Sedgwick County Prosecutors Drop Charges Against Detention Deputy

Prosecutors have dismissed charges against a Sedgwick County detention deputy accused of fondling two male inmates. The deputy’s defense attorney, Sal Intagliata said: “James Conklin honorably served his department and his community for almost 20 years… He and his family appreciate the willingness of the District Attorney’s Office to listen and review his case closely and … that office’s decision to dismiss the case. It was the right decision….”

Sources: Derby Man’s Sex Crime Against Boy Unrelated to Church Role

A Derby man’s sex crime against a 5-year-old boy was unrelated to a youth soccer program the man had coordinated, the child’s mother said Thursday. Knabe’s defense attorney, Trevor Riddle, said: “The allegations against Mr. Knabe in this case had nothing to do, nor any connection, with his church nor with his participation in any church activities. This case is now resolved, and we would ask everyone to respect the privacy of those involved.”

Ex-Coach Won’t Go To Jail In Solicitation Case

Former Garden Plain football coach Todd Puetz, who was facing a possible sentence of five years in prison for electronic solicitation of a minor, has avoided jail time by reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors. Defense lawyer Dan Monnat said, “After a great deal of consideration, all parties agree this is an appropriate resolution. We are grateful to the Sedgwick County district attorney and the jury for permitting this resolution of the case.”

Justices Allow Police to Take DNA Samples After Arrests

WASHINGTON — Police may take DNA samples from people arrested for serious crimes, the Supreme Court ruled Monday in a 5-4 decision. Dan Monnat, a Wichita defense attorney, said the decision represents “the brave new digital and genetic world we live in…. it burdens most the people for whom the Fourth Amendment ought to be most zealously guarded, that is, people who turn out to be innocent of what they’re arrested for….”

Police Continue Investigation of Newborn Discarded in Trash in January

Authorities say it’s still unclear whether charges will be filed against a teen who discarded her newborn in the trash earlier this year. Local criminal defense lawyer Dan Monnat said while it’s possible charges could be filed against the teen mother or others, “any would suffer from the autopsy’s failure to determine whether the infant was born alive…. Babies and children are fragile and might just as easily be the victims of freak accidents as intentional wrongdoing.”

Coach Acquitted of Two Felonies; Third Hangs Jury

Former Garden Plain football coach Todd Puetz, who was facing a possible sentence of five years in prison for electronic solicitation of a minor, has avoided jail time by reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors. Puetz pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of patronizing a prostitute and was given a 30-day suspended sentence by District…

Jury Begins Deliberation in Puetz Trial

“Monnat told the jury that before he was arrested, police had never considered Puetz to be a potential child sex molester. Despite all the publicity surrounding the case, Monnat said, no teenage girls have come forward to say that Puetz behaved improperly around them…”

Former Garden Plain Coach Testifies at His Sex Crimes Trial

“Did you electronically solicit anyone you believed to be less than 16 years of age?” defense lawyer Dan Monnat asked as former Garden Plain football coach Todd Puetz told a Sedgwick County jury that he wasn’t looking for sex …

Trial Underway for Former Garden Plain Coach

“Todd only intended to help them by giving them what money he had,” Dan Monnat said during his opening statement in the trial of a former football coach charged with electronic solicitation…. “The evidence will show that Todd is a flawed human being, but he is not a flawed human being who is guilty of the child sex crimes he’s accused of here today. Todd Puetz never had any interest in underage girls….”