One man convicted of sexually abusing a teenager in Emporia earlier this decade has had his appeal denied.
Todd Jones had appealed a 2016 conviction on aggravated indecent liberties, saying prosecutors didn’t have enough evidence for a conviction and withheld evidence from defense lawyers. Jones also said district court was wrong by not requiring a unanimous verdict by the jury.
Jones was convicted after a then-14-year-old girl said he touched her inappropriately, kissed her and exposed himself to her. Jones denied any sexual contact but was convicted.
The Kansas Court of Appeals said there was sufficient evidence in the case and Jones’ appeal asked the higher court to re-weigh evidence and resolve related disputes, which is not its responsibility. It also said a unanimous verdict was not required because Jones was not accused of multiple criminal acts in this case. In addition, it said Jones did not meet the legal standard for considering his assertion evidence was withheld in the case.
