Kansas Attorney General

Another Kansas lawmaker announces his candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. State Senator David Haley made the announcement Tuesday. He's represented Kansas City for nearly 16 years. Haley ran unsuccessfully for Secretary of State in 2002 and 2006. Two other Democrats and three Republicans are now in the race to replace Sam Brownback. Brownback is running for governor. Other Democrats in the race include Lisa Johnston, of Overland Park and Charles Schollenberger, of Prairie Village.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is joining fellow Republicans in assailing the federal overhaul of health care as an attack on personal liberty.     But he also warns that the U.S. Supreme Court may take a narrower view, making it possible for the law to survive legal challenges. The court hears arguments over three days, starting Monday.     Schmidt said during an interview with The Associated Press that the high court's ruling could be a historic one that limits the federal government's reach or makes it virtually limitless.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline has received a defense subpoena to testify at the trial of the man charged with killing one of the nation's few late-term abortion providers. Kline was among the first abortion opponents to publicly condemn the shooting of Dr. George Tiller last May 31 at a Wichita church. Fifty-one-year-old Scott Roeder of Kansas City, Mo., is set to go on trial Jan. 11 on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated assault.

A group of Wichita city officials and business owners is hoping to reverse a city ordinance that lets people openly carry firearms without a permit. The law went into effect Thursday after city officials determined Wichita's ordinance prohibiting open display of a loaded firearm conflicted with state law. The Wichita Eagle reports the City Council approved the new measure earlier this month after Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said the city couldn't ban open carry.

A Sedgwick County Court has sentenced Sharon D. Echols, Wichita, to prison after she pled guilty to conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced today. Echols, age 53, was sentenced by Judge Douglas Roth to eight months in prison. However, Roth granted 12 months probation after Echols serves 30 days in jail as a condition of her probation. The State alleged that Echols signed timesheets for “home-based” services allegedly provided to her while she was in custody.

A Barber County man today pled guilty to two counts of felony theft, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced today. Timothy Dierksen, 52, stole thousands of dollars from his elderly mother. As part of the plea, he must pay restitution in the amount of $55,440.10 back to the victim. The plea was accepted by Judge Francis E. Meisenheimer in Barber County District Court. Sentencing was set for May 30 at 11 a.m. Assistant Attorney General Amanda Voth from Schmidt's office prosecuted the case.

Two Clay Center co-defendants today pled no contest to Medicaid fraud related charges according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt. 49 year old April "Michelle" Hockett pled no contest to unlawful acts relating to the Medicaid program, making a false claim to the Medicaid program, and theft. 53 year old Donald Peterson pled no contest to conspiracy to commit unlawful acts relating to the Medicaid program and conspiracy to commit theft. Peterson and Hockett conspired to defraud the Medicaid system by submitting personal care attendant timesheets for services not actually provided.

Kansas lawmakers are calling for tougher penalties for people convicted of child sex crimes. Gov. Sam Brownback and Derek Schmidt, Kansas Attorney General, are asking senators to approve a bill that would increase fines and penalties for sexual exploitation of children and human trafficking activity. The measure also establishes a fund for victims that would offer protection and counseling. Marc Bennett, Sedgwick County District Attorney, said those who exploit children should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. "Right now there's very little in the way of treatment that's specific to this population," Bennett said.

The Kansas Attorney General announces that Kansas, along with 49 other states and the district of Columbia have reached a settlement to resolve accusations of unfair debt collection practices of Hollywood Video and Movie Gallery Inc. 19,903 former Kansas customers are affected by the settlement. Hollywood Video filed for bankruptcy in 2010. Its accounts receivable were assigned to National Credit Solutions (NCS), a debt collection agency. Once NCS took over, numerous reports of abusive debt collection practices emerged.