Appeals court panel overturns restitution order against gunman in 2009 shooting

? A Kansas Court of Appeals panel on Friday overturned a restitution order of $662.28 against a man convicted in the 2009 triple shooting outside a Lawrence bar.

Joseph Abdullah Muhammad was sentenced to 53 months in prison on three felony counts of aggravated assault in the March 26, 2009 drive-by shooting outside The Hawk.

Three college students were injured by the gunfire as they stood outside on the street. None were seriously wounded.

Two months after Muhammad was sentenced, Douglas County District Court Judge Michael Malone also ordered Muhammad to pay $662.28 in restitution.

But at that time, Muhammad did not have legal representation.

” … the district court erred in imposing restitution at a time when Muhammad was not represented by counsel,” the panel said. The case of restitution was sent back to the district court to resolve.