TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A federal appeals court has dismissed an appeal from a man convicted in the 2002 killing a teenager at a Leawood swimming pool.
The Kansas City Star reports the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver on Thursday upheld a lower court ruling dismissing the appeal of Benjamin Appleby.
Appleby, now 42, is serving a life sentence for capital murder and attempted rape of 19-year-old Ali Kemp in the pump room of a swimming pool where she worked.
Appleby was arrested in 2004 in Connecticut and confessed to the killing. The Kansas Supreme Court later upheld his murder conviction and life sentence but dismissed the attempted rape conviction.
Among other things, Appleby’s appeal argued that his confession was not legally obtained and his trial attorney was ineffective.
Thursday rollover accident in Saline County-photo KHP
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the cause of an accident just after 7p.m. Thursday in Saline County.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol a truck carrying anhydrous ammonia rolled just east of the Interstate 135 – Interstate 70 Junction.
The accident forced officials to divert eastbound traffic at the junction.
The accident also damaged an overhead sign forcing officials to divert westbound traffic diverted while the Kansas Department of Transportation assessed the damage.
There was no ammonia spill and no injuries reported
The Barton Community College volleyball team took care of a hot Dodge City Community College squad Wednesday night ending the Conquistador seven match win streak with a 3-1 victory in Dodge City 25-23, 21-25, 25-20, and 25-19.
The victory pushes Barton over the .500 mark at 11-10 on the season and into the fifth spot in the conference standings at 3-5 while dropping Dodge City to 15-8 on the year and behind the Cougars in the race at 2-5.
Barton’s next action will come 2:00 p.m. Saturday as Butler Community College comes to the Barton Gym sitting just ahead of the Cougars at 5-3 and 15-6 overall.
GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug and theft charges.
Just after 11:30p.m. Wednesday police stopped a vehicle on Interstate 70 at J Hill Road. Deputies arrested
Todd Lubbers, Hamilton, Ohio, on suspicion of Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Todd Lubbers
They also arrested Chelsea Chamberlin, Hamilton, Ohio and Elizabeth Swetland, Port Richey Florida on suspicion of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Lamont Evans, an assistant basketball coach at Oklahoma State University, leaves the federal courthouse following a court appearance in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. Evans is facing federal charges in conjunction with a wide probe of fraud and corruption in the NCAA. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – Oklahoma State has fired Lamont Evans for cause after the top assistant to new coach Mike Boynton was ensnared in the federal investigation of basketball recruiting at seven universities.
The school announced that Evans was terminated in a one-sentence statement Thursday.
Evans is accused of accepting $2,000 a month in bribes to funnel athletes to certain agents, including “one and done” players that are talented enough to jump to the NBA after one season.
Evans had been suspended by the university and surrendered to federal marshals early Wednesday. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Charles Goodwin later in the day. He did not enter a plea, but is due to appear in court again in New York’s Southern District on Oct. 10.
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Indiana coach Archie Miller says he’s as “surprised as anyone” about the scandal that has rocked the college basketball world and that he doesn’t believe the Hoosiers have done anything wrong.
Miller, the younger brother of Arizona coach Sean Miller, told reporters Thursday that he has spoken several times with athletic director Fred Glass about whether the Hoosiers might be involved.
Miller told reporters he has no reason to believe anyone at Indiana is involved.
“I think everyone’s probably taken a step back and is a little reserved or guarded,” he said. “But as you look at your own players, you have to remind them to do things the right way.”
Miller also worked for his brother at Arizona and said he has spoken briefly with him once to offer his support.
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The University of Kansas is conducting an internal review of its storied program after a nationwide federal bribery investigation uncovered rampant fraud and corruption in college basketball.
Associated athletic director Jim Marchiony tells The Associated Press that the Adidas-sponsored school has not been contacted by any law enforcement agencies, but it chose to review its program after the Department of Justice filed charges Tuesday against 10 people, including four college basketball coaches.
One of the central figures in the probe is James Gatto, the director of global sports marketing for Adidas, who is accused of funneling $100,000 to a prospect to attend Louisville.
Marchiony said nobody implicated in the investigation was part of negotiating a 12-year extension with Adidas announced just last week to sponsor Kansas athletics. The new contract, spanning 14 years and providing $191 million, is the fourth-largest shoe and apparel deal in the NCAA.
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The federal fraud and bribery scandal that has shaken college basketball has left a key lingering question of what will happen to recruits who received money linked to attending certain schools.
It could mean the permanent loss of college eligibility for some players, for violating a core NCAA rule prohibiting improper benefits. But some players could go through the reinstatement process and eventually play after sitting out some games on a case-by-case basis.
Michael L. Buckner is a Florida-based attorney with experience working infractions cases. He says athletes involved will “have that stigma” tied to the scandal.
Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday that 10 men – including four assistant coaches – have been charged with using hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to influence star athletes’ choice of schools, shoe sponsors and agents.
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) – Tight end Jordan Reed expects to play for the Washington Redskins on Monday night against the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs.
Reed missed the Redskins’ Week 3 victory over the Oakland Raiders with a chest/rib injury. Coach Jay Gruden says Reed was limited in practice Thursday but took part in some more team drills.
The 27-year-old sat out the Raiders game in part because he felt Vernon Davis and Niles Paul healthy gave Washington a better chance to win. Davis had five catches for 58 yards against Oakland.
Reed, who has 11 catches for 84 yards this season, says resting helped the pain go down as he felt more strength in his chest. He wants to be able to block as well as receive before he feels ready to play.
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on felony theft charges.
In mid-August, the relative on an elderly woman in a Lindsborg nursing home contacted police about another family member was using his grandmother’s financial card without permission, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.
The relative was responsible with assisting the woman with finances.
An investigation revealed that 26-year-old Derrick Ellis of Salina used the card between May 5 and August 8 to purchase food, phone services, Hulu and to make cash withdrawals. Capt. Forrester said that the total loss was around $2,000, according to Forrester.
Ellis told police that he had permission to use the card and access to the personal identification number.
On Thursday, Police arrested Ellis and booked him into the Saline County Jail for forgery, 46 counts of criminal use of a financial card, 44 counts of theft by deception, felony theft and four counts of unlawful acts on a computer.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A fifth suspect has been charged in a triple homicide in Topeka on the same day that three others were ordered to stand trial.
Liles-photo Shawnee Co.
Kora Liles, 31, Topeka, was charged Wednesday with two first-degree murder counts. A preliminary hearing also ended with Brian Flowers, Joseph Lowry and Shane Mays being bound over for trial.
A police detective testified at the hearing that 19-year-old Matthew Leavitt, 38-year-old Nicole Fisher, and 20-year-old Luke Davis were strangled or smothered to death with trash bags in March. Deutsch says the violence stemmed from a rape allegation.
The defense argued that Mays was forced to participate to save his life. He, Flowers and Liles are charged in Fisher and Leavitt’s death. Lowry and a fifth person are charged in all three deaths. Police arrested Liles Sunday.
She is being held on a $1,000,000 bond, according to the Shawnee County Detention Center.
DOVER, Kan. (AP) — Girl Scouts of northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri have announced plans to close one of its camps.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that programming and activities at Camp Daisy Hindman will cease Nov. 30 in Shawnee County.
Girl Scouts CEO Joy Wheeler says the decision was based on a steady decline in the resident camp program and operating at a loss of nearly $200,000.
The camp has been renovated several times in the past five years, including upgrades to its water and electrical infrastructure. The program also installed new cabins, a natural playground and a spray park.
A Facebook post by Sophie Devanney says she “found a home at Camp Daisy Hindman this summer.” She says she’s upset to hear about the closure but will “cherish every memory” she has.
