District Attorney's Office News for the week of August 25, 2014

Jury Conviction

         A jury convicted Lawrence resident Jeanette R. Denton/2012CR906, 53; on Wednesday, August 27 of two counts of assault announces District Attorney Charles Branson.  The Court immediately proceeded to the sentencing phase and sentenced her to 30 days in jail for each count to run concurrently, one year of probation and ordered mental health treatment be provided.

         The D.A.’s case was filed as the result of an incident on October 3, 2012.  Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Lawrence Police Department officers were dispatched to a residence in the 1200 block of North 1300 Road to a disturbance with weapons.  Law enforcement learned through their investigation that Denton took a bus to a residence her family was attempting to sell and soon two relatives arrived at the home to complete yard work.  Denton told them to leave and when they refused, Denton pulled out a black handgun and began to waive the gun in their direction.  Denton then left the area on foot.  Law enforcement quickly set up a search perimeter and located Denton walking in a wooded area a short distance from the scene.  Officers later determined the gun was a Crossman C11 BB gun she carried specifically to intimidate people.

         The Honorable Sally D. Pokorny heard the case in her Division Two courtroom.  The case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Lawrence Police Department and it was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Andrew Bauch. 

Sentencings

         Lawrence resident Michael L. Howard/2013CR1217, 31, was sentenced yesterday, Thursday, August 28 for his July 24 no contest plea to aggravated battery.  The Court sentenced Howard to 24 months probation with Community Corrections with an underlying sentence of 12 months in the custody of the Kansas Secretary of Corrections.  He must also undergo a domestic violence evaluation, anger management and a drug evaluation and he must follow any resulting recommendations from the evaluations.

         The D.A.’s case was filed as a result of the Lawrence Police Department being dispatched on December 23, 2013 to Lawrence Memorial Hospital in reference to a battery that had occurred earlier in the night.  Howard had beaten the victim with his fists and a metal object.  The victim was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for treatment of a cut to the back of her head and facial injuries.

         The case was heard in the Division Four courtroom of the Honorable Michael J. Malone.  It was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and the Kansas City Police Department (Missouri) and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Catherine Decena and Rebekah Gaston.

         Abel Guzman/2013CR952, 28; was sentenced today, Friday, August 29 for his June 27 no contest plea to indecent liberties with a child.  The Court sentenced Guzman to 32 months in the custody of Kansas Secretary of Corrections.  Upon his release from prison, Guzman will have face lifetime post-release supervision and must register as a sex-offender for 25 years.

         The D.A.’s case was filed as a result of an investigation by officers with the Lawrence Police Department into a sex crime against a then 15-year-old Lawrence girl at an apartment in the 2300 block of Ridge Court.

         The case was heard in the Division Three courtroom of the Honorable Barbara Kay Huff.  It was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Mark Simpson.

Other

         Brien Hickman/2014CR718 a 38-year-old Lawrence resident had an appearance in Court on Thursday.  The Court scheduled a preliminary hearing on Thursday, September 18 at 2:00 p.m. in the Division Five courtroom of the Honorable Paula B. Martin.

         The case against Hickman was a result of Tuesday’s traffic incident that ultimately involved multiple law enforcement agencies.  He is currently charged with two counts of felony flee or elude a police officer, felony criminal damage to property, driving while suspended (third or subsequent), leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving.

         Any charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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