Juries Convict Three Defendants in Three Trials

07/22/2010
CONTACT INFO: Charles Branson Douglas County District Attorney 785-841-0211 cbranson@douglas-county.com Today Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announced the following jury trial results. Case #1 A jury convicted Lawrence resident Norman C. Bell, 57, yesterday of Driving Under the Influence (fourth or subsequent) and Driving Left of Center. Mr. Bell was pulled over by an officer with the Lawrence Police Department on October 18 at approximately 2:30 a.m. The officer witnessed Mr. Bell weaving between lanes on 23rd Street and then run a red light at the 23rd and Louisiana Street intersection prior to the stop. During the stop Mr. Bell submitted to field sobriety testing and was arrested. When the officer transported him to the Douglas County Jail Mr. Bell refused to submit to a breath test. Mr. Bell plead no contest to driving while suspended and failure to stop at a traffic light prior to the trial. Mr. Bell faces a mandatory 90 days in jail with a maximum sentence of 12 months, a $2,500.00 fine, 12 months of post release supervision with the Kansas Department of Corrections and an alcohol treatment program will be a part of his post release for the DUI. He faces up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.00 for the driving while suspended charge. He will be fined for the traffic infractions. The Kansas Department of Revenue will handle issues surrounding his driver's license. The trial began Tuesday in the Division Five courtroom of the Honorable Paula B. Martin, the jury received the case around noon on Wednesday and the jury deliberated for approximately two hours and 15 minutes before returning its verdict. The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and Assistant District Attorney Michael Allen prosecuted the case. Case #2 A jury convicted Overland Park resident Joshuah Wassmer, 23, yesterday of Driving Under the Influence (second), Driving to the Left of Center and Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign. On February 19, 2009, at about 2:25 a.m., Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Lance Rushmeyer was on routine patrol when he observed a fast moving white Toyota. He began following the vehicle and he observed the driver run a stop sign and then drive left of the center lane. After stopping the vehicle Trooper Rushmeyer detected the odor of alcohol emitting from his breath and noticed his bloodshot, glazed eyes. He had Mr. Wassmer perform field sobriety tests. He performed very poorly on the field tests and was arrested. Mr. Wassmer refused to submit to a breath test when transported to the Douglas County Jail. Mr. Wassmer faces a fine of $1,000.00 to up to $2,500.00, a minimum of five days in jail with a maximum sentence of 12 months and fines for the traffic infractions. The Kansas Department of Revenue will handle issues surrounding his driver's license. The trial began and ended yesterday in the Division One courtroom of the Honorable Robert W. Fairchild. The jury deliberated for about 20 minutes before returning its verdict. The Kansas Highway Patrol investigated the case and Assistant District Attorney Eve Kemple prosecuted the case. Case #3 A jury convicted Lawrence resident Phillip E. Brown, 40, today of Falsely Reporting a Crime. Mr. Brown called law enforcement to report he saw his ex-girlfriend throw eggs at his front door from the parking lot of his apartment building. His ex-girlfriend was actually at a class at the time this supposedly occurred and two witnesses testified to her whereabouts. Broken eggs appeared to have been dropped on the porch, not thrown from the parking lot as the defendant reported. Mr. Brown faces a fine of up to $2,500 and up to one year in jail. The trial began yesterday at 9:00 a.m. in the Division Six courtroom of the Honorable Peggy C. Kittel and the case was given to the jury at approximately 4:45 p.m. The jury deliberated for about 45 minutes before recessing for the night. The jury returned this morning and deliberated for another half of an hour before returning its verdict. The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Britton 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