April/May 2013 KSC Docket

Here are the criminal cases on the KSC docket for April 29-May 2, 2013.  These summaries are based on the issues listed in the briefs filed and may not very accurately or fully describe the actual issues in the cases. I recommend you review the briefs yourself if you would like more details.

April 29--Monday--a.m.

State v. Katron Harris, No. 104,565 (Wyandotte)
Direct appeal; First-degree felony murder
Michelle A. Davis
[Affirmed; Biles; Aug. 16, 2013]

• Insufficient evidence of underlying robbery
• Failure to grant mistrial after prosecutor's attack on defense counsel
• Insufficient evidence of alternative means

State v. Austin Jones, No. 105,420 (Sedgwick)
Direct appeal; First-degree felony murder
Randall L. Hodgkinson
[Affirmed; Beier; Nov. 8, 2013]

• Stand Your Ground immunity
• Prosecutorial misconduct

State v. Jason Cruz, No. 104,847 (Sedgwick)
Direct appeal; First-degree murder (premeditated)
Shawn E. Minihan (brief); Joanna Labastida (argue)
[Affirmed; Johnson; Aug. 9, 2013]

• Improper consolidation
• Improper line-up identification
• Improper admission of gang evidence
• Improper eyewitness ID instruction

State v. Sergio Cervantes-Puentes, No. 104,020 (Sedgwick)
Direct appeal; Agg indecent liberties
Matthew J. Edge (brief); Michelle A. Davis (argue)
[Affirmed; Moritz; June 14, 2013]

• Improper photo array ID
• Imposed sentences are cruel and unusual punishment
• Life sentences are cruel and unusual punishment

April 30--Tuesday--a.m.

State v. Rodney Turner, No. 102,478 (Wyandotte)
State appeal (petition for review)
James L. Eisenbrandt, Christina M. Birgensmith
[Affirmed; Johnson; Sept. 5, 2014]

• Improper dismissal of theft/false claim prosecution

State v. Sean Key, No. 104,651 (Ellis)
Sentencing appeal (petition for review)
Michael S. Holland, II
[Affirmed; Arnold-Burger; April 18, 2014]

• Failure to consider challenge to predicate DUI offense

May 1--Wednesday--a.m.

State v. Christopher Lowrance, No. 101,458 (Montgomery)
Direct appeal; Capital murder
Sarah Ellen Johnson
[Affirmed; Luckert; Nov. 8, 2013]

• Prosecutorial misconduct
• Improper removal of juror without cause
• Improper admission of prejudicial evidence
• Improper admission of opinion of lay witness
• Insufficient evidence

State v. Stanton Holt, No. 105,854 (Geary)
Motion for new trial appeal
Sam S. Kepfield
[Affirmed; Nuss; Dec. 6, 2013]

• Denial of motion for new trial

State v. Christopher Brooks, No. 103,774 (Crawford)
Direct appeal (petition for review); Rape
Ryan Eddinger (brief); Samuel D. Schirer (argue)
[Rev/Rmd; Johnson; July 26, 2013]

• Ineffective assistance of counsel

May 2--Thursday--a.m.

State v. Anderson Cheffen, No. 105,384 (Wyandotte)
Direct appeal; First-degree felony murder
Matthew J. Edge (brief); Michelle A. Davis (argue)
[Affirmed; Biles; June 21, 2013]

• Failure to confirm jury verdict in court
• Insufficient evidence of alternative means
• Failure to give lesser included offenses of felony murder

State v. Rusty Sievers, No. 102,471 (Barton)
Direct appeal; Fleeing and eluding
Michelle A. Davis
[Affirmed; Nuss; May 2, 2014]

• Statutory speedy trial violation
• Fleeing and eluding and reckless driving convictions multiplicitous

State v. Tabitha Adams, No. 104,068/104,432 (Ford)
K.S.A. 60-1507 appeal
Christina M. Kerls
[Affirmed; Moritz; June 21, 2013]

• Ineffective assistance of counsel
• Improper denial of motion to withdraw plea