Ex-Garden Plain Coach Seeks to Dismiss Child-Sex Charges

Defense attorney Dan Monnat is making the argument in a motion filed Thursday to dismiss the charges against Todd Puetz, who had been a winning high school coach and athletic director before being charged last November with electronic solicitation…

Doctor Pleads No Contest in Accident Where He Drove With Body On Car

Sarrafizadeh’s lawyer, Dan Monnat, maintained during the case that the doctor, who surrendered his medical license, suffered a stroke that morning and said that respected physicians “have regarded the evidence and the testing as sufficient…”

Garden Plain Coach Charged Today in Sex Case

After Monday’s court appearance, Monnat, Puetz’s defense attorney, gave this statement: “The charges today show why it is critical for the public to continue to honor the presumption of innocence that Todd Puetz is entitled to. Two weeks ago, according to publicity generated by law enforcement, Coach Puetz was accused of some kind of human trafficking or human slavery said to maybe even merit federal prosecution. That accusation has now disappeared altogether.

Attorney Defends Coach Arrested in Sting

“Todd Puetz is absolutely entitled to the presumption of innocence. He has been a pillar of his community as a coach, teacher, husband and father of seven children,” said Dan Monnat, whose Wichita law firm, Monnat and Spurrier, is representing Puetz.

Federal judges tosses indictment against tobacco seller, associates

A federal judge on Friday threw out an indictment against a Kansas tobacco wholesaler and business associates who were charged with trying to avoid paying $25 million in cigarette taxes to the state of Oklahoma and Indian tribes. U.S. District Judge Monti Belot in Wichita ruled that the defendants had met their burden in showing…

Judge Tosses Confession, Evidence In Murder Case

Sal Intagliata, Holton’s lawyer, asked the judge to suppress the evidence during a hearing last week. Intagliata said that by entering the house without permission, Wichita police violated search and seizure protections under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Abuse charges dropped against ex-school official

Former Wichita assistant principal was accused of abusing a child at school Prosecutors have dropped child sex abuse charges against a former Wichita elementary school administrator because of insufficient evidence. Assistant District Attorney Justin Edwards asked or the case against Robert C. Baker to be dismissed before Baker’s preliminary hearing went forward Tuesday morning. Baker,…

Morrison’s lover must testify in Tiller case

Paul Morrison’s former lover has to appear in a Wichita courtroom next month during a hearing for Wichita abortion provider George Tiller, an Arkansas judge ruled Monday. Newton County (Ark.) Circuit Judge John Putman determined that Linda Carter was a material witness in Tiller’s case, set to resume the week of Jan. 6 in Sedgwick…