Weekend wrap-up: Attempted rape charges downgraded; three face charges in home invasion

• Two Lawrence men and a Perry man were charged this week with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count each of aggravated burglary, theft, possession of marijuana and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery in connection with a Jan. 17 incident at an apartment in the 1700 block of West 24th Street. Robert Lee Coleman, 19, Lawrence, Quentin Marcel Hill, 18, Lawrence, and Charles T. Brockman, 25, Perry, appeared Jan. 18 in Douglas County District Court, where prosecutors accused them of using a handgun to commit a robbery at a Lawrence apartment, stealing $260 in cash, a television, a Playstation gaming system, and a jar containing six grams of marijuana. Brockman faces the additional charge of misdemeanor battery. Bond was set at $75,000 and the three next appear in court Feb. 4. Aggravated robbery is a felony that carries a potential sentence of 247 months in prison, depending on a person’s criminal history. Aggravated burglary is a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 136 months in prison.

• Charges of attempted rape and criminal restraint filed last year against a 31-year-old man were dropped this week by Douglas County prosecutors, who replaced them with one charge of aggravated sexual battery. Prosecutors said they chose to file a lesser charge based on the evidence that would be available at trial. According to police, the alleged crime took place Aug. 20 at a central Lawrence residence, and the victim was an acquaintance of the suspect. Aggravated sexual battery is a felony that can carry a sentence of up to 136 months in prison, depending on a person’s criminal history.

• Three people suspected of using a stolen truck to try to steal scrap metal in Jefferson County have been charged with misdemeanor counts of trespassing and attempted theft. Shawn C. Akins, 25, Ottawa, Jacquelyn N. Akins, 28, Lawrence, and Rachelle L. Hufford, 24, Ottawa, were arrested Jan. 17, suspected of using a stolen truck to try to steal scrap metal from property in the 2200 block of Trego Road, which is about 12 miles north of Lawrence near Wellman Road in Jefferson County. In Jefferson County District Court on Wednesday, Shawn and Jacquelyn Akins were each charged with misdemeanor counts of obstruction, criminal trespass and attempted theft. Their next court appearance is Jan. 28. Hufford was charged with criminal trespass and attempted theft and she will appear in court Jan. 29.

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