A Lawrence man awaiting trial for sexually targeting numerous pre-teen girls at a Lawrence middle school has now been charged with multiple additional sex crimes going back 16 years.
The defendant, Kenneth W. Soap, 44, was charged Thursday with three counts of aggravated sexual battery related to two incidents in May of 2008 and one in February 2012, and one count of aggravated criminal sodomy for an incident ...
A University of Kansas student who was originally charged with rape was sentenced on Friday to nearly three years in prison — suspended to probation — after accepting a plea deal for aggravated battery and residential burglary.
The student, Esteban Levi Plunkett, 19, was charged with rape in connection with an incident on Oct. 28, 2023.
“He did make some incredibly bad decisions that night,” said his ...
An altercation on a Lawrence city bus Wednesday ended with knives being pulled and one arrest being made, according to Lawrence police.
A little after 5:30 p.m. officers were called to the 2400 block of Venture Park Drive for reports of a disturbance with weapons on a bus. When officers arrived on scene, no active disturbance was occurring, but two individuals were identified as being involved, according to ...
A firm trial date has now been set for a man accused of raping a woman in Lawrence more than seven years ago — after the court and the state both expressed frustration with multiple delays sought by the defendant.
“I’m not moving these dates, so don’t ask,” Judge Amy Hanley told the parties on Thursday as she scheduled a May 2025 trial for Reston K. Phillips, whose defense attorney, Joe Huerter, has ...
A Lawrence man was found guilty Wednesday in Douglas County District Court of recklessly fleeing from police and battering an officer.
The defendant, Michael Andrew Smith, 40, as part of a deal with the District Attorney’s Office, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery of an officer and to felony flee and elude.
The charges stem from an incident on May 6 when officers attempted to stop Smith on suspicion of ...
A Lawrence man who was charged last year with attempted first-degree murder after allegedly shooting a man was found guilty Wednesday in Douglas County District Court of the lesser crime of aggravated battery.
Evan Gauge Heffner, 19, pleaded no contest to the reduced charge as part of a deal with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office. In exchange for his plea, the DA’s Office dismissed multiple ...
