Jeffrey Tyler Doolittle, 17, Mapleton, pleaded guilty here Tuesday to trespassing and attempted theft.
Doolittle was accused of going onto property owned by Roger Welch, rural Moran, and attempting to steal gasoline from a storage tank the night of Dec. 22. His nefarious activity was interrupted by Welch, who caught Doolittle taking down a hose from the tank. Welch fired a shotgun blast into the air and, when Doolittle fled, fired again, striking Doolittle n the back, officers said.
Soon after, Doolittle was found walking along an Allen County road, about five miles northwest of Bronson. Apparently in his haste to flee, Doolittle had abandoned a pickup truck he drove to the scene.
Doolittle’s case was transferred to Bourbon County District Court in Fort Scott, home county, for sentencing. Allen County Attorney Wade Bowie said a sentencing date would be set later.
Meanwhile, Welch, who was charged with aggravated battery, will appear in court here for a status hearing on March 28.
THE CASE has drawn much comment among people who know Welch and those who live in rural areas, particularly after Bowie charged Welch.
Supporters put together a fundraising event to help with Welch’s defense, Bowie said.
To give the public a better idea of why charges are filed and how sentences for those found guilty are determined, Bowie said he would stage public meetings in Iola, Humboldt, Moran, Savonburg and Mildred. He expects the first to be in April.
“They may turn into roasts of the county attorney,” Bowie said, “but I think it’s important for people to understand why decisions are made the way they are,” from prosecutors’ and judges’ perspectives.
“I also think it’s important for public officials to be transparent, particularly because of the buzz over some recent cases,” he said. “If people have questions, hopefully I can answer them.”
Included in presentations will be an explanation of the Kansas sentencing grid, which predetermines whether a person found guilty of a specific crime is given probation or sent to prison and for how long in either case. Criminal history of the person comes into play.
BOWIE SAID he had given presentations on sexting at Iola Middle School — the first at school officials’ invitation — as well as Iola High and Humboldt middle and high schools. He will give the same information on sexting at the Moran secondary schools from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 15.
Sexting — using cell phones and other electronic devices to send and receive materials judged to be pornographic — became more of a local issue Jan. 28 when Scott Bedell, 19, Humboldt, was arrested outside the Iola High School homecoming dance for what were described as sexting crimes. A 13-year-old boy also was taken into custody.
The alleged crimes came to the attention of Allen County officers from reports made by adults who saw “troubling” images on cell phones, Sheriff Tom Williams said at the time.
