• Jun 08, 2018
  • KAKE TV
  • -
  • by Lily Wu

WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) –

For months, the disappearance of Lucas Hernandez has been on the minds of many in this community, including criminal defense attorney Dan Monnat.

“Speculation in these cases is always to be avoided. Science and medicine will tell us the manner in which Lucas Hernandez died, whether that’s by criminal means or by natural causes or accident,” said Monnat.

In this case, Monnat said to stick with the facts:

February 17 at 6:14 p.m., Emily Glass called police and reported her boyfriend’s five-year-old son missing from their home in the 600 block of South Edgemoor, in southeast Wichita. She told police that she last saw Lucas that afternoon when she took a nap at their home.

February 21, Emily Glass was arrested. She was eventually charged with one count of child endangerment regarding her one-year-old daughter.

May 16, Emily Glass was found not guilty in the child endangerment case and was released from jail.

May 24, Emily Glass led a private investigator Lucas’ body under a bridge in Harvey County. She was arrested and booked for felony obstruction of justice.

May 30, Emily Glass was released from jail. The district attorney announced that no charges would be filed “while investigators continue to follow up on newly developed leads and await the results of forensic examinations.” The statement also stated, “The autopsy report in particular, will not be final until the result of the toxicology exam is complete.”

June 8 at 1:38 a.m., Emily Glass is found dead inside the South Edgemoor house. Officers found a rifle near her feet, and three suicide notes in the house.

“Some may regard the suicide of Emily Glass as permitting some kind of inference of guilt. But again, thorough law enforcement investigation, medicine and science will tell us what really happened; speculation never will,” said Monnat.

See full story at KAKE.com

  • May 30, 2018
  • KSNW TV
  • -
  • by John Asebes

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Released without prejudice.

The stepmother of Lucas Hernandez walked out of the Sedgwick County Jail again. This, after District Attorney Marc Bennett announced he wouldn’t be filing charges against Emily Glass yet.

Many in the community left with questions.

“I don’t find why they released her. It is like a joke,” says Candace Gallegos-Serna, who stood in protest of the release.

Sunglasses on, head down, and surrounded by family, Glass walked out of the jail.

“No charges are being filed today as we continue to follow up on newly developed leads,” explains District Attorney Marc Bennett.

“In Sedgwick County, we have diligent law enforcement officers and a wise and cautious district attorney,” adds Defense Attorney Dan Monnat.

By law, if you don’t charge someone within 72 hours of arresting them, they have to be released.

Monnat says he believes that Bennett is waiting for the autopsy and toxicology report before jumping to conclusions.

“They have to be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the child died of criminal means rather than natural causes,” says Monnat.

“How are you going to know exactly where the body is?” asks Gallegos-Serna.

A question asked by man after police arrested Glass a few hours after finding Lucas’s body, saying it was Glass who led a private investigator to exactly where the body was.

Monnat says that isn’t proof of anything.

“I think it is dangerous to leap to conclusions about the allegation that a person supposedly led a private investigator to the child’s body, and, therefore, the person is guilty,” says Monnat. “That sounds like speculation.”

See full story at KSN.com

  • May 22, 2018
  • KSNW TV
  • -
  • by John Asebes

WICHITA – What can police do, and not do, when they visit your home?

It’s a conversation many are having after Wichita police intentionally turned and blocked a camera on Sunday night.

“Due to safety concerns, one of the officers turned the camera away from where officers were standing on the porch,” explains Office Charley Davidson.

Defense Attorney Dan Monnat says, “It is an invasion of your privacy.”

In a report filed following the incident. One of the responding officers says they turned the camera to gain tactical advantage. Adding “and hoped that the occupants inside the residence would not see that it was the police there and open the door….”

“In our policy we can do what we need to stay safe,” says Officer Davidson. This was a violent known offender.”

Of course, safety is a top priority for police. But Monnat says what this officer did violated the homeowner’s rights.

“Police officers can’t go on your porch and do to your private property what would inspire most of us to, well, call the police.”

Without a warrant Monnat thinks this was a clear violation of the 4th amendment. The right of the people against unreasonable searches and seizures.

He says the amendment serves two purposes, to protect your rights, and the officers’.

“Officer safety is always a concern. It is a concern that the 4th amendment takes care of. It requires them to do what is reasonable. Obtain a warrant; if they are going to do more than an invitee, or social visitor is entitled to do…come on the porch.”

Police say they are going to do an internal investigation of the incident, which includes the officers body cam footage from that night.

See full interview at KSN.com

  • May 18, 2018
  • KSNW TV
  • -
  • by Craig Andres

WINFIELD, Kan. (KSNW) – A victim of an alleged racial profiling incident in Winfield is considering legal action.

KSN has reached out to Rudy Samuel who recorded the incident on his cell phone. Rudy gave KSN permission to share his video. Over the weekend, he was stopped for a turn signal violation in Winfield. An officer questioned some vegetation that was found in the window sill of his car. Samuel told the officer it was from a tree. The officer told Samuel to step out of the car, and he was detained during the incident. The cell phone video cut out, but audio continued.

Attorney Dan Monnat says a lot of questions remain.

“Did the law enforcement officer really have a solid basis for immediately concluding that the vegetative matter on the window sill of the car was really contraband?” asks Monnat.

Freedom 1 Organization is the official spokesman for Samuel. The group said it is planning a protest soon in Winfield.

“Rudy is pretty shook up over this,” says Peter Wright with Freedom 1. “We are hoping to get this information out so this won’t happen to anyone else. Nowhere in this country.”

KSN has reached out to Winfield police for further comment.

“And I’m certainly aware of the video that’s online that involved our department,” said Winfield Police Chief Brett Stone. “And we train, we learn, we do conduct these traffic stops routinely.  And certainly each traffic stop has facets to it depending on the nature of the call, the nature of the stop, the nature of what the infraction is. So, we do our best to adapt and adjust to those and conduct them safely and certainly within legal guidelines.”

See full story at KSN.com

  • May 15, 2018

Sarah Ellen Johnson – a former Kansas Capital Appellate Defender with more than 17 years of experience in the appeals courts of Kansas – has joined Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered to lead the firm’s appellate practice and legal research and writing section.

“Sarah has taken two cases to the United States Supreme Court and filed over 80 briefs in the Kansas appeals courts, including five briefs in death penalty cases,” said Dan Monnat, president of the firm. “She is an accomplished writer with a gift for honing persuasive legal arguments, and we are thrilled to have her leading our appellate practice.”

Johnson received her law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School, with honors. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Carleton College.

Founded in 1985 by litigator Dan Monnat and legal scholar Stan Spurrier, Monnat & Spurrier has built an international reputation for criminal defense, white-collar criminal defense, computer crimes defense and appellate defense. The firm now has seven attorneys.

  • May 04, 2018

WICHITA, Kan. – Chambers USA 2018 – which annually conducts surveys of lawyers and their clients – has ranked Dan Monnat, of Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, in the top tier of Kansas litigators practicing in the White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations sector. Based on its survey, Chambers USA describes Monnat as “…a highly respected practitioner who is routinely referred to by peers as a ‘top-notch’ attorney in the field of white-collar criminal defense. He offers huge experience of trial and appellate proceedings and is thought of by interviewees as ‘one of the go-to people in Kansas.'”

“It is truly gratifying to receive this review by Chambers USA,” Monnat said. “Our firm approaches every case with relentless thought, action, courage and care. Clearly, our clients and legal peers have appreciated our commitment and work ethic.”

Monnat has practiced criminal law, white-collar criminal law and appellate law in Wichita for more than 40 years. A graduate of California State University, Monnat 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 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. He was the Governor’s appointee to the Kansas Sentencing Commission from 2007 – 2011.

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 Litigation Counsel of America 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 and served as a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Board of Directors from 1996 – 2004. He is a frequent lecturer at NACDL conferences and at other legal seminars around the country.

  • Feb 28, 2018

WICHITA, Kan. – Who’s Who Legal 2018 has named Dan Monnat, of Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, one of the world’s leading practitioners in the Investigations sector. Who’s Who Legal collaborates annually with Global Investigations Review to identify the world’s leading lawyers, forensic accountants and digital forensics experts who assist companies and individuals under investigation by regulators and/or law enforcement.

“I’m truly honored to be recognized again among this group of lawyers renowned for their investigative and bet-the-company defense work,” said Monnat. “Whether monitoring dawn raids by regulators and enforcement officers, advising company personnel of their rights, overseeing investigations, or ensuring that regulatory and law enforcement authorities are held accountable throughout the investigation, our firm is dedicated to protecting clients’ Constitutional rights.”

Monnat has practiced in Wichita 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.

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 Trial Lawyers’ 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.

  • Jan 03, 2018
  • KAKE TV
  • -
  • by Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – A 25-year-old Los Angeles man wanted in Kansas has waived extradition proceedings in California and will face a felony allegation that he made a hoax emergency call that led to the fatal police shooting of a Wichita resident.

Tyler Barriss appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday and acknowledged he is the person wanted in Kansas.

A fugitive-from-justice warrant filed by Los Angeles County prosecutors says Barriss was charged in Kansas on Dec. 29 with the felony of making a false alarm.

Police have said 28-year-old Andrew Finch was shot after a prankster called 911 last week with a fake story about a shooting and kidnapping at Finch’s Wichita home.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said Barriss would be picked up in the next two to three weeks, but authorities have until February 2.

Once Barriss makes his first appearance in Sedgwick County District Court, details of the charges filed will be made public, Bennett said.

In the meantime Barriss remains held without bail.

See Dan Monnat’s full interview at KAKE.com

  • Dec 21, 2017
  • KSNW TV
  • -
  • by John Asebes

BARBER COUNTY, Kan. – KSN has obtained body cam footage of the moments leading up to and after the night Steven Myers was shot and killed by a Barber County Sheriff’s Deputy.

Kristina Myers, Myers’ widow says she was not given any warning before the release of the video.

“You know I could have been in the living room watching TV and it could have just come on. No one notified us that they had released it,” says Myers.

It also comes as a shock to her and the family’s legal counsel.

Michael Kuckleman, counsel for the family, “We don’t know why it was released. Up until yesterday the sheriff had been arguing that it was protected under the exception for criminal investigation.”

Attorney Jeff Jordan, who is representing Sheriff Lonnie Small of the Barber County Sheriff’s Office, says they released the footage as part of Kansas Open Records Act. He says he cannot comment on the content of the video. Myers’s family are now pressing for more footage.

Kuckelman says, “We don’t know how many are available. What we do know is they have released a dash and a body cam for 3 of the four officers who were there that night. The 4th officer they haven’t released anything and the fourth officer just happens to be the shooter.”

Myers says, “We are trying to stay strong, trying to stick together and help the kids get through the Christmas holiday without too much of a hiccup.”

KSN sought legal counsel from defense attorney Dan Monnat to see if it is common in Kansas for a judge to order the release of the video, like what was done in this case, and what should be expected when the public requests body cam footage from police.

Monnat says, “Well, I don’t think it is common, but I think it ought to be common because transparency is exactly what we should have in a free country.”

A hearing will take place Friday at Barber County District Court. Both the sheriff and undersheriff have been subpoenaed to take the stand. Attorneys representing the family say the purpose of the hearing is to determine if there have been any violations of the Kansas Open Records Act.

See full video at KSN.com

  • Dec 19, 2017
  • by Monnat & Spurrier

Eli O’Brien has joined Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered as an associate attorney. His primary practice will focus on the defense of serious felony accusations.

O’Brien has been an attorney with the Sedgwick County Public Defender’s Office since 2015, providing counsel and trial advocacy for indigent persons accused of felony crimes.

“We’re delighted to have Eli join the firm as he will be a welcome addition to our ever-expanding criminal defense practice,” said Dan Monnat, President of the firm. “We are seeing a significant influx of criminal defense matters, at all levels of severity from misdemeanors to serious felony cases. Eli tried several difficult jury trials while at the Public Defender’s Office, and that broad experience will serve our client base particularly well.”

A graduate of Washburn University School of Law, O’Brien also holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Emporia State University. He is a member of the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.

Founded in 1985 by litigator Dan Monnat and legal scholar Stan Spurrier, Monnat & Spurrier has built an international reputation for criminal defense and appellate defense. In addition to Monnat, Spurrier and O’Brien, the firm includes two former prosecutors, Trevor Riddle and Sal Intagliata, associate attorney Matt Gorney, and legal research and writing specialist Kathryn Stevenson.