• A bench warrant was issued Tuesday for a 26-year-old man facing charges of aggravated battery against a law enforcement officer. Prosecutors accused John S. Kissell of injuring a Lawrence police officer’s knee during a struggle in August, when he attempted to flee police investigating a stolen truck. Douglas County District Court Judge Peggy Kittel issued the warrant after Kissell failed to appear Tuesday for a preliminary hearing in the case, and ruled his $20,000 bond was forfeited.

• Kittel also issued a warrant Tuesday for a 32-year-old Lawrence man charged with aggravated assault and theft stemming from a Dec. 8 incident in which he allegedly threatened another man with a knife over a pair of headphones. Jacob P. Paine failed to appear Tuesday for a preliminary hearing in the case, and Kittel ruled his $15,000 bond forfeit.

• A new jury trial began Wednesday in Douglas County District Court for Christopher Belone, 41, convicted of second-degree murder in the July 2006 beating death of Linda Begay, of Lawrence. The Kansas Supreme Court ordered a new trial in September after finding, based on new case law, that a district court judge erred in allowing into evidence statements Begay made to police she died. Belone had been sentenced to 48 years in prison. The new trial is scheduled to continue Monday.

To view the LJWorld’s weekly arrest map, click here. To view a map of Douglas County registered offenders, click here.