A man initially accused of distributing methamphetamine near an Emporia school has reached a plea agreement as part of a hearing in Lyon County District Court on Friday.
Rafael Munoz Garcia was originally charged with selling methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of Walnut Elementary as part of two allegedly separate incidents this past December, as well as illegally using a communication facility during a drug crime, meth and marijuana possession, interference with law enforcement and aggravated child endangerment. On Friday, Garcia pleaded no contest to two counts of meth distribution with no reference to any activity near a school. The remaining charges were dismissed and Garcia was set for sentencing May 16.
Garcia’s plea came as Lyon County District Court had hearings in two other drug distribution cases Friday.
Marquise Roberto Richardson was set for a pretrial hearing May 2 as part of his hearing. Judge Lee Fowler dismissed a count of aggravated battery, but he allowed counts of cocaine, marijuana and LSD distribution to move forward, as well as a count of interference with law enforcement. Fowler also modified Richardson’s bond condition slightly, removing the requirement of GPS monitoring.
Richardson is charged with distributing from 100 grams to a kilogram of cocaine, at least 450 grams of marijuana and 100-1,000 dosage units of LSD as part of an alleged incident in July 2024.
Separately, jury trial dates have been set in the case against Maurice De’Sean Evans. Potential trial start dates are May 12, June 2 or June 9. Judge Laura Miser also set a trial status hearing date for May 7.
Evans faces single counts of distributing a small amount of methamphetamine, paraphernalia possession and trafficking potential drugs into a correctional institution or care facility after an alleged incident in March 2023.
