WRITER: Kim Callahan

Lawrence woman accused of killing dog and injuring woman in a hit-and-run applies for diversion

A woman accused in a March hit-and-run that killed a dog and critically injured its owner has applied for a diversion in the case. Lasean Dixon, of Lawrence, made her first court appearance in September on a felony charge of leaving the scene of an injury accident, and she appeared again on Wednesday, when her attorney, Jessica Glendening, told the court that her client had filed a diversion application with ...

Deputy DA tells court that man with 37 convictions 'can't be reformed'; judge gives him 17 years for armed home invasion

A Lawrence man who has racked up 37 criminal convictions in the past 30 years was sentenced on Tuesday to 17 years in prison for invading a Lawrence woman’s home at gunpoint and robbing her. Douglas County District Court Judge Stacey Donovan handed down the sentence to Chester Wendell Brockman, 52, after finding no substantial or compelling reasons for a lighter term and citing the “sheer quantity of ...

Judge finds self-described 'monster' guilty of multiple sex crimes against children after 2-day trial

A Douglas County judge, after a two-day bench trial, on Tuesday found a Lawrence man guilty of multiple sex crimes against children in a long-running case in which the man had at one point described himself to police as a “monster” but then opted to spend years fighting the charges. Judge Sally Pokorny found Dustyn Polk, 49, guilty of one count of rape, one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a ...

Witnesses testify about heavy drug use, arguments on day Lawrence woman was killed at homeless camp

Updated at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7 Eleven former residents of a Lawrence homeless camp took the witness stand Monday to testify about events surrounding the homicide of a fellow camper in February, painting a lurid picture of heavy drug use and interpersonal strife but also of a close-knit community committed to helping one another survive. The testimony came at the preliminary hearing for Julius Beasley, who ...

At forum, DA candidates share concerns about racism in justice system, discuss plans if elected

Both candidates vying to be Douglas County’s next district attorney acknowledged, at a forum Sunday, that unquestionable discrimination exists in the criminal justice system against people of color, and they vowed to combat it if elected. “There is no question that endemically and systemically there exists discrimination in the criminal justice system,” Republican Mike Warner said at the forum hosted by ...

They've waited over 3 years for justice in their son's death; last-minute delay in sentencing for this reason feels 'cruel and insulting'

The family of a 21-year-old man who died of a fentanyl overdose more than three years ago was incensed and saddened Friday when the woman responsible for his death was allowed yet another delay in the case — this time a delay in her sentencing for involuntary manslaughter, ostensibly because she had become pregnant while being free on bond. "Today is three years, five months and 13 days following Kendall's ...