Area briefs

Lansing prisoner faces Douglas County charges

A Lawrence man serving time in prison for convictions last year in Jefferson County is in Douglas County to face charges of kidnapping and aggravated burglary.

Timothy J. James, 40, will have his first appearance on the charges at 2 p.m. today in Douglas County District Court. Details about the circumstances behind the charges will not be released until the court appearance.

Tuesday afternoon, James had a first appearance before Judge Pro Tem Peggy Kittel on an Oct. 11, 2000, charge of driving while his driver’s license was suspended. He is to appear in court at 11 a.m. June 5 in that case.

James has been transferred from the Lansing Correctional Facility to the Douglas County Jail for the court proceedings.

In January, a Jefferson County judge sentenced James to a total of 21 years in prison for aiding and abetting aggravated kidnapping, aiding and abetting aggravated robbery and aiding and abetting aggravated burglary.

Break-in at apartment leads to teen’s arrest

A man armed with a gun who allegedly broke into his wife’s apartment early Tuesday and threatened her and two children was arrested by Lawrence Police.

Police received a call about 4:30 a.m. from a 21-year-old woman who said a man was breaking out a window to her apartment and trying to get in, Sgt. Mike Pattrick said.

The first officer to arrive at the apartment in the 2300 block of West 26th Street reported hearing a fight inside. When a second officer arrived, the suspect opened the apartment door and then shut it again, Pattrick said.

A short time later the suspect surrendered, Pattrick said. The 19-year-old Lawrence man was taken by police to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for treatment of cuts from the broken window before he was booked into jail.

The woman did not seek medical treatment, and her two children, a 4-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl, were not hurt. The woman said she had fought with the man earlier in the day, police said.

The suspect remained in jail Tuesday pending filing of charges.

New group for youths to focus on volunteerism

A volunteer council formed by youths for youths will have its informational meeting at 7 p.m. today in the Lawrence Public Library auditorium, 707 Vt.

The meeting is open to all Douglas County students in all grades.

Free State High School senior Darion Pearson, Southwest Junior High School freshmen Andrea Chao, Dhwani Shah and Diane Alexander and Quail Run School fifth-grader Brock Norwood will make up the initial council.

Working closely with the Roger Hill Volunteer Center and Americorps Promise Fellow Matt Rehder, the council aims to promote youth volunteerism, plan service activities and recognize youth volunteers and their contributions to the community.

The group hopes to bring 1,000 new youths to community service by 2005.