Sentencing Results - Limburg, Howard and Coker

         Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces Lawrence resident Michael J. Limburg, 46; was sentenced this morning to life in prison without the possibility of parole for at least 25 years.  The sentencing follows the April 3 jury conviction of Limburg of 14 charges.  Those charges were 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a child – promoting a performance and four counts of exploitation of a child – possessing a visual depiction.

         Investigation into the case began in May 2012, when Detective Dean Ohman of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Detective T.J. Shavers and Detective Christopher Evans of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office regarding a possible cyber crime that was being committed in Douglas County, Kansas.  During the same month, in a completely independent investigation, Detective Shawn Bostick who was at that time employed by the Wichita Police Department contacted Detective Ohman regarding a possible cyber crime involving the same person.  Both investigators provided Detective Ohman with an IP address located in Douglas County.  Detective Ohman collected two computers and 25 floppy disks from the Defendant.  Detective Ohman conducted a forensic examination of those computers and as a result, the Defendant was charged.

         The case was heard in the Division Four courtroom of the Honorable Michael J. Malone.  It was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and the Wichita Police Department.  It was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Catherine Decena and Mark Simpson.

OTHER SENTENCINGS

         Lawrence resident Phillip Scott Howard, 29; was sentenced yesterday to 47 months in the custody of Kansas Secretary of Corrections for aggravated battery, aggravated assault, felony criminal damage to property and felony theft.  Upon release from prison, Howard will be on post-release supervision for 24 months and he will be required to repay $16,976.30 in restitution to the victims.  Because these crimes were committed with a firearm, also upon release from prison, he will have to register as a violent offender for 15 years.

         The aggravated battery and aggravated assault stem from an incident that occurred January 18 at a local apartment complex.  Howard fired three shots at an individual while Howard was inside an apartment, one of which went through the apartment door and through the door of the apartment across the hallway, injuring the occupant.

         The criminal damage to property and theft arose from an incident on January 13, 2012.  Howard was angry with his girlfriend at that time, stole her vehicle and drove it into a lake.  The vehicle and all the contents were destroyed.

         Lawrence resident Richard P. Coker, 57; was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in the custody of the Secretary of Corrections for his July 23 no contest plea to the felony charge of arson. 

         The arson charge stems from April 1, when Coker damaged the Jayhawk Motel when he tried to start it on fire by pouring gasoline on the building and lighting it.

         Howard’s and Coker’s sentencings were both in the Division Two courtroom of the Honorable Sally D. Pokorny.  Howard’s case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and Coker’s case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and Lawrence Douglas County Fire and Medical.  Both cases were prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Eve Kemple.

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