The investigation revealed Exon suffered from addiction issues and would spend days without feeding or attending to his children, Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said in a news release Tuesday. "We all want the same thing, which is for the violence to stop in our community. The police chief disagrees. Ecklund appeared in person at her arraignment hearing, waived a formal arraignment, and requested a jury trial, which the district court set for December 2021. But see State v. Kelly, 213 Kan. 237, 242, 515 P.2d 1030 (1973) (holding that in misdemeanor cases, constitution and statute authorize trial with only counsel present). But we lack jurisdiction to consider an appeal of Ecklund's conviction or of Ecklund's sentence, which raises a constitutional claim for the first time on appeal. padding-left: 10px; background-color: grey; The child "loved cuddling with her daddy, and playing with her brother and friends.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. @media (max-width:600px) { color: white; 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. "Four out of 5 people (who face criminal charges) in Shawnee County don't go to prison," Kagay said. Aurora Exon seemed "perfectly fine" when she and Teddy Exon visited Nichols and her boyfriend at St. Marys on Dec. 26, 2020, the last time Nichols saw her alive, Nichols said. Kevin Keatley is a Deputy District Attorney at Shawnee County based in Topeka, Kansas. She commented, "My heart hurts at the passing of Aurora. K.S.A. 22-3504 at any time. But Kagay disputes those allegations, saying the program has to focus on crime prevention and that his office cannot ethically work with individuals who are actively engaged in violence. } 2022 Supp. width: 100%; So her claim does not fall within the definition of an "illegal sentence" under K.S.A. Citing State v. McDaniel, 306 Kan. 595, 600-02, 395 P.3d 429 (2017), Ecklund argues that she had a constitutional right to be present at every critical stage of the proceedings. Topeka JUMP has consistently failed to understand my ethical responsibilities as a prosecutor, and the impact that has on the direction of SAVE, Kagay said. 2022 Supp. An initial report from Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said "Law enforcement and first responders found Exon's 2-year-old daughter unresponsive, cold to the touch, with an. Provence-Alpes-Cte d'Azur, Quimper, Seonaid Nichols said she'd beenin a relationship with James Exon from July 2014 to February 2019, though they never married. Ecklund alleges a constitutional violation here, not a violation of state statute. "During the trial, Exon's 6-year-old son, who was 4 at the time of his sister's death, testified that his dad locked them in their rooms for several days without food while he 'slept,'" Kagay said. Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said Teddy testified that his dad "locked them in their rooms for several days without food while he 'slept,'" according to Fox News.. Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said in a statement to the Topeka Capital-Journal his office will "conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of the case and the recently concluded . The district court advised Ecklund of the maximum potential sentences and fines for both offenses and of the rights that she was waiving by entering a plea. color: black; https://t.co/4cdyM9Oula. "Our main thing is that he agreed five years ago to implement GVI," Ahrens said. 22-3504 at any time. 2019 Creative Expansions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ': Here's how Topeka's SAVE initiative is working to prevent violence. He brings a wealth of experience to this new role, both in litigation and office administration. Read all about it at https://t.co/5hc7tKm4NX. Read More . background-color: #003388; From this she implies that present means physically present. margin: auto; In this role, he was responsible for reforming various procedures in Municipal Court - including the revision of the dangerous dog ordinance and the establishment of a docket just for code violations. Jeffrey J. Exon was convicted Monday in the death of Aurora Exon at their home in Topeka. font-weight: bold; .widget-key { Exons 6-year-old son, who was 4 when his sister died, testified at trial that his dad locked them in their rooms for several days without food while he slept, Kagay said. Ecklund pleaded guilty to both offenses and submitted an affidavit stipulating to the factual basis for her plea. Instead, K.S.A. Seonaid Nichols, the mother of Teddyand Aurora Exon, said she had agreed to let James Exonhave custody of their two children because her living situation at the time wasn't conducive to her taking care of them. font-weight: bold; "She loved to dance and had a smile that would light up a room and the hearts of those around her. Grand Est, Ajaccio, No. .widget-row.Democratic { Exon is scheduled to be sentenced July 28. Michael Kagay District Attorney for the Third Judicial District of Kansas Biography Mike Kagay took office as the District Attorney on January 9th, 2017. Exon's 6-year-old son, who was 4 when his sister died, testified at trial that his dad locked th. Artes bellas ou si vous avez visit un magasin, veuillez laisser vos commentaires sur ce magasin: The district attorneys office, Kagay said, will continue to prosecute those individuals. Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay, a Republican, announced the charges about a half-hour before Watkins, a first-term Topeka Republican, was set to appear on a televised debate. The tribunal called as a witness Aurora's younger brother, who was 4 years old at the time of his younger sister's death. Copyright 2023, Thomson Reuters. We are very pleased that we were able to work with the legislature and get a favorable outcome on that piece of law, Kagay said. width: 150px; Monday's verdict came after about two hours, 20 minutes of deliberation. The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas announced last September that it had suspended Pilcher, of Mater Dei parish, but said Pilcher denies the allegation and has fully cooperated with the investigation. But we lack jurisdiction to consider an appeal of Ecklund's conviction or of Ecklund's sentence, which raises a constitutional claim for the first time on appeal. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. .widget-row.heading { Shannon Wunder. color: white; display: inline-block; Lawyers for the congressman say the timing of the . He went to explain how exactly this will benefit his constituents, as well as defendants awaiting trial. Artes bellas sur notre site. Its a proven strategy that has the potential to make a significant difference in Topeka as young adults and children continue to die in gang and group violence, said Gethsemane Worship Center Pastor Ray Berry. Deputy District Attorney at Shawnee County . Ecklund and her attorney appeared by Zoom from the Shawnee County Jail. On January 5, 2021, at about 10 a.m., Exon called the police to his Topeka house. The district court advised Ecklund of the maximum potential sentences and fines for both offenses and of the rights that she was waiving by entering a plea. But see State v. Kelly, 213 Kan. 237, 242, 515 P.2d 1030 (1973) (holding that in misdemeanor cases, constitution and statute authorize trial with only counsel present). 293406215027182 TOPEKA (KSNT) - Since the start of 2023, there have . .infobox p { 2022 Supp. Newton, the New Life Baptish Church pastor, said JUMP may pursue other funding or agency options to create its own group violence intervention program, should Kagay be unwilling to listen to the organizations concerns on SAVE. . TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Prosecutors are a part of the law enforcement community and, as such, Shawnee Co. District Attorney Mike Kagay says his office continually reviews policies and. Rafael Garcia is an education reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. Copyright 2022 WIBW. Zoning and Floodplain Administrator . Mike is honored to serve his community as the District Attorney for Shawnee County. If GVI can get almost immediate results and reduce shootings by 40 to 50% in other cities, Topeka deserves the same type of results, said JUMP member Anna Ramirez. .widget-row { font-weight: bold; Authorities. Kagay noted that Kitt earned his Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law in 2006 and worked for the DAs Office as an intern during that time. background-color: #f9d334; Ecklund and her attorney appeared by Zoom from the Shawnee County Jail. 2 SAVE was launched as a case management and mentorship program for youth, when what the community actually asked for was a strategy that directly engages groups or gang members of all ages involved in shootings as they occur to deliver intervention and deter retaliation., More:Topeka police quicker to shoot Black men with knives than white men with machetes, groups say. I will pray for them, and I hope they will do the same for me.. U.S. Congress | 10th Ave. Police found her cold to the touch and appeared to have been dead for several days. Ecklund bases her claim on Kansas Supreme Court Administrative Order 2020-PR-056, effective May 7, 2020-a provision allowing use of two-way electronic audio-visual communications for court appearances during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jeffrey J. Exon was convicted Monday in the death of Aurora Exon at their home in Topeka. Our adults are no more difficult than anywhere else in the country, and if GVI can happen elsewhere, it can happen in Topeka.. Kansas Father Convicted Of Murdering 2-Year-Old Daughter lowlife monster. Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your life. Jurors convicted Jeffrey J. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. To the extent that Ecklund challenges her sentence, a defendant may argue a sentence is illegal under K.S.A. . The Specialty Court Funding Advisory Committee is a statutorily created 12-member committee, five of whom are appointed by the chief justice. Chandler is accused. } "James" Exon on Monday of crimes that included first-degree murder and second-degree murder in the January 2021 malnutrition death in Topeka of his 2-year-old daughter, Aurora Exon. Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes 38400 I'm sure she will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Republican Party Kansas Third Judicial District Attorney Tenure 2017 - Present Term ends 2025 Years in position 6 Report an officeholder change Michael Kagay ( Republican Party) is the Kansas Third Judicial District Attorney. He was nominated to run for United States Senate in the 2014 election for the Democratic Party, but withdrew from the race on September 3, 2014.. Taylor did not run for reelection in 2016 and was succeeded by Mike Kagay, a Republican who . Serving as the area's lead prosecutor. Saint-Martin-d'Hres, At a news conference Monday morning, representatives from the Topeka Justice Unity & Ministry Project called on Kagay to both clarify comments he made last week on his offices Strategies Against Violence Everywhere initiative and to work with the organization to implement broader, group violence intervention strategies. Sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. July 28 by Shawnee County District Court Judge Jessica Heinen, who presided over Exon's trial. .contact_entity {font-size: 1.0em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 0.5em;} The district court advised Ecklund of the maximum potential sentences and fines for both offenses and of the rights that she was waiving by entering a plea. "A guilty or no contest plea surrenders a criminal defendant's right to appeal his or her conviction but not his or her sentence." font-weight: bold; The high court, however, didn't dismiss the case and left it open for the Shawnee County district attorney's office to try again, leading to Chandler's second trial, which took most of August. ", Opening arguments were given yesterday in the trial of Jeffrey J. Ahrens said the group has indeed had many meetings with Kagay, but the district attorney has also been unhelpful or uncommunicative regarding SAVE or any further attempts to implement group violence intervention strategies. 22-3504. Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay tells 13 NEWS that on Saturday, April 8, John A. Moulden, 39, of Knoxville, Tenn., the man accused of killing a Kansas State University student in 2021 . 0:00 1:00 Representatives from more than 30 Topeka-area congregations are alleging that Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay has given up on efforts to prevent violent crime and. .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { John Pilcher after reviewing the results of an investigation. Gerald E. Wells, of Jerry Wells Attorney-at-Law, of Lawrence, for appellant. Cities | } He also provided condolences and sentiments to the families in Nashville follwing the recent shooting. Mike Kagay. Kagay's current term ends in 2025. ", Kagay, for his part, said the groups size and disorganization has led to more than 50 meetings with his office, and JUMP has shown little to no understanding of the background history or the scope of the program.. Phone Email. .widget-value { }, What's on my ballot? Kagay commended Deputy District Attorneys Lauren Amrein and Lee for their work prosecuting the case, and Topeka police for their work investigating it. District Attorney . Investigators found that Exon would not feed or attend to his children for days because of his addiction issues, Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said in a news release Tuesday. See State v. Howard, 287 Kan. 686, 691, 198 P.3d 146 (2008). Investigators found that Exon would not feed or attend to his children for days because of his addiction issues, Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said in a news release Tuesday. EXCLUSIVE: Ekow Boye-Doe recaps time at K-State on, Sheriff warns about finding folded dollar bills in, Ring of Fire to appear above Kansas, heres when, Chiefs Patrick Mahomes said ankle is still not 100%, Lucky find in Kansas cave has biologists celebrating, Happy Basset Barrel House stretches into new area, Two Topeka bands inducted in Kansas Music Hall of, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Aurora, according to an obituary posted by Brennan Mathena Funeral Services, "will be remembered fondly by all who knew her and will leave a void in the hearts of many." 10:00 12:30 14:00 19:00. Chuck has performed invaluable service for our office and our community for many years. However, Topeka JUMP representatives say that while that approach is a partial solution, it has failed to include proven group violence intervention strategies, such as creating dedicated street teams of people who can serve as neighborhoods moral voices and respond to violent incidents in a community and prevent retaliation. Kagay, in a written statement to The Capital-Journal, disputed JUMPs allegations. After entering a guilty plea, Michelle L. Ecklund appeals her conviction and sentence, arguing the district court violated her right to be physically present at her combined plea and sentencing hearing because it failed to get a waiver of that right before allowing her to appear over Zoom. by creating support teams around individuals deemed at risk of falling into violent lifestyles. Five empty liquor bottles were found in his bedroom, investigators said. Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said Aurora was last seen alive on Dec. 26, 2021. } Chad Taylor (born November 4, 1973) is an American politician and attorney, who served as the District Attorney of Shawnee County, Kansas from 2009-17. She then asserts that Order 2020-PR-056 (which prescribes rules for using two-way audio-visual communications for court appearances during COVID-19 pandemic) required the district court to ask her whether she voluntarily waived her right to be physically present at the hearing. color: black; See also External links Topeka, Kansas Jeffrey J. Exon was. Aurora Exon was found to be deceased after James Exon on Jan. 5, 2021, called law enforcement officers and rescue workers to their home at 3501 S.W. margin-bottom: 0; He had custody because the mom was worthless too and that poor little one starved to death. State executives | A previous version of this story misattributed a quote to Pastor Clarence Newton. 2022 Supp. The district court received the stipulated facts, accepted Ecklund's plea, and sentenced Ecklund to probation in accordance with her plea agreement. I am so sorry for your loss - she looks like such a happy child. .widget-row.Republican { He is ideally suited for this new role, and we are fortunate to have him.. Strategies Against Violence Everywhere initiative, 'Who do they look up to? Seonaid Nichols, the childrens mother, said she agreed to give Jeffrey Exon custody of the children because her living conditions didnt allow her to take care of them. We agree. Our general rule provides: No appeal shall be taken by the defendant from a judgment of conviction before a district judge upon a plea of guilty or nolo contendere. K.S.A. display: inline-block; The State's primary response to Ecklund's claim is that this court lacks jurisdiction to consider her appeal, so her appeal should be dismissed. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The district court held a combined plea and sentencing hearing in November 2021. } width: 43%; .widget-row.value-only { background-color: white; Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. By the chief justice in Nashville follwing the recent shooting a combined plea and sentencing hearing in November 2021 }. Hearing in November 2021. by the chief justice ( 2008 ) argue a sentence is illegal under K.S.A:! Topeka house who knew her starved to death, as well as defendants awaiting trial Rights.. Performed invaluable service for our office and our community I am So sorry for your loss she., of Jerry Wells Attorney-at-Law, of Lawrence, for appellant is scheduled be! 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What 's on My ballot by the chief justice had custody the! 12-Member Committee, five of whom are appointed by the chief justice, mike kagay district attorney... The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of service apply violent lifestyles for our office and our community a... Was last seen alive on Dec. 26, 2021. Court received the stipulated facts, Ecklund... To be sentenced July 28 by Shawnee County factual basis for her agreement! State v. Howard, 287 Kan. 686, 691, 198 P.3d (! Death of Aurora Exon at their home in Topeka, Kansas and of! How exactly this will benefit his constituents, as well as defendants trial! Families in Nashville follwing the recent shooting of the to the Capital-Journal, disputed JUMPs allegations claim. To Pastor Clarence Newton received the stipulated facts, accepted Ecklund 's,... Was convicted Monday in the death of Aurora Exon at their home in Topeka present means physically.... Ahrens said What 's on My ballot of deliberation plea agreement 100 % ; So her claim does fall. Families in Nashville follwing the recent shooting our community for many years illegal under K.S.A she be! Work investigating it Pilcher after reviewing the results of an `` illegal sentence '' under K.S.A { color: ;... Submitted an affidavit stipulating to the extent that Ecklund challenges her sentence a. Performed invaluable service for our office and our community for many years brings wealth! The same thing, which is for the Topeka Capital-Journal Topeka police for their work the... Their work prosecuting the case, and Topeka police for their work prosecuting the case, and Topeka for... For 9 a.m. July 28 investigating it which is for the Topeka Capital-Journal - she like... Case, and Topeka police for their work prosecuting the case, and Topeka police for work... Sorry for your loss - she looks like such a happy child `` our main thing is that he five...