WICHITA – For the fifth consecutive year, distinguished criminal defense attorney Dan Monnat, of Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, has been recognized on the Top 10 List of Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers. He has been among the overall Top 100 of Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers for 17 years.

Practicing in Kansas and Nebraska for more than 45 years, Monnat has focused on high-profile criminal defense, white-collar criminal defense, appellate defense and bet-the-company litigation. His cases have attracted international attention, including the defense and acquittal of late-term abortion provider Dr. George Tiller, the defense of an innocent man wrongly accused of being the notorious BTK, and acquittals and exonerations of his clients in shaken baby murder and other murder, sex and white-collar prosecutions.

“In today’s divisive and politically charged environment, defending the Constitutional rights of the accused is more critical than ever,” Monnat said. “Every year, the Super Lawyers Top 10 List includes tremendously accomplished attorneys and litigators. I’m honored to stand among them and privileged to count them as friends and peers.”

A graduate of California State University, Monnat earned a Juris Doctorate from Creighton University School of Law and is a graduate of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer’s College.

Monnat is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the international Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation, and the Kansas Bar Foundation. He is a Life Member and past Board Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, as well as a two-term past president of the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Monnat also currently sits on the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association’s Board of Editors and is the Criminal Law Chair.

A frequent national lecturer and editorial contributor on criminal defense topics, Monnat is the co-author of “Sentencing, Probation, and Collateral Consequences,” a chapter of the Kansas Bar Association’s Kansas Criminal Law Handbook, 5th edition.

Monnat & Spurrier was founded in 1985 by Monnat and legal scholar Stan Spurrier. Today the firm has six lawyers and has earned a reputation for its work in all sectors of criminal defense, white collar criminal defense, and criminal appeals.

WICHITA  – Tristan Johnson has joined Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered as an associate attorney. His primary practice will focus on the defense of criminal cases including DUIs and drug offenses.

A graduate of Washburn University and Washburn University School of Law, Tristan began working at the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office as an undergraduate student majoring in legal studies. By the time of his law school graduation earlier this year, he had received four years of prosecution experience, transitioning from Law Clerk to Licensed Prosecuting Intern, and handling multiple traffic and misdemeanor trials.

“Every great defense lawyer is quick on his feet and fiercely competitive in his field of practice, and Tristan Johnson is no exception,” said firm president Dan Monnat. “He played baseball at Allen County Community College on athletic and academic scholarships, where he was a Baseball Academic All-American and developed a keen desire to study law and join a team of lawyers like those at Monnat & Spurrier. We’re thrilled to have him in our firm’s line-up of criminal defense attorneys.”

While in law school, Johnson was a member of Washburn’s Litigation Law Clinic, helping make a difference in the community by providing representation in various matters to those who would have been otherwise unable to afford it.

With a keen talent for competition, coaching and mentorship, Johnson also operated his own youth baseball instruction business for four years, encouraging young players and building sportsmanship in his community.

Johnson is a member of the Kansas Bar Association, Wichita Bar Association, and Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Founded in 1985 by litigator Dan Monnat and legal scholar Stan Spurrier, the firm of Monnat & Spurrier has built a national reputation for criminal defense and appellate defense, computer crimes defense, and white-collar criminal defense. In addition to Monnat, Spurrier, and Johnson, the firm includes attorney and shareholder Sal Intagliata, and associate attorneys Eli O’Brien and Alex Sheppard.

(WICHITA, Kan.) – The annual joint survey by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers has awarded Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, with five “Best Law Firms 2023” metropolitan rankings in the sectors of:

  • General Practice Criminal Defense
  • White-Collar Criminal Defense
  • Appellate Practice
  • DUI/DWI Defense
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation

“This recognition becomes more important to us every year because it stems directly from surveys of our clients and peers,” said Dan Monnat. “We appreciate the high praise from clients, and the sincere respect from our fellow lawyers in the bar.”

“Best Law Firms” rankings are compiled using evaluations by clients who are asked if they would refer others to the firm. Firms are ranked for their responsiveness, cost-effectiveness, and civility. Attorneys in similar practice areas are also surveyed, and overall rankings reflect this peer input, as
well.

Celebrating its 37 th year, Monnat & Spurrier was founded by criminal defense attorney Dan Monnat and legal scholar Stan Spurrier. The firm has gained a reputation for its successful defense of such high-profile clients as late-term abortion provider Dr. George Tiller; the unfortunate innocent person whose home was mistakenly raided by police as being that of serial killer BTK; and most recently, the Western Kansas man wrongly accused of murdering a four-year-old child by cruelly beating or shaking her.

In addition to Monnat and Spurrier, the firm includes shareholder Sal Intagliata, and associates Eli O’Brien, Alex Sheppard and Tristan Johnson.

WICHITA — Following Thursday’s announcement that President Joe Biden is pardoning thousands of Americans convicted of “simple possession” of marijuana under federal law, 12 News spoke with local legal experts to gain perspective on what kind of impact this could have on Kansas.

The federal pardons will not apply to possessions of marijuana with intent to distribute or distributions of marijuana or manufacturing. Further, the pardons will not affect convictions under state law.

Wichita criminal defense attorney Dan Monnat said a charge on a federal level verses a state level depends on who makes the arrest.

“That depends upon which law enforcement office has jurisdiction over the offense, which law enforcement agency makes the arrest and which prosecutor decides to prosecute it,” he said.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said of the 8.2 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010, 88% were for simply having marijuana. Compared to surrounding states, even possessing a small amount is a crime in Kansas.

“Far less than a blunt is enough to prosecute somebody in Kansas,” Monnat said. “Any amount that can be possessed is sufficient for a conviction of possession of marijuana.”

Micah Kubic with ACLU Kansas said marijuana laws have disproportionately affected specific groups in the U.S.

“Drug laws in Kansas, around the country have disproportionately hurt communities of color of disproportionately hurt African American and Latino communities,” Kubic said.

Now, all those eligible for a pardon will get a new chance at life, but Kubic said that won’t change anytime soon at the state level.

See full video at KWCH.com

WICHITA — At least 54 cases are missing evidence, according to a 2021 audit of the Wichita Police Department’s (WPD) Property and Evidence facility. The newly released information comes just a day after the city manager pointed to multiple issues within the facility.

This could mean cases could be thrown out, but Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said this is more of a records management issue, not a missing evidence issue.

When Bennett found out about the problems with the property and evidence facility, he wanted the details.

“That seems almost within the realm of human error,” said Bennett.

Bennett met with City leadership on Tuesday. Afterward, he said the issue is centered around records management.

“But to run a property and evidence section, it is not very equipped for that, and frankly, it’s appearing that is not equipped for that at all,” said Bennett.

Wichita Council Member Jeff Blubaugh visited the facility on Tuesday and said it is a mess and needs attention immediately.

Bennett shares similar concerns.

“It’s an embarrassment, in fact, for the department, but that is a far cry from suggesting that there is any evidence of malfeasance, criminality, lost, [and/or] stolen property,” said Bennett.

But if the evidence is found to be missing, it could cause cases to be thrown out, according to Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered Shareholder Attorney, Sal Intagliata.

“If you have clearly exculpatory evidence and it is gone, you are entitled to relief,” said Intagliata.

“If we find out that there are things where they are not supposed to be, then we are going to have issues, but thus far, that has not been brought to my attention,” said Bennett.

The City has a four-phase plan of action in place to fix the issues within property and evidence.

According to the plan, we will not know how many cases are missing evidence for at least 90 days.

See full video at KSN.com

WICHITA — Tension is building between some leaders in the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County after the Wichita City Council voted Tuesday not to prosecute people who are caught with marijuana. While the city council still has one more reading before these kinds of misdemeanors are no longer prosecuted in municipal court, county officials warn because the district attorney’s office rarely prosecutes misdemeanor cases, the ordinance will only clog an already crowded system.

“So, you all pay for misdemeanor appointments,” District Attorney Marc Bennett told the Sedgwick Board of County Commissioners Wednesday.

Wichita City Council votes to decriminalize marijuana and fentanyl test strips

Bennett says the county could face significant financial impacts if Wichita passes an estimated 1,200-1,500 cases to his office each year.

“Probation, forensic science, the costs associated with testing all that marijuana,” Bennett said.

While the district attorney’s office can control how many cases it will prosecute, Sheriff Jeff Easter says he anticipates a major influx in bookings in a jail that is constantly nearing capacity.

“They can no longer just issue an NTA (Notice to Appear) and walk away. They have to arrest them and book them by state statute,” Sheriff Easter said.

Bennett says his biggest concern involving the city’s ordinance is the concept of ‘double jeopardy.’

“This notion that there’s 750 cases as if they are stand-alone cases where the person is only charged with one joint in his pocket. That’s not reality,” Bennett said.

But criminal defense lawyer Dan Monnat says the system can handle the change, allowing the City to reallocate time and resources to other, more serious cases.

“We’re eliminating prosecutions in one jurisdiction, so that doesn’t cost more money,” Monnat said.

Meanwhile, the Wichita Police Department is still working out a plan to move forward with these kinds of arrests. Experts say they do not anticipate an increase or decrease in racial profiling as a result of this ordinance.

“I think there needs to be checks and balances in policy, and there needs to be early warning signs that police officials need to recognize in their officers,” Dr. Michael Birzer, professor of criminal justice at Wichita State University, said.

Commissioner David Dennis is urging the Board of County Commissioners to consider a resolution in the near future regarding how to bill the City of Wichita for all additional expenses pertaining to this ordinance.

See full video at KSN.com

The 2022 edition of Who’s Who Legal: Business Crime Defense has named Dan Monnat, of Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, one of the world’s leading business crime defense attorneys. He is the only attorney from Wichita and one of only two attorneys in Kansas selected to the list, which encompasses the top attorneys from 38 countries worldwide.

“Who’s Who focuses on an international list of lawyers with expertise in representing companies and individuals involved in white-collar criminal litigation,” Monnat said. “While the Who’s Who research focuses primarily on white-collar criminal trial practice, it also encompasses those attorneys who have significant experience in cutting-edge matters involving compliance, investigations, enforcement proceedings, and parallel or related civil litigation. I’ve been privileged to be part of the Who’s Who list since 2014, and each year it’s an even greater honor.”

Monnat has practiced in Kansas for 45 years, handling criminal and white-collar criminal cases that have attracted international attention, including the defense of late-term abortion provider Dr. George Tiller.

Monnat is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation, and the Kansas Bar Foundation. He has been named one of the Top 10 Super Lawyers in Kansas and Missouri for the past four years, and has been included on the Super Lawyers Top 100 list for more than 15 years.

A graduate of California State University, Monnat received his J.D. from Creighton University School of Law and is a graduate of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer’s College.

A frequent national lecturer and editorial contributor on criminal defense topics, Monnat is the co-author of “Sentencing, Probation, and Collateral Consequences,” a chapter of the Kansas Bar Association’s Kansas Criminal Law Handbook, 5th edition.  He currently sits on the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association’s Board of Editors.

Monnat served as a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Board of Directors from 1996 – 2004, and is a two-term past president of the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

WICHITA — Four Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, attorneys have been honored by Best Lawyers in America® 2023, including firm President Dan Monnat, who was named to the prestigious list for the 35th consecutive year.

Dan Monnat has practiced in Wichita and throughout Kansas for more than 45 years, defending individuals and companies in high-stakes federal and state jury trials, appellate courts, regulatory proceedings, grand jury, and other investigations. Monnat makes his 35th consecutive appearance on the list and was recognized this year in four distinct areas: Criminal Defense-General Practice; Criminal Defense-White Collar; Bet-the-Company Litigation; and Appellate Practice.

A noted legal author and lecturer, Monnat is a graduate of California State University, with a J.D. from Creighton University School of Law. He is a graduate of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer’s College.

Sal Intagliata earned his eighth consecutive listing by Best Lawyers in the areas of Criminal Defense: General Practice; Criminal Defense: White-Collar, and DUI / DWI Defense. A shareholder at Monnat & Spurrier, his career includes 23 years as a distinguished criminal defense attorney in private practice, as well as four years as a Sedgwick County Assistant District Attorney, where he prosecuted cases in the Gangs/Violent Crimes Division.

Intagliata earned his bachelor’s degree, with distinction, from the University of Kansas. He earned his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law in May 1995.

Stan Spurrier, an accomplished legal scholar who co-founded the firm with Monnat in 1985, was recognized in the areas of: Appellate Practice; Criminal Defense: General Practice; and Criminal Defense: White-Collar.

Spurrier earned his bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Washburn University School of Law.

Eli O’Brien is an associate attorney whose primary practice includes defense of serious felony accusations, as well as DUI / DWI cases. He was honored by Best Lawyers in the area of Criminal Defense: White-Collar.

Before joining Monnat & Spurrier in 2015, O’Brien was a trial attorney with the Sedgwick County Public Defender’s Office. A graduate of Washburn University School of Law, O’Brien also holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Emporia State University.

“Selection to Best Lawyers in America is based on reviews by legal peers who are in the best position to evaluate the professional conduct and capabilities of their colleagues,” said Monnat. “In a profession that’s often adversarial, the true honor for our firm is to receive such consistent, high regards from our peers.”

WICHITA, Kan. – Chambers USA 2022 has once again ranked Dan Monnat, of Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, among Kansas’ top litigators in the areas of White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations, citing his work in healthcare and financial investigations. Chambers has placed Monnat among the state’s top-tier attorneys in this sector for 12 consecutive years.

“I’ve always said that the practice of law is about more than the law… it’s about the thought, action, courage and care we bring to bear in the defense of every client,” Monnat said. “I’m honored that the lawyers and clients surveyed by Chambers have continued to recognize this commitment in my practice, and have seen fit to name me to this distinguished list for the past dozen years.”

For more than 45 years, Monnat has practiced criminal law, white-collar criminal law and appellate law in Wichita and across Kansas. Highly regarded by peers and clients alike, Monnat has been named one of Super Lawyers’ Top 10 Lawyers in Missouri and Kansas every year since 2018. A graduate of California State University, he received his J.D. from Creighton University School of Law. He also is a graduate of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer’s College.

A frequent editorial contributor on criminal defense topics, Monnat is co-author of “Sentencing, Probation, and Collateral Consequences,” a chapter of the Kansas Bar Association’s Kansas Criminal Law Handbook, 5th edition.

Monnat has earned distinction as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation, and the Kansas Bar Foundation. He currently sits on the Kansas Association of Trial Lawyers’ Board of Editors.

Monnat is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Association. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and lectures frequently at NACDL conferences and at other legal seminars nationwide.

Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, was founded in 1985 by Monnat and legal scholar Stan Spurrier. In addition to Monnat and Spurrier, the firm includes shareholder Sal Intagliata and associates Eli O’Brien and Alex Sheppard.

WICHITA, Kan. – Alex Sheppard has joined Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered as an associate attorney. His primary practice will focus on the defense of criminal cases including DUIs, drug offenses and domestic violence.

Sheppard comes to Monnat & Spurrier from a prominent personal injury firm where he fought big insurance companies and recovered millions in compensation for injured parties.

“We’re extremely pleased to have Alex join our firm,” said firm President Dan Monnat. “His competitive drive, detailed preparation and work ethic are excellent attributes for a courtroom attorney, whether he’s trying a criminal misdemeanor or a serious felony. Alex’s trial experience will serve our clients especially well.”

A graduate of Washburn University School of Law, Sheppard also holds a bachelor’s degree in biopsychology from Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa, where he received an athletic scholarship and swam on its men’s swim team.

Sheppard is a member of the Kansas Bar Association, Wichita Bar Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Active in the Wichita community, Sheppard is a member of Wichita Young Professionals.

Founded in 1985 by litigator Dan Monnat and legal scholar Stan Spurrier, Monnat & Spurrier has built a national reputation for criminal defense and appellate defense, computer crimes defense, and white-collar criminal defense. In addition to Monnat, Spurrier and Sheppard, the firm includes former prosecutor Sal Intagliata and former public defender Eli O’Brien.