MANHATTAN – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a case of rape and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 11a.m. Wednesday police arrested Kelli Abernathy Graham, 18, in rural Leonardville, according to the daily arrest report from Riley County Police.

He is being held on a $25,000 bond on requested charges of rape and blackmail; statements for public ridicule, according to the arrest report.

In a separate report, Riley County Police on Tuesday are asked the for the public help in a sexual battery case that was filed on the weekend of September 23.

A 20-year-old woman was sleeping in her home when an unknown suspect came in without permission and sexually assaulted her.

The suspect in this case is described as a white male in his early 20s, average build. He was wearing a dark colored shirt, jeans, tennis shoes and dark rimmed glasses.

 

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Police said that while the description is vague, they hope that someone may have witnessed a suspicious person or activity related to this crime and can report it.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback says a U.S. Senate committee hearing is set for next week on his nomination for ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

But Brownback told reporters Wednesday he’s not sure how quickly the Senate could vote on his nomination after the Oct. 4 hearing by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

President Donald Trump nominated the two-term Republican governor for the ambassadorship in late July. Brownback said he’ll step down as governor when the Senate confirms him.

Brownback’s departure will automatically elevate fellow Republican Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer to governor. Colyer said Wednesday that his administration will have a different tone, without elaborating.

Brownback already was term-limited. Colyer and seven other candidates have announced campaigns for the Republican nomination for governor in 2018. Five Democrats have said they’re running.

OKLAHOMA CITY —Authorities with Sonic Drive-Ins are investigating a data breach on the store payment systems, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. The fast-food chain released a statement.

“Our credit card processor informed us last week of unusual activity regarding credit cards used at SONIC. The security of our guests’ information is very important to SONIC. We are working to understand the nature and scope of this issue, as we know how important this is to our guests. We immediately engaged third-party forensic experts and law enforcement when we heard from our processor. While law enforcement limits the information we can share, we will communicate additional information as we are able.​”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Playboy magazine founder and sexual revolution symbol Hugh Hefner has died. He was 91.

The magazine released a statement saying Hefner died at his home of natural causes Wednesday night surrounded by family.

Founding the magazine in 1953, Hefner built a brand that defined the sexual culture of the second half of the 20th century.

Hugh Hefner was a strong supporter of the civil rights movement. We shall never forget him. May he Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/oL3lKLZRQ5

— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) September 28, 2017

Hugh Hefner was a GIANT in publishing, journalism, free speech & civil rights. He was a true original, and he was my friend. Rest well Hef. pic.twitter.com/bJ1wxoK4gR

— Larry King (@kingsthings) September 28, 2017

Playboy’s buxom models were the objects of millions of men’s fantasies as Hefner challenged what he derided as America’s “Puritanical” attitudes toward sex.

For decades, he was the pipe-smoking, silk-pajama-wearing center of a constant fantasy party at Playboy mansions in Chicago and then in Los Angeles.

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stolen vehicle and have made an arrest.

Just before 4:30 Wednesday, deputies were dispatched to report of an injury accident at the intersection of Center and First in New Cambria, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan

Kimberly Potts, 46, New Cambria, told deputies she was stopped at the stop sign on Center Street when a vehicle came from the west at a high rate of speed. The driver attempted to turn south on Center and struck the front of her 2002 Dodge Dakota. The vehicle then drove off. 

While deputies were working the accident, an 81-year-old New Cambria woman reported that her 2009 Nissan Pathfinder was stolen from her driveway. 

She told deputies two teenagers came to her house around 2 a.m., asking for her grandson, who no longer lives at her residence. The boys told the woman that they did not have any place to stay, so she invited them to spend the night. She contacted authorities a couple hours later after she discovered that the boys and the car were missing. 

Sheriff Soldan said that the woman was familiar with the boys and provided names. Authorities caught up with them in the community of Solomon a short time later. They told deputies that they had returned the Pathfinder. Deputies the vehicle at the residence with damage to the front and driver’s side.

Deputies took Calob Haymond, 15, and Benny Garza, 14, both of Solomon into custody for deprivation of property. Haymond, who was driving, could face additional charges, according to Sheriff Soldan. 

A private vehicle transported Potts to Salina Regional Health Center.

Haymond and Garza are being held at North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Facility in Junction City, according to Soldan.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man who declared “I won” after killing his wife has been sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.

A Clay County jury in August convicted 45-year-old Thomas Santamaria Jr. of first-degree murder in the beating and strangulation death of his 50-year-old wife, Yuvett Santamaria.

Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Daniel White said video and audio recordings taken when Santamaria was being led away from the crime scene show him telling an acquaintance “I won.”

The victim was found dead on a bedroom flood in March 2015. Her husband was asleep in the bed in the same room.

The Kansas City Star reports trial testimony indicated Santamaria suspected his wife was having an affair and wanted a divorce.

TOPEKA – Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general, announced the selection of Chief Master Sgt. Maurice L. Williams as the state command senior enlisted leader for Joint Forces Headquarters, Kansas National Guard, Topeka. Williams replaces Command Chief Master Sgt. James Brown, who is leaving the position to become the command senior enlisted leader for Joint Force Civil Support, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

In this role, Williams, will be the primary advisor to the adjutant general of Kansas on all matters pertaining to the enlisted force. He currently serves as the state command chief master sergeant for Joint Forces Headquarters, North Carolina National Guard, and will begin his duties in Kansas Oct. 2.

“I am pleased to announce the selection of Chief Master Sgt. Williams, who brings with him an impeccable record and leadership experience that will benefit the Kansas National Guard,” said Tafanelli. “This position carries great responsibility and I am confident that he is the right person to join our team.”

“I am looking forward to serving the Citizens, Airmen and Soldiers of the state of Kansas,” said Williams. “Chief Master Sgt. James Brown has laid a great foundation for the enlisted Soldiers and Airmen of the Kansas National Guard and I look forward to the opportunity of building upon his legacy.”

“It has been my absolute honor to serve the citizens of Kansas and the soldiers and airmen as their command senior enlisted leader for the Kansas Guard,” said Brown. “It is comforting to know I am leaving our most valuable assets, our enlisted warriors, in the capable hands of this tremendous Airmen, Chief Master Sgt. Maurice Williams.”

Williams entered the North Carolina Air National Guard in 1987 and graduated from the Air Transportation Specialist course at Shepard Air Force Base, Texas, in 1988. During his career, he has served in a number of command positions in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Germany, Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar.

His military education includes the Noncommissioned Officer Prep Course, Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Course, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Course, Air National Guard Chief Executive Course, Chief Leadership Course, Command Chief Orientation Course, Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course, and numerous other professional courses.

Williams earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in businesses administration from Columbia Southern University, Orange Beach, Alabama.

Williams’ military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, North Carolina National Guard Meritorious Unit Citation, North Carolina Adjutant General’s Meritorious Achievement Service Ribbon and North Carolina National Guard State Service Ribbon.

SALINA, Kan. (AP) — Saline County commissioners are supporting an effort to bring a Tyson chicken plant to Cloud County and Concordia.

The commissionon Tuesday signed a letter in support of the $300 million project. The letter says the plant would benefit the entire region because Tyson will invest $100 million to help farmers and ranchers raise poultry.

Tyson was planning to build the plant near Tonganoxie but put those plans on hold after fierce opposition from nearby residents. On Sept. 19, the Leavenworth County Commission rescinded an offer for $500 million in industrial bonds for the plant because of the opposition.

Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration had pledged an undisclosed amount of tax breaks to persuade Tyson to locate on a 300-acre site south of Tonganoxie.

SCOTT COUNTY — A western Kansas man accused in a September 22, shooting death in  Scott County made a first court appearance Wednesday.

Rene Inguanza, 50, of rural Scott County, is charged with Aggravated Battery and First-Degree Murder, according to Undersheriff Jeff Pounds.

Just after 10p.m. on September 22, deputies responded to report of a shooting at a rural residence in Scott County, according to the sheriff’s department.

They located 44-year-old Darryn Rodenberg dead from a gunshot wound. Deputies found Inguanza in a pickup approximately one-half mile from Rodenberg’s residence and arrested him without incident.

An investigation revealed that Inguanza was angry and accused Rodenberg of selling drugs to his son, according to Pounds. During a confrontation Inguanza allegedly shot Rodenberg.

Inguanza remains jailed in Scott County on a $500,000 Bond, according to Pounds.  His next court appearance is scheduled for October 11.

MEDICINE LODGE –A Kansas man was sentenced Tuesday to more than 19 years in prison for sex crimes against a child, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Robert E. Livi Pruitt, 26, pleaded guilty in July to one count of attempted rape, one count of aggravated intimidation of a victim and one count of contributing to a child’s misconduct. Judge Francis Meisenheimer sentenced Pruitt to 231 months to be served in the Kansas Department of Corrections. The sentence is to run consecutive to the Jessica’s Law life sentence Pruitt is currently serving.

The crimes were committed in May 2012, before his Jessica’s Law conviction. The charges stemmed from an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Assistant Attorney General Lyndzie Carter of Schmidt’s office prosecuted the case.

Pruitt had a previous rape conviction in Barber County in 2014.