Three men received probation for an incident in which a 19-year-old man was held, beaten and robbed inside an eastern Lawrence home.
A Douglas County judge sentenced Jack Proctor, Nick Varner and Eli Woodman to two years of probation.
The three 21-year-old Lawrence men were convicted of aggravated assault and aggravated battery for holding the man at gunpoint in January inside a house in the 1300 block of Pennsylvania.
They originally faced more severe charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping.
All three were facing prison time, but the judge ruled that because the defendants did not have any criminal history, it was in the public’s best interest to instead place them on probation.
Comments
hav2say 5 years ago
Yes, Did_I_say_that, they ARE in fact convicted criminals. They did commit a criminal act. How clever of you to point out the obvious. What I MEANT (and I'm pretty sure you realized what I was getting at and are just nit-picking) was that they're not, by nature, criminals. They're not bad people. They've never done anything "criminal" in the past and will never do anything "criminal" again. And yes,according to the judge, they WILL be able to have their records expunged in the future. Like I said above, thank goodness the judge could see their true characters and is giving them a chance to prove themselves.
couranna1 5 years ago
you are a moron hav2say. but where were all these people when they were out F ing up. Obviously two hours away not caring at all what they do. I'm sure Manson had references too. They should have done time They had a gun and that should make it mandatory time. It was only economics and a disgusting judge malone that kicked these three violent criminals with a slap on the wrists. sounds like you like them and thats cool but they should have done time and you know it I know it the whole city knows it. Pull a gun on someone is a crime and they should have done time your opinion is dismissed much like malone dismissed public safety on this
Benjamin Roberts 5 years ago
hav2say (Anonymous) says… "...People drove 2 hours to be there for them, because they knew they were not criminals. ... They made a horrible mistake, they did a very bad thing, but they aren't criminals ..."
You are wrong, hav2say. "The three 21-year-old Lawrence men were convicted of aggravated assault and aggravated battery for holding the man at gunpoint ..."
This may be an isolated incident. They obviously have a lot of community support. However, they are convicted criminals. Moreover, unless they are allowed to have their records expunged in the future, they will always be convicted criminals.
hav2say 5 years ago
Obviously no one who is commenting knows anything about this case except for what they've read in a few paragraphs in the paper. #1 NO the "victim" was not black...what would make anyone assume that? The kidnapping and robbery charges were dropped because upon investigation it was realized that there WAS NO kidnapping or robbery involved. All three of these boys have proven themselves immensely throughout their incarceration, one of them moved up to trustee, one received work release, they all had more visitors than Douglas County jail has ever seen. Their attorneys were flooded with character reference letters and testimony. I was at every one of their court dates, and I didn't HAVE to be, as were about 50 other people who were supporting them from their hometown and from Lawrence. People drove 2 hours to be there for them, because they knew they were not criminals. The judge and attornies also commented on the fact that they had NEVER seen so much support for people being accused of a crime. I believe the word the judge used was "anomaly" (1. a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form. 3. an odd, peculiar, or strange condition, situation, quality, etc. 4. an incongruity or inconsistency) In other words, he realized that this was an isolated case that will never be repeated. They made a horrible mistake, they did a very bad thing, but they aren't criminals and they are all very remorseful of their deed. It was so far out of character, that THEY are still in disbelief of their actions. I'm so thankful to Judge Malone that he could see their true characters and give them all a 2nd chance, they truly deserve it. I'm sorry you all have to rely on a paragraph in a newspaper to form your opinions, because that's just not enough. Why do people judge when they don't even know a PORTION of the story, I really don't think they're qualified to do so.
redemption 5 years ago
A co-worker of mine knows the 3 people... Mentioned that a couple days before, the man they "kidnapped" broke into their house and robbed them.... payback? good.
tempting_butnothanks 5 years ago
"and they ARE good people."
Really? because good people where i come from don't get themselves into situations where they would be holding someone hostage with a gun and beating them.
How does that play out? they were just 3 lads hanging out at their local community center helping some old ladies across the street, suddenly a black guy showed up (i presume he's black because that's the popular story here) and they were forced to take his gun away from him and hold him until police arrived?
somehow, i think not. I bet it was more like "where the F is my money, homie?"
geniusmannumber1 5 years ago
ebyrdstarr appears to be the only one on this board who knows what he/she's talking about. Most of the others are having trouble reading. Or racists. Or idiot Yellow House apologists. Or a combination thereof.
couranna1 5 years ago
WRONG answer ahhh poor babies they feel bad they got caught community corrections is a joke as it not monitored as it should be I do not know who you are but you only enhanced my opinion
hsiwlaln 5 years ago
You asked where we were, so here I am. I can assure you that with the level 7 felonies these men received, as well as the SIXTY-EIGHT days they spent in jail, two years of strict community corrections, large amount of restitution, and the fact that they must register as violent offenders, they have learned their lesson. They DO feel a great deal of remorse for what they did, and they ARE good people. Lucky for them, MIKE MALONE saw that and gave them a chance to prove themselves. As the Lawrence community, you should follow suit.
demonfury 5 years ago
If these three have no previous criminal history, they obviously haven't gotten caught until now. I can't imagine three law abiding young men just suddenly waking up one morning and deciding, hmmm. today I think I'll commit a triple felony by kidnapping, beating, and holding a person gunpoint. What kind of a judge doesn't figure that in before sentencing? Also, who can hold the LJW accountable for with holding the name of the Judge in this article?
couranna1 5 years ago
Lawrence justice is a joke and they should go to the joint for such a bogus sentence. I mean the judge and DA that tolerated this crap
couranna1 5 years ago
Lawrence justice is a joke and they should go to the joint for such a bogus sentence. Cops are scared and judges make sure they stay way by letting scum stay out of the joint. I guess if I ever go broke I can rob something and if it is my first time I'll get off How sad is this
ll three were facing prison time, but the judge ruled that because the defendants did not have any criminal history, it was in the public’s best interest to instead place them on probation.
Did this loser judge say how it was in the publics best interest. are these kidnappers for hire or something. I am disgusted.
lawthing 5 years ago
And if I remember right, isnt one of the owners of Yellow House black?
lawthing 5 years ago
Somebody knows these "fine young men"..
.Yep I would guess they are definately white..and the kidnapped victim was black
Race card or not!
grammaddy 5 years ago
Charges reduced from agg. robbery and agg. kidnapping to aggravated assault and battery. A gun was involved! I guess justice is blind deaf and downright stupid in Douglas County. Just because they had no previous record is no excuse. Starting out with a gun should have gotten them a little time anyway.
jeffds01 5 years ago
two years of probation for holding someone at gunpoint.
very interesting, i guess we can all get away with anything, atleast once.
lawrence courts give me a break, punish law breaker, anyone treating someone with a gun should do automatic jail time no questions asked
RoeDapple 5 years ago
Where are the "I know these fine young upstanding decent gentlemen" who "don't deserve your unfair remarks" if "you knew them" you "would love them with all your heart" this will "follow them the rest of their lives" you "can't know the shame they feel" crowd on this one?
tjhoops69 5 years ago
Can someone please explain "It was in the publics best interest" to give them probation? I just do not understand that statement, that is the most asinine statement I have ever heard, I think!
lionheart72661 5 years ago
Woodduck_5363 (Anonymous) says…
Only in Lawrence. Was it a black man they held ??????
Why the race card again "PLEASE STOP" this is really getting old. Woodduck were in the 21St century not the 1960's.
Woodduck_5363 5 years ago
Only in Lawrence. Was it a black man they held ??????
whatifeelfyi 5 years ago
It is in the public's best interest that kidnapper's with guns are put on probation? Three 21 year olds with guns against a 19 year old? Something is very wrong here.
Pudgy1 5 years ago
crime doesn't pay...except in LIBERAL DOUGLAS COUNTY!
jeeezus....holding folks at gunpoint, beating, kidnapping...and this isn't worth jail time? what the hell does someone have to do to get jail time? oh yeah, have a friggin' joint
ebyrdstarr 5 years ago
Skinny, there's no such thing as a Class A felony. Aggravated assault is a level 7 felony. The most serious grid offenses are level 1, the lowest are level 10. With no criminal history, people convicted of aggravated assault would be presumptive probation in most cases. The use of a gun changes that and makes it presumptive prison. But probation for a level 7 offense with no criminal history is a pretty normal sentence.
lawthing 5 years ago
yes whatifeeify,
My question would be, Where they white boys who kidnapped a black dude?
macon47 5 years ago
blame it on george bush
whatifeelfyi 5 years ago
In response to Skinny not everyone gets that lucky even with the same judge. It depends on who you are and who you know. My question is who was their attorney's whether court appointed or paid for they sure did a great job!
lawthing 5 years ago
ITs always about the cover-up!
skinny 5 years ago
The LJWorld isn't publishing the Judges names now!
Can't wait till we get a real newpaper in this town that prints the local news.
Benjamin Roberts 5 years ago
Possibly, this will answer some questions, while raising others.
From LJW: By George Diepenbrock February 26, 2009
"Malone is scheduled to sentence the three defendants March 27. Cheryl Wright, a spokeswoman for Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson, said because a gun was used during the crime, it’s presumed the defendants will be sentenced to prison. All three men remained in custody Thursday."
Benjamin Roberts 5 years ago
"...A Douglas County judge sentenced Jack Proctor, Nick Varner and Eli Woodman to two years of probation." "...but the judge ruled..."
LJW - Does "the judge" have a name? Possibly one that we can remember on the next retention vote.
lawthing 5 years ago
Maybe they are just too busy handing down all the prison time and harsh sentances on the Yellow House owners!
macon47 5 years ago
shoot all 3 in the head , throw them in the kaw and let them float to eudora
Danimal 5 years ago
You know, I don't care if they have a criminal history or not, at the point that they are willing to beat and kidnap someone at gunpoint they need some time out. These aren't shoplifters or non-violent offenders, these guys have shown they have the capacity for violence and need to be punished. Guaranteed these guys end up in jail for a parole violation (or worse) within the next few years.
Steve Jacob 5 years ago
Wow! The guy holding the gun should at least face jail time.
skinny 5 years ago
Class A felony and they get two years probation!
What a JOKE!
It is pretty bad when other states send you to prison for 35 years for kidnapping and here in Douglas County Kansas you get two years probation.
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