RENO COUNTY — A jury found a  Kansas man guilty for the 2015 robbery at a Title Loan store in the 1500 Block of 17th Avenue in Hutchinson.

An all-female jury deliberated just over six hours Thursday in the case against 32-year-old Jerry Anderson, Jr.

According to police, in May of 2015, Anderson walked into LoanMax Title Loans and demanded money at gunpoint. According to the state, he got away with about $1,400.

Sentencing for aggravated robbery is scheduled for July 20.

It has also been confrimed that the federal charge against Anderson has been dismissed. He was accused of entering the Meritrust Credit Union at 2900 S. Oliver in Wichita and robbing them of approximately $3,100.

The U.S. Attorney’s office filed the motion on June 1. The judge agreed to dismiss without prejudice, meaning they could refile and seek another indictment at some point in the future.

JOHNSON COUNTY —The family of a Kansas woman, one of three who died in a Missouri boat crash, has started a foundation in her honor.

Hailey Hochanadel, 21, Olathe, died in the early hours of May 19 after the boat struck a rock bluff on the Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Twenty-three-year-old Joseph LeMark and 24-year-old Daniel Lewis both of Overland Park also died.  Ashley Lamb, 22, a senior at Kansas State University remains hospitalized from injuries in the crash.

The family says charitable fund will go towards causes that Hailey was passionate about including anti bullying and the mentally disabled, according to the GoFundMe page.

The crash happened before 2 a.m. May 19 throwing Hochanedel, LeMark and 22-year-old Hayden Frazier and  into the water, according to the MSHP. All five people involved were friends who graduated from high school in Olathe.

GARDNER, Kan. (AP) — A Catholic priest from Kansas is facing charges for allegedly stealing more than $42,000 from his parish after losing a large amount of money gambling.

68-year-old Joseph Cramer is charged with felony theft and two counts of felony computer crime. He is free on bond but does not have a listed phone number.

Court documents say Cramer lost more than $67,000 at casinos over seven months in 2015 and 2016 while serving as pastor at Divine Mercy Parish in Gardner, Kansas. Authorities say the money was stolen from the parish around the same time.

Cramer was placed on administrative leave last year after the thefts were alleged. The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas says Cramer has since resigned as pastor.

JEFFERSON COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after just before 12:15 a.m. Friday in Jefferson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1981 Honda motorcycle driven by Robert Allen Nelson, 41, Dallas, TX., was northbound on Kansas 4 highway just west of Meriden.

The motorcycle hit a deer that entered the roadway from the left.  The driver was ejected from the motorcycle.

Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a helmet or any protective gear, according to the KHP.

WICHITA – A Kansas woman was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in federal prison for producing child pornography while she was babysitting a seven-year-old girl in her home, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Stefanie Larsen, 47, Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography. In her plea, she admitted she allowed a man to produce a series of videos in which he masturbated in the presence of the sleeping child. When the child awoke and cried out, Larsen told her she had just had a bad dream.

The man paid Larsen to let him make the videos.

Larsen has previous convictions for theft, forgery, DUI, flee-attempted to elude law enforcement and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the a drug overdose death and have three suspects in custody.

Just after 11p.m. Wednesday, detectives executed a search warrant at a local motel at 3200 10^th Street in Great Bend, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

During an investigating into the death of a 31-year-old Great Bend man from a suspected methamphetamine overdose, authorities received information that allowed detectives to secure a search warrant for two motel rooms.

Detectives contacted the occupants of the rooms and discovered quantities of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

They arrested Shaina Kuester, 21, Great Bend, on requested charges of felony obstruction of an officer, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Kuester was later charged with introduction of contraband into a detention facility when drugs were found on her person while being processed at the county jail. Kuester is being held in lieu of a $40,000 bond.

Deputies also arrested Cassie Scheuerman, 40, Ellinwood, after it was discovered Scheuerman had outstanding warrants from Barton County District Court for probation violations.   It is expected she may face further drug charges pending investigation.

The third person arrested at the scene was Perri Pribble, 43, Ellinwood, for outstanding warrants for drug-related charges as well as failed to appear warrants and a parole violation.  Pribble is being held without bond in the Barton County Jail for the parole violation warrant.

Two juvenile children belonging to Kuester  were present at the time of the search warrant.  They were released to family members.

The death investigation is continuing as detectives follow leads and identify parties that may have information.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Two people, including an off-duty Kansas police officer, died in an accident just after 2p.m. Tuesday in Shawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Acura RDX SUV driven by Peter V. Bieri, 72, Lawrence, was northbound in the southbound lanes on U.S. 75 and collided head on with a southbound 2015 Hyundai SUV driven by Trey C. McCluskey, 25, Topeka.

Bieri and McCluskey were pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the Hyundai Taylor R. McCluskey, 25, Sabetha, was transported to the hospital in Topeka. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Trey McCluskey was an officer for the Topeka Police Department. He began his service in July of 2015, according to Deputy Chief Wheeles.  “McCluskey was a well-liked and respected member of the Field Operations Bureau, working the night shift.

We honor his memory of sacrifice and commitment. We commend his personal choice to serve the Topeka community in the “noble profession of law enforcement.”

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Highway Patrol says two people, including an off-duty Topeka police officer, died in a wrong-way, head-on collision.

The patrol says the crash occurred Tuesday afternoon just north of Topeka. A third person riding in one of the vehicles was seriously injured.

No names have been released but the Topeka police department confirmed one of the dead was an officer in the department.

The patrol says one of the vehicles was going north in the southbound lanes on Kansas 75 when the two vehicles collided.

An investigation is continuing.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the State Department’s annual report on international religious freedom (all times local):

See the full report here.

10:15 a.m.

.@State_IRF Ambassador-at-Large Sam Brownback on the 2017 International #ReligiousFreedom Report: “Our goal is to protect the freedom of conscience for all people … We’ve seen some progress. But there’s so much more work to be done.” pic.twitter.com/LSY8eYeBoY

— Department of State (@StateDept) May 29, 2018

The Trump administration says ethnic cleansing targeting Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar has not stopped despite growing condemnation from the international community.

In November, the United States declared that violence against the Rohingya in Myanmar’s Rakhine state constituted ethnic cleansing, and the U.S. imposed sanctions. U.S. Ambassador Sam Brownback said Tuesday as he unveiled the State Department’s annual report on international religious freedom that the violence is continuing.

The report estimates that about 680,000 people fled Myanmar to neighboring Bangladesh to escape the violence.

The report covering 2017 also highlighted other U.S. concerns about religious freedom abroad, including some 80,000 to 120,000 political prisoners are being held in prison camps in North Korea, some for religious reasons.

“Protecting and promoting global respect for #ReligiousFreedom is a priority of @POTUS Administration… we are committed to promoting religious freedom around the world – both now and in the future.” – @SecPompeo pic.twitter.com/V3pR3Foklg

— Department of State (@StateDept) May 29, 2018

 

It says hundreds of thousands of Uighur Muslims in China have been forcibly sent to re-education centers.

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9:10 a.m.

The Trump administration is estimating that 80,000 to 120,000 political prisoners are being held in prison camps in North Korea.

That’s according to the State Department’s annual report on international religious freedom. It says some of the prisoners are being held for religious reasons. The report adds that prisoners are held “under horrific conditions” in remote areas. Yet it also notes that North Korea’s constitution guarantees “the right of faith” to citizens.

The report covering 2017 also says that “hundreds of thousands” of Uighur Muslims in China have been forcibly sent to re-education centers in China.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is formally unveiling the report Tuesday.