GREAT BEND TRIBUNE Kansas bill suspends state speedy trial rule Bill welcome in counties facing some legal logjams Levi Morris One of the four bills signed into law by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly Wednesday was House Bill 2078, suspending the provisions of the speedy trial statute in the state through March 2023 in all criminal cases, a move welcomed by Barton County Attorney Levi Morris. In March of last year, Chief Justice Marla Luckert closed down the courts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and there were no jury trials. Trials were allowed to start in the fall without a time restriction but few took place.
GREAT BEND TRIBUNE Doty pleads guilty to sexual exploitation 2012 photo of Patrick Allen Doty courtesy of Kansas Department of Corrections Patrick Allen Doty on Thursday pleaded guilty in Barton County District Court to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, both level 3 person felonies under Kansas law. Barton County Attorney Levi Morris said Doty was charged on Aug. 25, 2020, for acts that took place between Aug. 11 and Aug. 15. As a result of the convictions, Doty is now required to register as a sex offender. Depending on his criminal history, Doty’s sentence will be between 55 and 247 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for the conviction in count 1 while the conviction for count 2 could carry an additional 55 to 61 months.
GREAT BEND TRIBUNE More By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism. COVID impacts case numbers, courts County attorney gives update to commission Levi Morris When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the cases filed by the Barton County Attorney’s Office and work of the 20th Judicial District, it’s been a mixed bag, County Attorney Levi Morris said. “Obviously, you can’t talk about 2020 without COVID,” he said, giving a report to county commissioners Monday morning. While the virus didn’t rock the case-filing boat a whole lot, it did shut down jury trials and cause other judicial delays and backlogs.