Following the death of George Floyd, Gabrielle Griffie organized a Wichita protest and was arrested on two counts of unlawful assembly for “noisy conduct.” The ACLU questions the city ordinance that led to Griffie’s arrest, arguing that her First Amendment rights were violated. Criminal defense attorney Dan Monnat agrees, telling KWCH TV, “With a vague term like ‘noisy conduct’ that’s in the municipal ordinance, doesn’t that vague term threaten — even chill — your right of expression and free speech?’”

WICHITA — An Oklahoma sheriff believes Dennis Rader (BTK) is connected to a missing persons case, but Rader denies involvement. This leaves some people wondering why he’s not confessing. Dan Monnat, a criminal defense attorney, said this may have something to do with Oklahoma law, which reinstated the death penalty in 1973. “Every government prosecutor ought to be able to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt without the words of the accused” explains Monnat….

MARION COUNTY, Kan. — The feud between the Marion County Record and Marion County Police continues as a letter from the newspaper’s attorney demands police not touch any of the electronic equipment or other records officers confiscated…. The Police Chief requested the search warrant, saying he had probable cause to believe newspaper employees were committing identity theft…but legal expert Dan Monnat says, “Probable cause is much less than proof beyond a reasonable doubt, much less than clear and convincing evidence….”

WICHITA – A federal judge ordered the Kansas Highway Patrol to stop using a procedure called the “Kansas Two-Step,” on the grounds that it was a violation of the fourth amendment. Criminal defense attorney Dan Monnat tells KSN TV that when a traffic stop is over, the KHP has a responsibility to let drivers go. Instead, troopers would return the motorist’s license, walk “two steps” away thus ending the traffic stop, then go back to question the driver about another matter…

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….”