After a juror in an April murder trial was caught looking up information online about the case, his actions resulted in a mistrial. Now, a second jury is convened and local criminal defense attorney Dan Monnat tells KAKE TV: “Jury selection is the vanguard of your 6th Amendment Constitutional right to be tried by an impartial jury. In the retrial, it is imperative the judge, prosecution and defense to hammer home the rules to the jury…. All here want to emphasize the independent duty of each juror to police themselves and make sure they are not listening to any outside sources….”

A Wichita apartment complex told its tenants they could get $20 off their rent if they leave a five-star review. Attorney Dan Monnat weighs in on whether this crosses the line saying, “Is an influenced… or incentivized… or paid-for… or bribed-for online review in a consumer transaction a fair review? … If it’s a biased, exaggerated, or untrue review, then it may qualify as a deceptive practice…”

WICHITA — A teenager accused of killing another teen at Towne East Square last year will be tried as an adult rather than a juvenile, a highly unusual change, according to Wichita defense attorney Dan Monnat. “This juvenile is 17 years old, so he could be treated in a juvenile detention facility until he’s 23, so it’s a maximum six-year sentence. On the other hand, if this juvenile is instead treated as an adult, he is exposed to a possible sentence of life in prison….”

Defense Attorney by Day and Rockstar by night. That’s what KSN-TV calls Dan Monnat, who rocks the lead vocals and drums in a bootleg R&B trio known as The House Band. Dan says there is a common soul between musicians and trial lawyers who share their talents to persuade people about the “epic experiences of life: love, peace, war, sorrow, enthusiasm, celebration, and mourning….

President Joe Biden is pardoning thousands of Americans convicted of “simple possession” of marijuana under federal law. 12 News spoke with criminal defense attorney Dan Monnat to gain perspective on what kind of impact this could have on Kansas, where Monnat says “far less than a blunt is enough to prosecute somebody in Kansas….”

WICHITA — Tension is building between some leaders in the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County after the Wichita City Council voted Tuesday not to prosecute people who are caught with marijuana. While the district attorney’s office can control how many cases it will prosecute, Sheriff Jeff Easter says he anticipates a major influx in bookings… But criminal defense lawyer Dan Monnat says the system can handle the change, allowing the City to reallocate time and resources to other, more serious cases….

Just one day after Wichita leaders announced an investigation into the police department regarding alleged inappropriate and racist messages being shared by officers, the DA dismissed about 50 pending traffic tickets, 10 pending and nonviolent criminal cases, and reviewed 120 criminal cases that had already been resolved by the three deputies who were involved. Attorney Dan Monnat tells KAKE TV, “Motive, interest, bias, dishonesty is always relevant to a law enforcement officer’s credibility….”

What started the Cottonwood Complex blaze that claimed one life and destroyed at least 35 homes? Charges are a possibility since there has been a death in the fire. “The person could be liable for, even unintended deaths,” said KSN Legal Analyst Dan Monnat. “There are possibly two homicide charges that could be charged. One is second-degree murder… the other is involuntary manslaughter… (because) there is case law in Kansas that looks at unintentional consequences from a fire.

WICHITA – A forensic pathologist who once worked for the Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center conducted hundreds of autopsies for murders, suicides…even testifying as an expert witness… but inconsistencies have recently raised questions about his credibility and what should be done about it years after the fact. Dan Monnat suggests authorities should, “Organize a panel to review all the cases in which the suspect expert testified and review them to see if there are convictions that ought to be set aside… it certainly seems like this should be reviewed by a prosecutorial authority….”