Jury Convicts Lawrence Woman of Two Counts of Aggravated Endangering a Child and Lewd and Lascivious Behavior

10/04/2010
CONTACT INFO: Charles Branson Douglas County District Attorney 785-841-0211 cbranson@douglas-county.com Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces this afternoon a jury convicted Lawrence resident Natasha M. Brown, 33, of two counts of Aggravated Endangering a Child and one count of Lewd and Lascivious Behavior. All three convictions are felonies. Detectives with the Lawrence Police Department began investing Ms. Brown when a Topeka family contacted them and claimed two of their daughters had been sexually assaulted by Ms. Brown's husband. Charges were filed against her when it was discovered she was aware of the abuse of the children and she had deliberately exposed herself to one of the children. Ms. Brown faces five to 17 months for each of the charges. According to the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines the Judge could sentence her to probation or prison depending on her criminal history. The State filed a Motion for Upward Departure and it will be heard by the Court on October 25 at 9:30 a.m. as Ms. Brown waived her right to have the jury hear the motion. The State will ask at the hearing that Ms. Brown be ordered to serve a longer sentence and ask that the sentence be served in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections. Ms. Brown will be sentenced on a date yet to be determined after the October 25 Motions hearing. The trial began Wednesday, September 29th, closing arguments were delivered this morning and the case went to the jury at 11:00 a.m. The jury deliberated for just over an hour before delivering its verdict. The Honorable Peggy C. Kittel presided over the case. The Lawrence Police Department investigated the case and Chief Assistant District Attorney Amy McGowan prosecuted it. Mr. Brown will go to trial on January 24 on charges of Rape of a Child Under 14 Years of Age, three counts of Aggravated Criminal Sodomy of a Child Under 14 Years of Age and two counts of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child. The charges listed for Mr. Brown are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. -30-

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Media Contact:
Cheryl L. Wright - Assistant to the District Attorney
District Attorney's Office
785-841-0211
cwright@douglas-county.com