• Mar 30, 2007
  • The Wichita Eagle
  • -
  • by Ron Sylvester

A Wichita man arrested last May in connection with two rapes, then released when a DNA test proved his innocence, is suing the Police Department for an apology. Joshua Fontes filed the lawsuit Thursday afternoon in Sedgwick County District Court.

“This is not a case where we’re seeking a large amount of money,” said Dan Monnat, one of Fontes’ lawyers. “He just wants an apology.” City Attorney Gary Rebenstorf declined to immediately comment on the lawsuit, after being sent a copy by The Eagle.

The story of the arrest was reported on Wichita news broadcasts and on Kansas.com. At least two television stations, KAKE, Channel 10, and KSNW, Channel 3, named Fontes at the time of his arrest.

According to the lawsuit:

Police arrested Fontes on May 9, suspecting him of two rapes. He was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail and held for 48 hours with no arrest affidavit of probable cause signed by a judge. Police said they were awaiting DNA test results, the lawsuit claims.

“The delay in gathering additional evidence to justify the arrest was unreasonable,” the suit contends. DNA test results exonerated Fontes, and he was released. The lawsuit says that if Fontes doesn’t receive an apology from the city, he will seek “damages, attorney fees and other such and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.” 

All content © 2007 THE WICHITA EAGLE and may not be republished without permission.

The Wichita Eagle – By Ron Sylvester

  • Mar 24, 2007
  • The Wichita Eagle
  • -
  • by Christina M. Woods

Kansas House leaders called on Attorney General Paul Morrison on Friday to reinstate misdemeanor charges sought by his predecessor against Wichita abortion provider George Tiller.

“Members of the Kansas Legislature have been inundated with telephone calls, petitions, letters and e-mails from Kansans across the state, asking that we direct the attorney general to proceed with the criminal case against Dr. Tiller,” said Speaker Pro Tem Don Dahl, R-Hillsboro. He added he was “very disappointed in the lack of action by the state’s chief law enforcement officer.”

Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, and Majority Leader Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, also signed a March 19 letter asking that Morrison allow a jury to hear the charges. It was released to the public Friday.

Morrison responded Friday with a letter that said his office continues to investigate Tiller, with an assistant attorney general assigned to the case full time.

He said he was committed to enforcing the law based on fact. He noted that “criminal convictions require proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” and added, “I can assure you that if I find evidence that a crime has been committed, I will file new charges against Dr. Tiller.”

He said an announcement on the case should be made soon.

Before he left office in December, former Attorney General Phill Kline alleged that Tiller performed 15 late-term abortions on patients ages 10 to 22 and failed to properly report the details to state health officials.

Kline filed 30 misdemeanor charges in Sedgwick County, but District Attorney Nola Foulston contended he did not have jurisdiction. Sedgwick County Judge Paul Clark agreed, and the charges were dismissed.

In January, a special prosecutor appointed by Kline asked the Kansas Supreme Court to reinstate the charges. In February, at Morrison’s urging, the court dismissed the request.

State Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, earlier this week signed an ethics complaint against Clark for dismissing the charges.

Both Clark and Foulston did not return a call for comment Friday.

One of Tiller’s lawyers, Dan Monnat, said of the legislators’ letter: “Dr. Tiller is innocent of any wrongdoing. We always said that Dr. Tiller would cooperate with professional prosecutors who don’t have some skewed political agenda, and he has done and will do that. On the other hand, it’s important that the different branches of government maintain their independence and that the Legislature not try to coerce a political prosecution.”

Also Friday, about 35 people prayed in front of the Sedgwick County Courthouse, seeking reinstatement of the charges.

“We’re looking for the man to be tried and found guilty or not guilty of committing illegal third-trimester abortions,” said the Rev. Rob Rotola, pastor of Word of Life church. “These are egregious offenses.”

Contributing: Tim Potter and Ron Sylvester of The Eagle
Reach Christina M. Woods at 316-269-6791 or [email protected].

All content © 2007 THE WICHITA EAGLE and may not be republished without permission.

By CHRISTINA M. WOODS
The Wichita Eagle