The 2006 election was two months ago, but Kansas voters are now getting a new wave of calls attacking Attorney General-elect Paul Morrison.

Several Douglas County voters have reported receiving prerecorded calls that claim Morrison is corrupt and has a criminal record. The voters assumed the calls came from Attorney General Phill Kline, who lost his re-election bid to Morrison.

However, the calls are originating from Conrad J. Braun of San Diego. Braun blames Morrison for legal troubles that date back to 1989.

He also owns a call center in California.

Braun’s criminal record in Johnson County begins with a misdemeanor battery conviction in 1989, Johnson County court records show. Morrison was elected Johnson County district attorney that same year, and had worked in the district attorney’s office since 1982.

Character defended

A spokeswoman for Morrison’s office declined to address the specifics of Braun’s claims, but issued a statement defending Morrison’s character.

“Mr. Morrison has earned a reputation as one of Kansas’ toughest prosecutors and as a leader of exceptional personal integrity. He has personally put hundreds of criminals behind bars. It is not surprising that one of them is upset with him,” spokeswoman Ashley Anstaett wrote.

Morrison also does not have a criminal record.

Braun was prosecuted by Morrison in 1990 and 1991 for trespassing and in 1991 for making a criminal threat, according to Kansas court records. He was convicted and received sentences ranging from probation to one to year in prison for those offenses. Braun was also in and out of the Larned Mental Health Facility, prison records show. In addition to his time in state custody, Braun was convicted in federal court in 1994 for wire fraud and interstate transportation of funds obtained by fraud, federal appeals court filings show. Those charges stemmed from his operation of a private mint, where numerous people invested and lost money, in Kansas City, Mo.

Most recently, Braun was sentenced to 29 months in prison in late 2005 for blackmailing the new husband of his ex-wife. He was granted probation on the condition that he serve 60 days of “shock time” – a program meant to show a convicted individual what jail would be like. He is appealing the verdict.

When reached by phone in San Diego, Braun said he intended to keep calling Kansans until either he or Morrison “goes to jail.”

Voters upset

That attitude has upset some Douglas County voters, many of whom are on the state’s Do Not Call list.

“It’s just disgusting. I thought we were through with the elections and wouldn’t have to look forward to this for a few more weeks,” said Ruth Hull of Lawrence.

J. Robert Kent, of Lawrence, echoed Hull’s sentiments, as did Priscilla Ebel, who is on the Do Not Call list. Both Kent and Ebel assumed the calls were Kline’s doing.

“It made me angry and I hung up,” said Ebel of Baldwin City. “I don’t know what the point of the call was.”

A spokesman for Kline did not return messages left on his office and home phones.

According to Joe Molina, an attorney with the attorney general’s office, the phone calls don’t violate the Do Not Call law because Braun’s not trying to sell anything.

“The best course of action is reporting it to the media,” Molina said. He added that he would be looking into the matter, though he doubted he would be able to take any action.

Braun is using Homeytel, a calling company he owns in San Diego, to make the calls to Kansans.

Braun admits the federal conviction he received was legitimate, but he argues the state conviction stemmed from an illegal conspiracy and from Morrison hiding evidence Braun could have used in his defense.

Braun said he has no connection to the race between Kline and Morrison and intentionally chose to start his calling campaign after the election.

“We’re going to keep hitting Kansas,” Braun said. Morrison “needs to resign from office and I’m going to keep hitting him until he does.”