NEWTON, Kan. (AP) — A southeast Kansas couple will be sentenced in December for abusing three orphans they adopted from Peru.
James and Paige Nachtigal, of North Newton, entered Alford pleas Friday to several counts of child abuse. The plea means they maintain their innocence but acknowledge prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction.
Harvey County Attorney David Yoder said James Nachtigal entered the pleas to three counts of child abuse and his wife of two counts. Several other charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.
The Nachitgals were arrested in February 2016 after an 11-year-old boy was found walking barefoot in a field and told authorities he feared returning home.
The Wichita Eagle reports a doctor diagnosed the boy and his 11- and 15-year-old sisters as being victims of child torture.
Annual total number of equine cases of EIA and number of affected premises in each State, 2001 – 2016. 52 positive horses, 34 positive premises- USDA MAP
MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Health (KDA–DAH) received confirmation from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory on Aug. 29 that two horses were confirmed positive for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). One horse is located in Finney County, and the other is located in Kearny County; both premises are under quarantine, and all other horses on site are being tested.
Earlier this month, six horses in Finney County tested positive for EIA. Since that time, KDA–DAH has conducted detailed surveillance, identifying and testing additional animals connected to the index case. Through this investigation, these two additional horses have been confirmed positive. Surveillance testing continues in the area.
KDA–DAH has established an EIA page on the KDA website at www.agriculture.ks.gov/EIA, where any future positives resulting from this investigation will be posted. The public will be notified of updates to that webpage via the KDA Twitter account, @KansasDeptofAg.
EIA is an incurable, infectious disease caused by a virus that can affect horses, donkeys, asses and other equine species. This virus destroys red blood cells and is spread through blood-to-blood contact, not through close proximity or casual contact. Clinical signs of EIA include fever, anemia and edema; however, affected horses may not show symptoms. All infected horses, including those which are asymptomatic, are carriers of the disease.
The virus can be transmitted from an infected equine to a “clean” equine by biting flies, the use of unsterilized or contaminated medical instruments, or through a blood transfusion. This disease does not affect humans. KDA has identified a prescribed surveillance area within one-half mile of the affected premises, and is working with local officials and horse owners to identify any other horses that may have been within that surveillance area in order to test those animals.
The surveillance area is identified based on risk associated with the potential transfer of the disease. EIA is mechanically transmitted via the mouth parts of biting flies, and research has shown that the EIA virus survives for a limited time on the mouth parts of the fly vectors, so the area of possible exposure is limited to a relatively small radius around the affected premises. Symptomatic horses, those showing clinical signs, are more likely to transmit the disease compared to those that have an in apparent infection. It is estimated after visiting an asymptomatic carrier, only one out of every 6 million flies is likely to become a vector.
There are typically a small number of cases of EIA in the United States every year, although the disease is common in other parts of the world. EIA is controlled in the U.S. by regular testing before traveling across state lines and/or exhibition. The test for EIA is commonly called a Coggins Test.
Horse owners who have concerns about their animal’s health or questions about possible exposure should contact your local veterinarian. For more information about animal disease issues in Kansas, go to the KDA–DAH website at agriculture.ks.gov/AnimalHealth. If you have questions, please call KDA–DAH at 785-564-6601.
Prevention and Control of EIA
There is no approved vaccine for EIA in the United States. In order to prevent infection, follow these guidelines:
Practice good fly control by regular mucking of stalls, proper disposal of manure away from horse stabling areas and use of fly sprays or natural predators to minimize fly presence.
Use a sterile needle and syringe for all injections or treatments.
Disinfect any surgical or dental equipment thoroughly between horses. Remove all debris and blood with soap and water before disinfection.
Only administer commercially licensed blood products.
Use a sterile needle each time when puncturing a multi-dose medication bottle. Consult a veterinarian to demonstrate how to use sterile technique when drawing up medications.
Require proof of a recent negative Coggins test at time of purchase or for new horses entering the premises. Require an EIA test for horses which have spent time at a premises where EIA-positive horses have been identified.
Only participate in events that require evidence of a negative Coggins test for every horse entering the event to prevent disease introduction and spread.
Separate horses with fevers, reduced feed intake and/or lethargy from your other horses and contact your veterinarian.
FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teenager for assault on an officer.
Just before 1p.m. Wednesday, school resource officers were asked to assist school personnel with an administrative issue involving a student in the Garden City High School Office, according to a media release.
When the officer arrived, they located 16-year-old Tomas Lacost-Nevarez in the office upset and agitated.
When Lacost-Nevarez saw the officer, he became enraged and began yelling and threatening the officer. Lacost-Nevarz threateningly approached the office who attempted to detain the student and a struggle ensued.
During the struggle, Lacost-Nevarez grabbed the officer’s gun and attempted to disarm him. Officers were able to gain control of Lacost-Nevarz and take him into custody.
He is being held in the Juvenile Detention Center and could face the possible charges of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer (F), Criminal Threat, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Assault on A Law Enforcement Officer.
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A former physician assistant at a Veteran’s Administration hospital in Kansas has been convicted of sex crimes against four patients.
Jurors found 66-year-old Mark Wisner guilty Wednesday of criminal sodomy, aggravated sexual battery and three counts of sexual battery. Prosecutors alleged he performed unnecessary and improper genital examinations from 2012 to 2014 while working at the Eisenhower Veterans Administration Medical Center in Leavenworth.
Wisner surrendered his medical license in 2015 after at least seven patients accused him of abuse, and medical regulators said at the time that others could come forward. Wisner agreed in a consent order that he violated the law by having inappropriate sexual contact with patients and overprescribing medication. He faces at least a dozen lawsuits, with some former VA patients seeking $3 million in damages.
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LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A former physician assistant at a Veteran’s Administration hospital in Kansas on trial for sexually abusing patients told investigators in a taped interview that he didn’t “have any business in medicine.”
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the interview was played Tuesday during the trial of Mark Wisner. The former employee at the Eisenhower Veterans Administration Medical Center in Leavenworth is charged with two felonies and three misdemeanors related to sexual battery and criminal sodomy.
He also told investigators on the recording that he “truly messed up.” Wisner surrendered his medical license in 2015 after at least seven patients accused him of abuse, and medical regulators said at the time that others could come forward. Multiple former VA patients have sued in federal court, some seeking $3 million in damages.
KANSAS CITY— A grand jury returned an indictment Wednesday charging the former controller of a company in Kechi with embezzling more than $175,000, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.
Richard H. Yurst, 64, Hutchinson, is charged with five counts of wire fraud. The crimes took place while Yurst was responsible for overseeing the financial operations of F&H Insulation Sales and Service, Inc. The indictment alleges he used company credit cards to make unauthorized purchases and he made unauthorized payments to his wife and son.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
FORD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged assault on a law enforcement officer.
On Wednesday, officers were dispatched to the Dodge City Community College campus after report of man on the campus with no clothes on, according to a media release.
It was reported that the man was acting strange and throwing trash around the parking lot.
When officers arrived they were able to locate him near the cafeteria still completely nude.
The suspect was damaging property and later began throwing items at officers. Officers used a Taser and took the man into custody without further incident or injury.
He was later charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, criminal damage, disorderly conduct, and public nudity. No officers were injured and the man was provided medical attention for the taser deployment.
TOPEKA —Kansas is sending swift water rescue teams/search and rescue teams to support Texas in response to Hurricane Harvey.
One Type I and three Type II swiftwater/flood rescue teams with hard-bottom, air boats, and inflatable boats with personnel will be sent from the Kansas Fire Marshal’s Office, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Derby Fire Department, Chanute Fire Department, Derby Fire Department, Hutchinson Fire Department, South Hutchinson Police Department, Manhattan Fire Department, Mission Township Fire Department, Neodesha Fire Department, Newton Fire Department/EMS, Parsons Fire Department, Pittsburg Fire Department, Salina Fire Department, Saline County Sheriff’s Office, Sedgwick County Fire Department, Shawnee Fire Department, and Winfield Fire Department.
The teams will conduct search and rescue operations. Their objectives will be: To Search for and rescue individuals, provide basic life support (BLS) medical care, transport humans and animals to the nearest location for secondary air or land transport, provides shore-based and boat-based water rescue, provide animal rescues, and support helicopter and urban search and rescue in water environments.
The teams started deployment Wednesday night and some will deploy Thursday.
DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an assault and continue to search for a suspect.
Just after 3p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a mobile home in the 100 Block of Maple Street in Lawrence after report of a disturbance with weapons.
A man later identified as 27-year-old John Robert Berry was barricaded inside with a gun. A second individual was inside and unable to leave due to health reasons. Officers set up a perimeter and attempted to contact the suspect.
After 8:30p.m. officers deployed an investigative robot into the residence and determined Berry had escaped. He is wanted for aggravated assault and has previous convictions for criminal threat, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
MINNEAPOLIS — A Maine man who was arrested in California has been charged with second degree-intentional murder and related charges, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
Schmidt today filed criminal charges against Robert Willard Colson, 34, of Bucksport, Maine, in connection with the death of Matthew Miles Schoshke on August 11 in rural Ottawa County. The charges are one count of murder in the second degree-intentional and two counts of felony theft. Colson remains in custody in California awaiting extradition to Kansas.
The attorney general’s office accepted the case for prosecution at the request of the Ottawa County Attorney’s Office. Criminal charges are merely accusations. Individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Any public comments on the prosecution of Colson are governed by the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 3.6, Trial Publicity, and Rule 3.8, Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor. All media requests or inquiries should be directed to the Office of the Attorney General, 120 S.W. 10th, 2nd Floor, Topeka, Kansas 66612, (785) 296-6115.
Mark Hutton, a Wichita Republican, is joining the field of candidates for Kansas governor. Hutton is a former member of the Kansas House. FILE PHOTO / KPR
The parade of candidates seeking the Kansas governor’s office continues to grow with the addition of Mark Hutton, a Republican former House member.
Hutton founded a construction company based in Wichita that he ran for years before moving into politics.
When Hutton was in the Kansas House, he defied some fellow conservatives by arguing the state should reverse an income tax exemption for thousands of business owners. In 2016 he offered a proposal that would have cut the food sales tax in exchange for reinstating the business income taxes.
Hutton said he’d bring that leadership to the governor’s office.
“I believe I’ve demonstrated in the past that I’m willing to make the hard decisions, the hard calls, that I’ll put good policy for the state ahead of political personal gain or party gain,” he said.
Hutton said as governor, he’d try to bridge gaps between political factions.
“For me, it’s about communication,” he said. “It’s about bringing people together to solve problems, not pushing them apart with philosophy.”
