Lawrence man convicted in incident of road rage with gun; woman’s attorney to seek dismissal

photo by: Journal-World File Photo

The Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. 11th St., is pictured Sept. 27, 2019.

A man was convicted Friday after reportedly aiming a gun at a fellow driver on Sixth Street, then holing up in an apartment with his female co-defendant.

Chandler A. Grey, 27, of Lawrence, pleaded no contest to one count of aggravated assault, a felony. As part of the plea agreement, the prosecution agreed to drop Grey’s second charge, interference with law enforcement.

According to the police affidavit supporting the arrest of Grey and his co-defendant, 22-year-old Domonique C. Edwards, Grey was a passenger in a vehicle Edwards was driving on Aug. 20.

Stopped in the left lane of the intersection of Sixth and Wisconsin, Grey reportedly swore at a man in the right lane, who returned the sentiment. Then, the man told police, Grey held a revolver out the window and aimed at him, twice miming recoil as though the revolver had been fired. Another man reportedly witnessed the incident and corroborated the alleged victim’s account.

Then, according to the affidavit, Grey and Edwards allegedly sped away and went to an apartment nearby. The two refused to come out, so police obtained a warrant to enter the apartment and search for a gun. Officers used a ram to open the door, the affidavit says, and they reportedly found Grey and Edwards lying in bed and a revolver under the bed.

As part of the plea, prosecutor Cathy Eaton had agreed with Grey’s appointed defense attorney, Hatem Chahine, to recommend Grey serve his sentence as probation rather than in prison. Under state law, because the crime was committed with a firearm, typically a special sentencing rule presuming prison would apply.

However, in sentencing, judges are not bound by recommendations in plea agreements.

Douglas County District Court Chief Judge Peggy Kittel told Grey that based on his criminal history, his sentence for the conviction is in a “twilight zone” and it could be either prison or probation. Kittel said if there are any issues between the hearing and Grey’s sentencing, scheduled for Dec. 13, he was likely going to prison.

Pending a presentence investigation of Grey’s criminal history, his sentence is likely to be 13 months. Grey will have to register as a violent offender for 15 years.

As his case has been pending, Grey has been out of jail on a $6,000 own-recognizance bond with pretrial monitoring and a GPS ankle bracelet. Chahine requested Friday that Grey be allowed to have the bracelet removed because he has a leg injury and needs to get an MRI. He has been unable to do so with the bracelet on, Chahine said. Eaton did not object but asked that Grey remain on pretrial monitoring pending his sentencing.

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Edwards also appeared in court Friday, with her appointed defense attorney, Shaye Downing. Edwards was charged with the same two felonies as Grey, aggravated assault and interference with law enforcement. She allegedly told police as they knocked on the apartment door, “We ain’t coming out.”

Downing asked Kittel to schedule a preliminary hearing, but in the meantime, she said she planned to file a motion to dismiss the case. If Kittel rejects the motion, Downing said, then the preliminary hearing could proceed.

Edwards’ next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 9.

The Journal-World has requested booking photos of Grey and Edwards from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office but did not immediately receive a response regarding whether they would be released Friday. The sheriff’s office has previously declined to release both photos.

Contact Mackenzie Clark

Have a story idea, news or information to share? Contact public safety reporter Mackenzie Clark:


Related coverage

Oct. 10, 2019: Lawrence man allegedly threatened motorist with gun, then holed up in apartment with woman

Aug. 21, 2019: Lawrence man arrested, charged after reportedly pointing gun in road rage incident

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