Wichita

Gavin Scott Moves off Death Row

Gavin Scott, sentenced to death in a 1996 double homicide, has reached a plea agreement that drops the death penalty and sentences him instead to two consecutive life sentences. His original sentence was overturned by the Kansas Supreme Court in May 2008 and he has been awaiting re-sentencing since that date. Scott will not be eligible for parole for at least 85 years. … [Read more...] about Gavin Scott Moves off Death Row

Wichita Eagle Calls for a Reassessment of the Death Penalty

An opinion piece in the October 21, 2009, issue of the Wichita Eagle was titled "reasons to rethink the death penalty. " The article stated that Kansas "does not have a death penalty in practice, although capital punishment has been back on the books in Kansas since 1994 and there currently are nine men on death row. Each complex phase of each case seems to churn up new legal … [Read more...] about Wichita Eagle Calls for a Reassessment of the Death Penalty

Marsh Case Resolved in New Agreement

On Friday, April 3, 2009, in Wichita, Michael Marsh entered an Alford plea in regard to the charges pending against him. Marsh's capital murder conviction and aggravated arson conviction had been vacated by the State Supreme Court in 2004. Marsh entered a guilty plea to reduced charges. The plea was accepted by Judge Owens, and Marsh was sentenced to life in prison. The … [Read more...] about Marsh Case Resolved in New Agreement

Elms's Death Sentence Gone, Now Sentenced to Hard 40

On November 20, 2004, Stanley Elms, convicted of the 1998 rape and murder of Regina Gray, was re-sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 40 years. Elms was originally sentenced to die and spent the intervening years on death row, but his sentenced was affected by the Kansas Supreme Court's ruling in the Kleypas case which would have called for a … [Read more...] about Elms's Death Sentence Gone, Now Sentenced to Hard 40