Posted inAccountability, Local Government

Two killings, two very different cash bonds — and a debate about fairness in Wichita

Sedgwick County prosecutors charged 19-year-old Daryon Boone with first-degree murder in the September shooting death of a 69-year-old woman in Wichita. They charged 16-year-old Makyh Townes with second-degree murder in what his family contends was the accidental shooting of a friend several months earlier. Boone, who’s white, was released after posting a $500,000 bond. Townes, […]

Posted inKansas State Government, Local Government, Uncategorized, Watchdog

One year later, Wichita works through 60 recommendations to avert another tragedy like Cedric Lofton’s

In response to the death of 17-year-old Cedric “CJ” Lofton a year ago, Sedgwick County asked 23 community members to form a task force to explore what systemic problems in foster care, emergency response and law enforcement contributed to his demise. The group was officially called the Community Task Force to Review Youth Corrections Systems […]

Posted inWatchdog

In his nine-year tenure, Sedgwick County District Attorney has yet to prosecute a police killing

Fifteen men. One woman. No prosecutions. Law enforcement personnel from the Wichita Police Department and Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office have shot and killed 19 people since District Attorney Marc Bennett took office in 2013. Bennett, citing Kansas law, has declined to file charges against officers in 16 of those fatalities.  In 15 cases, the officers […]

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