Several cases working through Lyon County District Court moved closer to trials after hearings Thursday.
Dennis Ray Torrence
A man accused in Lyon County District Court of sexually abusing a teenager may learn his potential trial dates at a hearing next month.
Dennis Ray Torrence waived his preliminary hearing Thursday and was set for pretrial and arraignment at 8:30 am April 13 before Judge Laura Miser.
Torrence is accused of two counts of rape and two counts of aggravated indecent liberties, both sets of charges allegedly involving a child under the age of 14. Authorities say there was at least one incident in late January that led to the charges.
Larry Jan Williams
Trial may be coming in early April in a Lyon County drug possession and child endangerment case.
Authorities have charged Larry Jan Williams of single counts of possessing marijuana, methamphetamine and paraphernalia, as well as two counts of aggravated endangerment, after alleged activity in mid-December.
A status hearing is slated for March 29. Trial could begin as early as April 3, although it might not start until May 15 or June 5. Judge Lee Fowler is presiding.
Rodney Steven Kindle
Jury trial is ahead in a Lyon County drug distribution case.
A status hearing March 29 will determine when trial will begin in the case against Rodney Steven Kindle. Trial could begin as early as April 3, although it might not begin until May 15 or June 5.
Kindle stands accused of distributing up to 100 grams of methamphetamine, as well as paraphernalia possession and interference with law enforcement. Authorities alleged illegal activity from early December in this case.
Judge Lee Fowler is presiding.
Marcos Diaz
A pretrial hearing is now set for early August for one defendant in an alleged shooting and home invasion robbery incident in Emporia from over two years ago.
Marcos Diaz waived his rights to speedy trial as part of a hearing Thursday. His next hearing is at 2 pm Aug. 3.
Following the shooting of one person near Linn and Whildin and a robbery at 9 South Rural in October 2020, Diaz was officially charged with attempted second-degree murder, aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated robbery, aggravated child endangerment, contributing to a child’s misconduct and criminal discharge of a firearm.
Co-defendants have already been sentenced for their involvement. Lance Sutton was sentenced to over 20 years in prison, while Kenneth Hopkins received 29 months.
Lance David Fessler
A man accused in Lyon County District Court of assaulting and/or interfering with law enforcement on three separate occasions two years ago has reached a plea agreement involving all three cases.
On Thursday, Lance David Fessler pleaded no contest to battery on law enforcement and unlawful discharge of a firearm in the Emporia city limits dating to a case in February 2021. He also pleaded no contest to an interference count in a March 2021 case.
An interference case from July 2021 was dismissed.
Sentencing for the remaining battery and interference cases will be at 9:30 am April 28 before Judge Lee Fowler.
