Sentencing

Motel attack defendant gets nearly 50 years

A fourth person was sentenced Friday in connection with the beating and stabbing of an American Indian in a North Lawrence motel.

Jeremy S. Harris of Guthrie, Okla., was given 592 months, or 49 years, of prison time for the aggravated kidnapping of Josh Greemore, Mayetta, who was left to die near Riverfront Park in a March 10 attack.

Harris’ attorney asked the judge to cut that sentence for the 25-year-old nearly in half, citing Harris’ youth and cooperation with the court. But Douglas County Judge Jack Murphy denied the motion, calling the crime “horrendous.” He also noted Harris’ record, which includes charges of burglary and attempted escape from custody as a 17-year-old.

Paula Hopkins, Greemore’s mother, spoke to the court. She said Harris’ action had made her family lose trust in people.

Scott Staggs, 34, was sentenced to 59 years in prison two weeks ago for his role in the crime. Leslie T. Howe, 23, and Sara M. Bruce, 19, were convicted earlier of aggravated battery. Staggs, Howe and Bruce are all of Emporia.

James A. Keezer, 21, a transient, is scheduled to go to trial Dec. 9.

Celebrity

Ryan Lane

Turnpike flood ‘hero’ featured in People

An article on heroes in the current issue of People magazine includes a profile and a photograph of Lawrence resident Ryan Lane.

Lane, 24, above, helped several motorists to safety after coming upon a flooded portion of the Kansas Turnpike shortly before 9 p.m. Aug. 30.

Six people — a 33-year-old mother, her four children, and a heroic passerby — died in the flash flood.

“My initial reaction to being in People magazine was that I really didn’t want to do it,” Lane said. “But the more I thought about all the bad news that’s going on, I figured it was time for some good news. So I said OK.”

Of his time in the limelight, Lane said: “I’ve been waiting for my 15 minutes of fame to end, but it seems to keep getting bigger and bigger.”

Lane graduated from Kansas University in 2001. He plans to pursue a master’s degree next year. Meanwhile, he’s a desk clerk at the Ramada Inn, 2222 W. Sixth St.