Chase suspect’s criminal history is lengthy

A Topeka woman accused of leading law enforcement on an hourlong chase through Douglas County is a convicted felon and has an extensive criminal history throughout northeast Kansas.

Barbara Jo Schnegelsiepen, 27, was convicted in Jackson County for possessing opiates, opium or narcotic drugs and for having a fictitious or revoked driver’s license on May 26, 2006, Kansas Department of Corrections records said. She was released from custody Oct. 1, 2007.

Schnegelsiepen was convicted of theft of property valued between $1,000 and $25,000 on July 1, 2004, corrections records said. She was convicted on June 22, 2006, for criminal trespass for a March 30, 2004, crime. Both of these crimes occurred in Shawnee County.

According to Shawnee County District Court records, Schnegelsiepen has a criminal history there, including four convictions through plea agreements since 2004. In one, she entered a no-contest plea in March 2005 to one count of battery of a law enforcement officer. A judge later revoked her probation in that case and then reinstated it.

In April 2008, she was charged with theft and battery in Shawnee County, according to court records. A judge sentenced her to 12 months of supervised probation on Sept. 19, the records said.

“She does have a criminal record. At this point it’s not clear how many convictions she has,” David Melton, chief assistant district attorney, said during Schnegelsiepen’s first appearance Wednesday.

Douglas County prosecutors said the woman currently is on probation in Shawnee County.