The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office recently dropped a pair of charges against the owner of an infamous Derby exotic dance club, Michelle’s Beach House. While the move is significant for the defendant, the charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning prosecutors are eligible to refile the case within the five-year statute of limitations for the charges.

Case Results

The case began in March 2016 when the defendant was formally charged with misdemeanor battery and felony obstruction of prosecution or apprehension, requiring a $10,000 appearance bond. The misdemeanor battery charge accused the defendant of engaging in physical contact with a person “in a rude, insulting or angry manner.”

At the same time, prosecutors charged the defendant with felony obstruction of prosecution charges, claiming she aided her now ex-husband, a fugitive from justice following his detention in federal prison, making him unable to fulfill the requirements of his parole in Sedgwick County. The defendant’s ex-husband had been charged by prosecutors with rape but subsequently pleaded down to attempted aggravated indecent liberties of a minor.

The defendant’s legal issues were also compounded when the alleged victim of her ex-husband’s crimes filed a petition for a restraining order. The victim alleges the defendant in this case approached her at her workplace at which point she became concerned for her safety and filed the petition.

Defendant avoids losing liquor license

The dismissal of the charges is important for the embattled exotic dance club owner as a felony conviction would have made her ineligible to hold a liquor license, which could have had severe financial repercussions for her business. However, because the charges were filed without prejudice, prosecutors may bring the charges again in the future, meaning the situation could continue to hang over the defendant’s head.

While most ordinary people do not have to worry about losing the liquor license for the exotic dance club they own, many ordinary restaurateurs and bartenders need to keep a clean record to retain their privileges under such licenses.

Olathe criminal defense attorneys

If you are facing felony criminal charges, contact our office for a consultation about your case, call us today (913) 780-6666. With 18 years of experience as a Johnson County District Attorney and additional time spent as Kansas Attorney General, Paul Morrison has a unique perspective on how to defend the rights of the accused and help clear their good name.

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Shawnee County District Judge Nancy Parrish recently allowed Caleb Kanatzar to dismiss his attorney and represent himself in court despite repeated warnings the legal maneuver could have serious adverse consequences. Kanatzar is charged with intentional second-degree murder for the killing of a Topeka man found dead in his car in the middle of the road during the early morning hours of December 04, 2015.

During a recent hearing, the defendant and his attorney spent nearly an hour in closed court discussing whether self-representation was possible. After initially rejecting and then consenting to allow his public defender to remain on the case, the defendant had a swift change of heart over the pace of the proceedings.

Kanatzar dismissed his lawyer on the spot after his attorney requested a continuance for a preliminary hearing in the case. The defendant expressed his dissatisfaction with the legal wranglings and insisted he represented himself. The judge allowed the move, but only after repeated warnings about what could lie ahead for the defendant.

Why is it a bad idea to represent yourself in court?

Representing one’s self in criminal court is a bad idea and more often than not will result in a guilty verdict. This is because criminal cases are often won and lost depending on what types of evidence and testimony prosecutors can get into the record.

Experienced Olathe criminal defense attorneys understand the complexity of these matters, and have a strong knowledge legal terminology, how to make proper objections to exclude evidence, and how to stand up for the legal rights of their clients. After an arrest, defendants should immediately seek qualified legal counsel to begin preparing a strong defense and refute legal moves by prosecutors.

Furthermore, since most criminal cases do not go to trial, defendants need criminal defense attorneys to arrange plea bargains to avoid lengthy jail sentences or even have charges dismissed altogether. Criminal defendants should never take a chance on their freedom by thinking they can properly represent themselves against an experienced career prosecutor in court.

Olathe criminal defense attorneys

If you face criminal charges in Kansas, contact the experienced Olathe criminal defense attorneys of the Morrison Law Firm, LLC for a free initial consultation, call us at (913) 780-6666. With decades of experience as a former Attorney General for the state of Kansas and Johnson County District Attorney, Paul Morrison knows how to win cases and will work tirelessly to help clear your good name.

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Authorities recently transferred a 17-year-old murder suspect from juvenile detention to an adult prison to stand trial for the slaying of a Shawnee County man in April. The defendant was only 16 years old at the time he allegedly assisted in the shooting, turning 17 less than three weeks later.

The Shawnee County District Judge overseeing the case ruled the young murder suspect will be tried as an adult for first degree murder, a charge that could land the defendant in jail for anywhere from 25 to 50 years in prison or even a life term, depending on the circumstances of the case.

The defendant’s father is himself a convicted murder, serving a 22-year sentence for second-degree murder committed as retribution for being implicated in a burglary case. The father was only 24 years old when he pled guilty to the charge in 2003 for the shooting death of the victim in that case.

Suspect Allegedly Drove Vehicle Used in Shooting

Prosecutors charge the defendant was behind the wheel of a van from which another suspect fired the fatal shots that killed the victim. Police called to the scene reported finding numerous .40 calibre shells consistent with the bullets that killed the male victim.

Another individual involved in the case, a 19-year-old suspect, was taken into custody in early June in Oklahoma City by the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Force and the Oklahoma City Police Department’s gang unit and charged with first-degree murder. That suspect is currently being held on a $1 million bond for the murder.

Defendant’s Criminal Past Cited

In many criminal cases, defendants under the age of 18 years old are charged as juveniles and held in special facilities for minors. They may also be subject to sentencing limits and eligible to have their criminal records sealed upon completing their sentence.

However, the judge in this case ruled the defendant’s criminal past made him ineligible for such considerations. The district attorney prosecuting the case drew attention to the defendant’s previous felony charges, which included child endangerment, theft, interference with law enforcement, and fleeing and eluding police.

Olathe Criminal Defense Attorneys

If your child is facing criminal charges, it is never guaranteed they will be charged as a minor. Depending on the seriousness of the charges, prosecutors or judges may deem juvenile proceedings  improper to deal with the case and decide to charge the child as an adult, potentially subjecting them to a criminal record for the rest of their life.
For a consultation about your case, contact our office or call (913) 780-6666. The Olathe criminal defense attorneys of the Morrison Law Firm, LLC have years of experience helping juvenile offenders get a fair hearing to help put their lives back on the right track.

The post Teen Murder Suspect to Be Tried as Adult appeared first on Paul Morrison Law.

A 46-year-old Salina woman was recently apprehended in the stabbing death of a 45-year-old woman where a bystander was also attacked. The suspect was charged with second-degree murder and aggravated battery after police found her vehicle at Kansas Star Casino. She is currently in custody at Saline County jail.

Police report the altercation took place around 9:30 am near Roach Street and Max Avenue when the suspect and victim were involved in a verbal altercation that quickly became violent. The suspect, armed with a knife, stabbed the victim in her chest.

A neighbor heard the ruckus and went up the stairs of the apartment building to investigate the cause of the disturbance. The suspect subsequently attacked the inquisitive neighbor, cutting his hands, after which she fled the scene. Police later found her at the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane and took her into custody.

The wounded female victim went to a neighbor’s house to find help. She was transported to Salina Regional Health Center and later died in surgery. Police report the incident is still under investigation as they process the crime scene and attempt to figure out what exactly transpired in the residence prior to the alleged assault.

Kansas criminal defense attorney tactics

Everyone suspected of a crime is entitled to see all the evidence collected against them, confront witnesses brought to testify, and be afforded a fair and speedy trial. An experienced Kansas criminal defense attorney will provide a robust and aggressive defense to the charges levied against the accused and understand the legal hurdles that lay ahead.

Defense attorneys will use several tactics to cast doubt on a prosecutor’s case, including investigating the possibility a homicide occurred in self defense and the suspect was misidentified by witnesses. Furthermore, a defense attorney will examine whether police followed proper procedure in collecting evidence against the defendant as well as other law enforcement protocols during an investigation.

Olathe violent crime defense lawyers

With over 18 years of experience as a Johnson County prosecutor and Kansas Attorney General, Paul Morrison understand the challenges criminal defendants face and how to properly navigate these complex situations. If you or a loved one was charged with a serious violent crime like murder, assault, manslaughter, or robbery, contact or call the Olathe violent crime defense lawyers of the Morrison Law Firm, LLC at (913) 780-6666 for a free initial consultation about your case.

The post Salina Woman Charged With Second-degree Murder in Stabbing Attack appeared first on Paul Morrison Law.

Kansas has instilled a law, KSA 21-3401, that is hopeful in preventing vicarious murders from people that are in the act of committing a felony. According to Kansas State Law:

• “Murder in the first degree is the killing of a human being committed . . . in the commission of, attempt to commit, or flight from an inherently dangerous felony as defined in K.S.A. 21-3436 and amendments thereto.”
• “The purpose of the felony-murder doctrine is to deter those engaged in felonies from killing negligently or accidentally, and it should not be extended beyond the rational function it was designed to serve.”
• “An additional purpose of the felony-murder doctrine is to relieve the State of the burden of proving premeditation when the victim’s death is caused by the killer while committing another felony.”

An Attorney is Necessary

Your attorney is going to evaluate the details of your case and make sure that you are given the chance at a fair trial. There is a chance that there may be a false accusation of the death that occurred during the act of the felony. The death could have been an accident, but under no circumstances are you to speak to the officers without the presence of your attorney.

Anything you say, even in truth and defense of yourself, can and will be used against you in the court of law. Your response to any questions should be a calm, “I want to speak to my attorney.” Even if there is misinformation and you feel you would be able to clear up any confusion by talking calmly and succinctly to the officers, they are going to do everything they can to form a case against you.

Kansas Statutes

The statute was created to be in favor of anyone accused of a felony murder. The presence of reasonable doubt in regards to this law will give favor to the one being charged. This is also true for other statutes and laws in the court system and why someone cannot be charged if there is any reasonable doubt.

Contact A Legal Representative

Choose to have an experienced attorney on your side while navigating the complexity of a murder charge in the commission of a felony. Contact Morrison Law Firm today online or by calling (913) 780-6666.

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