Man who helped in getaway after bar altercation reaches diversion agreement

A 19-year-old Leavenworth man has reached a diversion agreement with prosecutors for driving a co-defendant from an altercation outside a Lawrence bar last October.

Spencer S. Hildebrandt agreed to pay $195.50 in court costs and a $150 diversion fee and to perform 100 hours of community service work before the end of the year. He was initially charged with obstruction for driving Mardo Wayne Johnson Jr., 22, also of Leavenworth, away after witnessing Johnson fire several shots at employees of the incident former Taste Lounge, Bar and Grill, 804 W. 24th St. Johnson had an altercation with bar employees, and both men were later arrested by Lawrence police.

Johnson on Monday pleaded no contest to two counts of aggravated assault in the case, but his plea did not mention firing shots, only that he used a vehicle as a weapon.

District Judge Kay Huff is scheduled to sentence Johnson on Oct. 5.