that time.

Court documents alleged that Hatfield falsely reported the reasons for Lewis’ retirement, leading to the felony perjury charge against him.

Yoder’s announcement Thursday said, “after detailed examination there is insufficient evidence to proceed with charges against Hatfield.”

No additional details were released.

-The AP contributed to this report.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A woman who tried to dig up a grave at a Hutchinson cemetery has pleaded guilty to two municipal charges.

Thirty-three-year-old Natasha Holmes pleaded guilty Wednesday to criminal desecration of a grave and criminal damage to property.

Investigators have not disclosed the reason Holmes said she was trying to dig up the grave at Eastside Cemetery.

Holmes was transferred to Larned State Hospital for evaluation after her arrest but was released on bond before Wednesday’s hearing.

Patrol Lt. Rob Rowe said Holmes didn’t appear to be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs when she was arrested May 1.

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas food distributor has recalled nearly 100,000 pounds of precooked sausage products that might contain metal.

The recall was announced Wednesday by Armour Eckrich Meats in Junction City.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service says the recall includes more than 8,000 cases of 16.6 ounce packages of “Eckrich Smok-y Cheddar Breakfast sausage, Naturally Hardwood Smoked.”

See more on the recall here.

The labels have the case or UPC code and a “27815 17984” with a use-by date of Aug. 17. The products also have the number “EST. 3JC” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The products were distributed in Kansas, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

The fully-cooked pork, turkey and beef breakfast sausage were produced and packaged from April 26 to April 28.

No injuries from consuming the meat have been reported.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man who admitted driving drunk has been sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for causing a wreck in Topeka that killed a man from Ohio and a woman from Texas.

Fernando De Jesus Osorino was sentenced Friday for two counts of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of driving under the influence.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says Osorino was driving east in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 Feb. 28 when his car collided with a vehicle driven by 27-year-old Corey Jackson, of Newark, Ohio.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports a passenger in Jackson’s car, 24-year-old Coral Lynn Clark, of Fort Worth, Texas, died. Jackson died March 8.

Osorino also was ordered to pay $23,788 in restitution.

HUTCHINSON— A third person has been charged in a case from April where a woman had bleached splashed in her face.

Victoria Keene has been charged by the state with aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, conspiracy for aggravated battery and misdemeanor battery.

Keene, who is still jailed, cried as the judge read the charges for the incident from April 27. She also denied that she was the aggressor, but according to statements made in court, she is the one who started the argument with the victim. She is charged along with Destiny Witt and Jamice Craig.

The victim alleges the incident occurred in the 600 block of East 4th at a local laundry mat. The victim says she was punched, knocked down, had bleach poured on her and her ankle run over by her own vehicle. She was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment.

The judge also denied Keene’s request for a reduction of her $45,000 bond.