The probable cause affidavit was released Thursday in the case against the boy’s mother, 24-year-old Stephanie Aviles, and her boyfriend, 31-year-old Bernardo Gonzalez-Mejia. They’re charged with first-degree murder in the Sept. 29 death of Jacob Aviles.
Stephanie Aviles told police that Gonzalez-Mejia called her while she was out, first to tell her the boy wasn’t breathing and then to say he was turning yellow. She called 911. She said her son had been hurt before while with Gonzalez-Mejia, but that he would “explain it away.”
The affidavit says Gonzalez-Mejia initially denied injuring Jacob but then admitted that he hit the boy with a belt the night before because he wasn’t eating.
PHILLIPS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are seeking information from hunters and land owners in the area of West 900 and West Osage Road in Phillips County who may have captured some suspicious activity on trail cameras, according to a social media report from the sheriff’s department.
Sometime in the past two days, someone killed a heifer and butchered it in the pasture where it was kept.
“Please review your trail cam footage and contact the sheriff’s office if you notice anything out of the ordinary.”
Farmers are also encouraged to check their herds which may still be in pastures and report any missing or dead cattle.
KEARNY COUNTY– The Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal’s (OSFM) Investigation Division has classified a fatal fire in rural Kearny County, south of Deerfield, Kan., that occurred early Tuesday morning as undetermined, according to Jill Bronaugh with the State Fire Marshal’s office.
Google map
The Kearny County Sheriff’s Office and local fire department asked the OSFM investigators for assistance with the house fire at, 2102 Road 150, that left two individuals dead. Two others were able to escape.
The fire originated in the garage. The two fatality victims have been identified as Jim Dale, 84, and Reta Dale, 84, both occupants of the house. Two other occupants escaped, one with very minor injuries, and the other uninjured.
There were operating smoke detectors within the residence. Damages are estimated at $150,000.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have made an arrest.
Garrett photo Sedgwick County
Just after 6p.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 1400 Block of North Ohio Street in Wichita, according to Captain Brent Allred.
At the scene, police located a 15-year-old later identified as Marion Wheaton who had been shot in his upper body. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he died.
On Thursday evening police reported the arrest of 18-year-old Malick Garrett of Wichita on a requested charge of 2nd degree murder and outstanding warrants in connection with Wheaton’s death.
Investigators have learned that Wheaton and two teenage friends walked to the area to meet with a 15-year-old boy and other unknown individuals to fight over an ongoing dispute that involved social media, according to Allred.
As Wheaton and his friends walked in the area, they were approached by a vehicle. A 15-year-old male and Garrett exited the vehicle. Garrett fired multiple shots from a handgun, striking Wheaton.
This was not a random incident, according to Allred. Multiple handguns were recovered during the investigation.
It is the 24th criminal homicide in Wichita in 2019.
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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim.
Just after 6p.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 1400 Block of North Ohio Street in Wichita, according to Captain Brent Allred. At the scene, police located a 15-year-old later identified as Marion Wheaton who had been shot in his upper body. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he died.
Investigators have learned that Wheaton and two teenage friends walked to the area to meet with a 15-year-old boy and other unknown individuals to fight over an ongoing dispute that involved social media, according to Allred.
As Wheaton and his friends walked in the area, they were approached by a vehicle. A 15-year-old boy and unknown individuals exited the vehicle and shots were fired striking Wheaton.
This was not a random incident, according to Allred and police know some of the teens were involved in gang activity. Police know that there were basketball practices going on in the area and hope that those individuals will come forward with information. Authorities have not located the suspect vehicle and have not released details on the vehicle. Police have not reported an arrest.
It is the 24th criminal homicide in Wichita in 2019.
RENO COUNTY — Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire at a home in Hutchinson.
Friday morning house fire photo courtesy Hutchinson Fire Departmet
Just after 1:30a.m. Friday, fire crews responded to a structure fire at 14 East Bigger Street, according to Fire Chief Steve Beer.
Upon arrival, fire crews were faced with a one-story residential home with heavy fire coming from 50 percent of the structure at the rear of the home. All occupants were out of the home upon fire crew’s arrival.
Due to the amount of heavy fire showing and adjacent structure that was being threatened by fire, fire crews went into defensive operations. Multiple handlines and an aerial ladder were used to contain the fire. There was extensive damage to the entire attic space and rear portion of the home, according to Beer. Fire crews remain on scene completing salvage and overhaul. Fire Investigators are working to determine the cause.
A single resident was alerted by a passing motorist that was driving down the street and noticed the residence on fire. The home had no working smoke detectors in it at the time of the fire.
With the recent cold weather, and added heating devices, HFD reminded citizens about the importance of having a working smoke detector. Smoke detectors do save lives. HFD also wants to remind our citizens that we have a smoke detector program, please call 620-694-2871. Fire crews will be canvasing the neighborhood tomorrow and talking to residences about fire safety.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two separate attacks on deputies by inmates at the Sedgwick County Jail over the past week.
Just after 6:30a.m. October 31, an inmate identified as 23-year-old William Farmer became irate during breakfast and assaulted two other inmates and a detention deputy working in the pod, according to Colonel Brian White in charge of the detention division. Jail staff were ultimately able to restrain Farmer.
The 28-year-old deputy, an employee with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department for only four months, received treatment for minor injuries at a local hospital
Farmer, arrested October 9 on drug and host of driving charges has now been criminally charged with battery of a law enforcement officer and two counts of battery, according to online jail records.
Just after 4a.m.Thursday, 42-year-old inmate Dewayne Anderson, who was booked October 5, for aggravated assault and aggravated battery, left a shower, demanded a beverage, refused to return to his room and physically assaulted detention staff, according to White.
Anderson photo Sedgwick Co.
During the process of attempting to gain control and restrain Anderson, a 24-year-old detention deputy sustained a broken ankle. A 45-year-old detention deputy broke his hand during the altercation.
The detention deputy with the broken ankle was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and underwent surgery. The detention deputy sustaining the broken hand was transported by Sheriff’s Office staff to a local hospital for treatment. Despite a quick response to calm the situation, two deputies suffered broken bones, according to White.
The Sheriff’s Office Investigations Section is currently investigating the matter and will be presenting the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for charges.
TROY, Kan. (AP) — A former nurses’ aide from Atchison has been sentenced to two years in prison for Medicaid fraud and other charges.
Sakakihara photo Doniphan Co.
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in a news release that 26-year-old Janelle Lynn Sakakihara was sentenced Thursday for fraud and two counts of felony mistreatment of a dependent adult.
Investigators say Sakakihara abused several people in September 2017 while she worked as a nurses’ aide at a Highland Health Care and Rehabilitation Center.
She was among 10 people in seven Kansas counties charged in September 2018 as part of a statewide enforcement sweep that focused on people committing Medicaid fraud, stealing narcotics and/or mistreating dependent adults while working in health care facilities or board-and-care facilities that receive Medicaid funding.
HUTCHINSON— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon with 18 previous convictions on new charges involving the passing of two counterfeit $20 bills to a pizza delivery driver in October.
According to police, 31-year-old William Crider was caught because he used similar counterfeit money in a case from last year.
Police took Crider into custody Thursday morning on suspicion of counterfeiting and one count of theft by deception.
Hutchinson police took a report of a delivery driver who received two counterfeit $20 bills where Crider lived. Detectives with the Repeat Offender Unit recognized the counterfeit currency as having been produced by Crider. The serial number on the two counterfeit $20 bills was identical to the bills Crider had been convicted of producing in the 2018 case.
A parole search of Crider’s residence Thursday morning turned up more counterfeit currency and other items pertaining to additional criminal cases. His previous convictions include identity theft, forgery, counterfeiting, theft, criminal use of a financial card and several for computer crimes.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A 70-year-old northwest Oklahoma man has pleaded guilty to trying to hire his business partner in Kansas to kill a man in Oklahoma City.
Court records show Vernon Wayne Brock of Alva signed a plea agreement Wednesday admitting he tried to “conduct a murder for hire” plot to kill the unidentified man.
Prosecutors say Brock asked his business partner in vape shots to kill the boyfriend of a former employee who had ended a sexual relationship with Brock. The employee and the business partner are not identified in court documents.
Brock was arrested and charged in April after giving the business partner a $5,000 check during a meeting in Kansas.
The original affidavit stated that Brock and the business partner owned 17 vape shops in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed not to pursue further charges in the case.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – A man who is co-owner of Vape Shops in Kansas and two other states has been charged by complaint with hiring someone to commit murder, according to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to an affidavit in support of an arrest warrant filed in federal court Thursday, Vernon Wayne Brock, 69, of Alva, OK., hired a Kansas resident to commit a murder in Oklahoma City. The individual from Kansas is alleged to have contacted the FBI and cooperated in the investigation.
The affidavit states that Brock and the individual from Kansas are partners in 17 vape shops in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma and that Brock was upset with a former vape shop employee who refused to continue a sexual relationship with him. Brock allegedly wanted the individual from Kansas to arrange the murder of the former employee’s boyfriend in Oklahoma City in exchange for $5,000.
According to the affidavit, Brock identified the boyfriend by sending a picture to the individual from Kansas and confirming “that’s the guy we want dead.” The affidavit includes several alleged quotes by Brock from recorded conversations between Brock and the individual from Kansas, including:
“Are they going to thump her around a little bit? And do him? Cause that’s what I wanted.”
“I’d rather do him, thump her and I mean thump her hard. And tell her if she says one word to the cops about anything there will be someone come back to get her . . . .”
“The main thing is for them to throw the scent off of everything. . . . What they want to say to him is, . . . you didn’t pay us for our drugs or something like that, and you owe us a million dollars, then pop, before he has anything to say either way.”
FBI agents arrested Brock on the afternoon of April 3, with the assistance of the Woods County Sheriff’s Office, after Brock delivered a $5,000 check to the individual from Kansas at a café in Harper, Kansas. Brock appeared Thursday afternoon for an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Shon T. Erwin.
If found guilty of murder-for-hire, Brock faces a potential penalty of ten years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal December 2018 crash and have made an arrest.
Black photo Sedgwick Co.
Just after 3:30a.m. December 20, 2018, a vehicle driven by Hunter Nelson Black, 22, didn’t stop at the stop sign at the intersection of 143 Street East and 79th Street South, according to the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department.
The crash killed 24-year-old Logan Owens. The other driver was not injured.
Authorities presented the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office. On Wednesday morning, deputies booked Black into the Sedgwick County jail on a requested charge of involuntary manslaughter; in commission of a DUI suspended/revoked driver’s license, according to the Sedgwick County arrest report.
