Preliminary hearing for Lawrence robbery suspects delayed

A defense attorney withdrew Tuesday from representing a Kansas City, Kan., man, causing a Douglas County judge to delay a preliminary hearing for two Kansas City, Kan., men accused in a 2008 Lawrence robbery.

Angela Keck told District Judge Kay Huff she had a conflict in representing Christopher J. Jackson, 22, in the case, and Huff appointed John Kerns as Jackson’s new attorney for a Dec. 13 preliminary hearing.

Douglas County prosecutors this month charged Jackson and co-defendant John Thomas Words, 21, with one count each of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and misdemeanor theft, accusing them of participating in a Dec. 3, 2008, armed robbery at a residence in the 3400 block of Augusta Drive, near Clinton Parkway and Kasold Drive.

Lawrence police the day after the initial incident said they believed three suspects were involved and that they took from the home a safe and an undetermined amount of money inside it. Assistant district attorney Eve Kemple said Tuesday authorities have not yet identified the third suspect.

Lawrence police arrested Jackson and Words after an almost three-year investigation in the case. Words is free on $50,000 bond, and Jackson is still in Douglas County Jail.