One of two current defendants in separate but allegedly connected shooting and home invasion robbery incidents last fall has been convicted on two of the three counts against him.
On Tuesday, a Lyon County jury found 24-year-old Lance Sutton guilty of aggravated robbery and one of two counts of aggravated burglary in Lyon County District Court’s first case to go to trial since the county started COVID-19 mitigation measures in March 2020. Sutton was found not guilty on the second aggravated burglary count. The jury deliberated for nearly five hours before rendering its verdicts.
Sentencing will be Aug. 27.
Along with Kenneth Hopkins and Marcos Diaz, Sutton was accused of being involved in a shooting incident at Linn and Whildin in late October, followed by a robbery at 9 South Rural. Since announcing an investigation, Emporia Police officers have maintained the cases were connected.
Hopkins has already pleaded no contest to one count of conspiracy to commit robbery and faces sentencing July 7. Diaz, however, has not been apprehended.
