Suspect charged in hotel robbery

A Lawrence man was charged Friday with the July robbery of Westminister Inn, 2525 W. Sixth St.

Michael E. Smith, 28, 530 Eldridge St., is in the Douglas County Jail on $15,000 bond. He was served with a warrant Thursday by Douglas County Sheriff’s officers, but no details about the arrest were available late Friday.

At 10:23 p.m. July 12 a man entered the hotel and demanded money from the clerk, according to police reports. No weapon was seen. The suspect then left the hotel.

Smith is to appear in court again at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Bounty hunter gets two-year sentence

A former Lawrence bounty hunter was sentenced Friday to two years in prison for holding two people against their will while searching for a bail jumper.

Tim James, 41, was convicted earlier this month of two counts of criminal restraint. Friday, Douglas County District Judge Michael Malone ordered James to spend a year in prison on each conviction. The sentences will be served concurrently.

James is already serving a 21-year prison sentence in Lansing for convictions a year ago in Jefferson County. He was convicted of planning a burglary that led to the beating of an elderly man.

He will serve Friday’s sentences after he completes the Jefferson County sentence.

A second man convicted in the case, Michael L. Johnson, 34, Kansas City, Mo., was recently ordered to serve two years of probation on convictions of attempted aggravated burglary and making a criminal threat.

Suspect charged in rape of 4-year-old girl

A 36-year-old Lawrence man has been charged with raping and assaulting a 4-year-old girl.

The man was picked up Thursday by Douglas County Sheriff’s officers on a warrant and booked into jail.

He appeared in court Friday on charges of rape and taking indecent liberties with a child. The rape allegedly occurred in June and the indecent liberties incident in May. No other details were released.

The suspect is being held on $25,000 bond. He is to appear in court again at 2 p.m. Oct. 3. The Journal-World generally doesn’t publish the names of sex crime suspects.

Two face charges in alleged bar assault

Two men were arrested early Friday for assaulting a woman in It’s Brother’s Bar, 1105 Mass.

About 1:30 a.m., a woman approached a police officer near the bar and complained to him about the two men. One of the men allegedly touched her inappropriately and the other threw a drink on her, according to the police report.

The suspects were found and taken to the Douglas County Jail.

A 25-year-old Lawrence man was charged Friday afternoon with sexual battery. His bond was set at $2,500 and he is to appear in court again at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 9. The Journal-World generally does not publish the names of sex crime suspects until they have been convicted.

The second suspect, James D. Hawkins, 23, 2618 Ridge Court, was charged with misdemeanor battery. His bond was set at $2,500 and he is to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 9.

Fight at high school sends one to hospital

One student suffered injuries and went to Lawrence Memorial Hospital after a fight Friday in the parking lot of a Lawrence high school.

Two boys exchanged words and physical blows after lunch Friday at Lawrence Alternative High School, 2600 W. 25th St., Lawrence Police Sgt. Paul Fellers said.

The fight occurred at 1:38 p.m. in a parking lot east of the school, he said.

One of the boys, 17, suffered a sinus fracture and a concussion, Fellers said. He went by personal vehicle to LMH, where he was treated and released.

Fellers did not know the other student’s age.

Police did not take either boy into custody. The incident is under investigation.