Lawrence Resident Guilty of Robbery and Other Charges
03/11/2010
CONTACT INFO: Charles Branson Douglas County District Attorney 785-841-0211 cbranson@douglas-county.com Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces yesterday a jury found Lawrence resident Franz Casey Stangl, 26, guilty of Robbery (Level 5/Person/Felony), Aggravated Burglary (Level 5/Person/Felony), Intimidation of a witness or victim (Class B/Person/Misdemeanor), and Criminal Damage to Property (Class B/Non Person Misdemeanor). The trial began on Monday and testimony continued through most of Tuesday. The case was turned over to the jury at approximately 3:30 p.m. and deliberation continued until about 5:00 p.m. The jury returned to continue deliberation Wednesday morning and returned its verdict shortly before 11:00 a.m. On Friday, August 7 at approximately 9:49 p.m. officers with the Lawrence Police Department were dispatched to the 900 block of Louisiana to a burglary in progress. Upon arrival officers found the defendant attempting to run from an apartment. An officer ordered him to the ground at gunpoint and took him into custody. Through their investigation, officers learned the defendant and an accomplice pounded on the victim's door shortly before kicking it in. The defendant held a gun to the victim's head, demanded items the victim did not have and proceeded to punch, kick and stomp the victim's head. They also broke his glasses, a spare pair on his desk, ripped his modem out of his wall and took his cell phone. Mr. Stangl will be sentenced on April 16th at 8:30 a.m. For each of the first and second charges he faces 31-136 months in prison and for each of the third and forth charges he faces up to 12 months in jail and fines. The accomplice in the case, Mark J. Ottman plead no contest in November to the charges of Robbery and Aggravated Burglary. He was sentenced by the Court to the Secretary of Corrections for a period of 32 months. The trial was heard in the Courtroom of the Honorable Robert W. Fairchild, the case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and Assistant District Attorney Eve Kemple prosecuted the case. -30-
Media Contact:
Cheryl L. Wright - Assistant to the District Attorney
District Attorney's Office
785-841-0211
cwright@douglas-county.com