Kansas City, Mo.
Team to keep practicing despite sex charges
Some members of the Fabulous Marching Cougars drill team said they have doubts about the sex-abuse charges leveled against their leader.
Brian K. Wilson, 43, of Kansas City, pleaded innocent Wednesday in Jackson County Circuit Court to 14 counts, including statutory rape, statutory sodomy, assault, sexual misconduct and supplying liquor to a minor.
Wilson remained in jail on $200,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for March 23.
Longtime member Laquitta Nevels said many on the drill team don't believe the allegations.
Some drill team members met Wednesday in front of the drill team building to practice for the St. Patrick's Day parade this weekend.
Wilson has faced similar charges before. According to court records, he was convicted in May 1992 of first-degree sexual assault.
Shawnee
Three teens die in road accident
Three teen-age boys died Thursday and another was critically injured after colliding with a vehicle four blocks west of Interstate 35 in Johnson County, police said.
Their identities had not been released Thursday evening.
A car carrying four teen-age boys lost control and ran into another car at 5:42 p.m. on Johnson Drive in Shawnee, said Police Lt. Lawrence Perry. Three of the boys were pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver was transported to the Kansas University Medical Center, where he was in critical condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.
The driver of the second vehicle had minor injuries to the back of the head.
Officials were not certain what caused the boys' car to lose control, but Perry said a witness indicated the car was traveling at high speeds.
TOPEKA
Ex-dispatcher jailed after police chase
A former Shawnee County Sheriff's dispatcher wanted for questioning in the case of her mother's homicide was jailed after leading law enforcement officers on a 40-mile chase.
Marilyn J. Burket, 43, was being held in the Shawnee County Jail on a $50,000 bond on Thursday after Tuesday's chase. Topeka police say she is not a suspect in her mother's death.
Authorities said the chase went through Topeka and ended when a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper used his car to knock her vehicle off Interstate 70 at the Paxico exit in Wabaunsee County.
Police have no suspects in the death of Florence N. Burket, 75, but are treating it as a homicide, Police Sgt. Phil Morrell said.
Florence Burket's body was found Nov. 16 when city workers cleaning a dump site at Gage Park found skeletal remains wrapped in a brown- and rust-colored rug, with the head and shoulders exposed.
Police officers on Wednesday searched Marilyn Burket's home. She was employed by the Shawnee County Sheriff's Department from December 1979 to October 1994, according to the county payroll records.
Marilyn Burket was arrested after the chase for felony eluding of law enforcement officers and a number of traffic offenses, according to the district attorney's office.
Arson suspect faces Tuesday hearing
A Lawrence man will appear in court on Tuesday to face charges of arson in connection with a Kansas University fraternity fire last month.
Thomas R. Cale Jr., 19, is charged with one count of arson and one count of burglary for a Feb. 28 fire that gutted the vacant Phi Kappa Theta house, 1941 Stewart Ave.
Cale will have a preliminary hearing on Tuesday at 2 p.m., where the state will be asked to put forth evidence against him.
Cale, who lists an address of 210 Mich., made a first appearance in Douglas County district court on Wednesday, where he was ordered held in the Douglas County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bond.
Journal-World reporter honored by KBI
Journal-World reporter Kevin Bates received an award on Thursday from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation in recognition of assistance and cooperation.
The award was announced "in grateful recognition of outstanding performance and dedicated service in the Kansas' Most Wanted Program," according to the certificate signed by KBI Director Larry Welch and Special Agent Scott Teeselink.
The award also came with the announcement that last month the KBI cleared its 1,000th capture with the apprehension of Natasha Helm, the Lawrence teen-ager charged with kidnapping two children and taking them to Kansas City, Kan.
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