Matthew Jaeger's sentencing delayed as defense continues work on appeal / LJWorld.com

Jaeger sentencing delayed

A Douglas County judge delayed Matthew Jaeger's sentencing to allow more time for an appeal. Enlarge video

Matthew Jaeger: Guilty Verdict

More coverage of the trial of a former Kansas University student accused of beating and kidnapping his ex-girlfriend.

A Douglas County judge has agreed to delay the sentencing of a former Kansas University student who, in August, was convicted of the 2007 beating and kidnapping of his ex-girlfriend.

Defense attorneys for Matthew P. Jaeger, 24, of Riverwoods, Ill., have asked for more time to file a motion for a new trial. Originally, sentencing was scheduled for Sept. 25.

A jury convicted Jaeger of kidnapping, aggravated battery and making a criminal threat. Prosecutors accused Jaeger of breaking into the Lawrence apartment of his ex-girlfriend, Francie Biggs, 23, the night of Oct. 9, 2007, and threatening Dylan Jones, the man she was with that night.

Biggs, who spoke out after the verdict and agreed to be identified by the Journal-World, also testified that Jaeger choked her unconscious. She awoke with injuries to her external vaginal area.

Prosecutors said Jaeger punched or kicked her, but Jaeger testified he found Biggs injured and was trying to get her to the hospital. The defense also said scientific evidence in the case pointed to Biggs injuring herself with a fall onto a bed rail.

Police eventually pulled over Jaeger’s car, which his friend, Evan Carroll, was driving, and found Jaeger and Biggs in the back seat.

Jurors did not convict Jaeger of the more serious aggravated kidnapping charge he faced, and they also failed to reach a verdict on aggravated burglary.

Jaeger is in custody in the Douglas County Jail, and he faces at least four years in prison. After the verdict, his defense attorneys said an appeal was a certainty.

The defense asked for a mistrial during deliberations because they said one juror disobeyed instructions and re-enacted material facts of the case. Chief District Judge Robert Fairchild instead dismissed the juror for misconduct and replaced him with an alternate juror.

Fairchild has agreed to the delay the sentencing. A new date has not yet been set, an assistant to the judge said Tuesday.

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 7 years, 8 months ago

He is in prison, consumer1.

"Jaeger is in custody in the Douglas County Jail, and he faces at least four years in prison."

booze_buds_03 7 years, 8 months ago

Hey Bozo-Douglas county jail and "Prison" are two very different things. So, no he is not in prison, yet.

Yea, I bet he's singing choruses of "Free Bird" while he's locked in that cell.

mrbig 7 years, 8 months ago

Hopefully karma kicks in, and while this POS is in prison he will receive trauma to his pelvic region. Something tells me this appeals process will be ongoing.

nekansan 7 years, 8 months ago

Appeal all you want but why would that change sentencing? I'd love to see the judge offer to delay sentencing if Jeager does not get credit for the time he spends in jail delaying his sentence.

billbodiggens 7 years, 8 months ago

The headline said they were working on an appeal. There was nothing in the article that related to any appeal. A motion for a new trial is not an appeal. Even the dolts attending KU law school know that.

Sigmund 7 years, 8 months ago

Each day you sit in jail is a day less in prison, with time served credited. As has been pointed out there is a huge difference between the two, especially when it comed to personal safety. Given a choice, spend as much time of your prison sentence in jail.

Archive for Tuesday, September 15, 2009