• Sep 19, 2017

WICHITA, Kan. – Who’s Who Legal: Business Crime Defense 2017 has named Dan Monnat of Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, one of the world’s leading business crime defense attorneys for both corporations and individuals. The publication is a strategic research partner of the American Bar Association’s Section of International Law.

Monnat has practiced in Kansas for more than 40 years, handling criminal and white-collar criminal cases that have attracted worldwide attention. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, and the Litigation Counsel of America.

“It is an honor to be recognized among this exemplary group of attorneys worldwide,” Monnat said. “Many of the cases we handle in America’s heartland resonate globally. Those cases can have a potential impact on white-collar criminal defense strategies worldwide.”

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 author of “Sentencing, Probation, and Collateral Consequences,” a chapter of the Kansas Bar Association’s Kansas Criminal Law Handbook, 5th edition. From 2007 – 2011, Monnat served on the Kansas Sentencing Commission as a Governor’s appointee. He currently sits on the Kansas Association of Justice’ 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.

  • Sep 13, 2017
  • KSNW TV
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  • by Chris Arnold

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. – A video of a Saline County traffic stop has gone viral.

Since that video was posted, it has been viewed more than seven million times.

It shows the Saline County deputy asking the driver and passenger of the car for their license and identification, which they are heard telling the deputy they don’t need to produce.

The video was shot by Colorado resident Tia Jones, while she and her husband, Jonathan Ayers, are sitting in the car talking with the deputy.

“She’s a traveler too, she doesn’t need any identification,” said Ayers.

The video was shot on Sept. 2, when Jones and Ayers were pulled over on I-70 in Saline County.

“I still need to see your driver’s license,” said the Saline County deputy. “No you don’t,” replied Ayers.

KSN caught up with both Ayers and Jones Wednesday evening in Salina.

“They came to the passenger’s side, instead of the driver’s side, they proceeded to ask us for our licenses. I asked him where the crime was, he didn’t answer my question,” said Ayers.

In the video, you can hear the deputy saying he pulled them over for a lane change violation.

“Like I said, I observed traffic infractions,” said the Saline County deputy.

The deputy continues to ask both Ayers and Jones for identification.

“Does anyone have any form of identification at all?” said the Saline County deputy. “Identification is for a driver, not a traveler,” said Ayers.

It’s a video that Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan has watched.

“We are expecting to approach the vehicle, get an identification from the driver and find out what their situation is and see if they are aware of the infraction,” said Sheriff Soldan.

The more than 20-minute video ends when the police ultimately break out the passenger side window and arrest Jones and Ayers.

So what is the law and your rights as a driver?

KSN took those questions to attorney Dan Monnat.

“The laws of Kansas of course require every person operating a motor vehicle possess a valid driver’s license and display it upon demand by a law enforcement officer,” said Monnat.

Monnat also points to a driver’s rights to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, something that is spelled out in the Kansas and Federal Constitution.

After watching the video, Monnat says one question comes to mind.

“Was the officer’s use of force reasonable or overkill, where the only act being investigated was an unsafe lane change,” said Monnat.

Ayers was arrested for interference with law enforcement and obstruction.

Jones is also facing interference with law enforcement and misdemeanor obstruction charges.

See full story at KSN.com

  • Sep 13, 2017
  • KWCH TV
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  • by Rachel Skytta

WICHITA, Kan. More than a week since the remains of a 3-year-old boy were found inside a concrete structure in a south Wichita home, many questions surround the case.

Wichita police positively identified Evan Brewer’s remains through DNA this week, but have not made any arrests in this case and no charges have been filed.

We know Evan lived with his mother and her boyfriend in the home where police found his remains. The two arrested on charges related to the custody battle for Evan, but when it comes to his death, there’s no indication on when an arrest could be made.

“Likely there’s an autopsy involved here to determine whether or not the child died of natural causes or criminal means,” attorney Dan Monnat says.

Monnat says those results can take awhile and could point investigators in a different direction when determining who put Evan in the concrete structure.

“Generally, there are such crimes as failure to report the death of a child or improperly disposing of a body. But I suspect that in this case, at this time, law enforcement officers are focused on much more serious charges,” Monnat says.

If police make an arrest in Evan’s death, Monnat says there’s no knowing how long it will take investigators to present the case to the Sedgwick County district attorney.

See the full interview at KWCH.com