JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The attorney for a former Missouri sheriff’s deputy and correctional officer sentenced to death for a double killing told Missouri Supreme Court judges during Wednesday arguments that his client should get a new trial because prosecutors bungled the case.

Public defender Craig Johnston said that during Marvin Rice’s trial for the 2011 killing of his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend, prosecutors repeatedly drew the jury’s attention to the fact that he didn’t testify.

Johnston said that violated Rice’s right against self-incrimination and said he deserves a new trial.

“Every time you turn around this experienced death penalty litigator is telling the jury this guy didn’t testify,” Johnston said in court.

Rice was convicted of the slaying of Annette Durham and her boyfriend, Steven Strotkamp, over a child custody dispute. A judge in 2017 sentenced to Rice to death in for Durham’s killing and to life in prison over Strotkamp’s death.

At issue are multiple comments prosecutors made during Rice’s trial about how he would have answered questions if he had testified.

“If he had been asked those questions he would have told us not only does he believe in the death penalty, he’s willing to carry it out without the need for attorneys, judges, trial or jurors,” Assistant Attorney General Kevin Zoellner said during the penalty phase of Rice’s trial, according to court documents.

Assistant Attorney General Nathan Aquino on Wednesday argued that prosecutors didn’t comment directly on Rice’s failure to testify.

But judges appeared skeptical. Judge Laura Denvir Stith said prosecutors could have made their point without referring to Rice’s silence. Judge Paul Wilson said instead, the prosecutor used “this weird roundabout reference” that points out that Rice didn’t speak, and “that’s what the Constitution prohibits.”

Supreme Court judges focused less on Johnston’s broader argument that Rice was unconstitutionally sentenced to death by a judge and not a jury and therefore should get life in prison instead of execution.

A jury convicted Rice of first-degree murder for Durham’s death and second-degree murder for Strotkamp’s. But the jury couldn’t decide whether Rice should be put to death, leaving it to the judge.

KANSAS CITY, Mo (AP) — A man who was driving a vehicle when a passenger started shooting at a Kansas City area home, killing a sleeping 3-year-old boy, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

26-year-old SirTerry Stevenson pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder and three other charges in the May 2015 death of Amorian Hale.

Investigators say Stevenson was driving a vehicle when a passenger fired at a Kansas City home where the boy’s family lived. Bullets from an assault-style rifle struck the house. The boy was struck in the head and died instantly.

The passenger who fired the shot, Dominique Marchbanks, was sentenced to life plus 165 years in prison in December 2018.

Two adults and three other children in the home were not injured.

MINNEAPOLIS – General Mills has announced  a voluntary national recall of five-pound bags of its Gold Medal Unbleached Flour with a better if used by date of April 20, 2020.

According to a media release from the FDA, the recall is being issued for the potential presence of Salmonella which was discovered during sampling of the five-pound bag product. This recall is being issued out of an abundance of care as General Mills has not received any direct consumer reports of confirmed illnesses related to this product.

This recall only affects this one date code of Gold Medal Unbleached Flour five-pound bags. All other types of Gold Medal Flour are not affected by this recall.

Consumers are asked to check their pantries and dispose of the product affected by this recall. Consumers who have had to discard products covered by this recall may contact General Mills Consumer Relations at 1-800-230-8103 or visit www.generalmills.com/flour.

“Food safety is our top priority, and though we have not had any confirmed illnesses, we are voluntarily recalling this specific lot of Gold Medal Unbleached Flour to prevent potential illnesses,” said Jim Murphy, President of General Mills Meals and Baking Division. “This recall does not involve any other flour products, and we are continuing to educate consumers that flour is not a ‘ready to eat’ ingredient. Anything you make with flour must be cooked or baked before eating.”

This voluntary recall includes the following code date currently in stores or consumers’ pantries:

Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose 5LB Flour
Package UPC: 000-16000-19610-0
Recalled Better if Used by Date: 20APR2020KC

Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Remember

Do not eat uncooked dough or batter made with raw flour. Flour is made from wheat that is grown outdoors where bacteria are often present. Flour is typically not treated to kill bacteria during the normal milling process.

Actions you should take

1. Do not eat or taste dough or batter made with raw flour.
2. Properly cook or bake food made with flour. Bacteria (such as Salmonella) that might be found in the raw flour will be eliminated.
3. Check your pantry and throw away any products that match the recalled product listed below. If possible, save the product name, UPC (bar code) and Better if Used By Date to help our Consumer Relations team assist you with a replacement coupon. If you no longer have the flour package or have any doubts, throw away the flour.
4. If you have any questions about this recall or need a replacement coupon for any product included in this recall, complete this form or call our Consumer Relations team at 1-800-230-8103.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is deflecting speculation that he might run for Senate in Kansas, saying he has a “very full plate” in his current job.

Pompeo was asked Wednesday night in a Fox News television interview about whether he might run next year for the seat held by retiring Republican Sen. Pat Roberts. He stopped short of ruling it out but said his “singular focus” is his work as the nation’s top diplomat under President Donald Trump.

He acknowledged receiving encouragement from several Republicans to seek the seat. At least seven Republicans have said they’re interested in running.

Pompeo represented a Wichita-area district in the House for six years before Trump named him CIA director in 2017. He became secretary of state in April 2018.

Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail has announced that the 2020 King Kat Championship Classic will be held October 25th and 26th, 2020 at Milford Lake, according to a media release from the Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

The championship will bring two-person teams from across the United States to fish for catfish at Milford Lake. Over $100,000 in prize money and outdoor products will be awarded to top finishers.

Jeremey Coe, Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Director added, “We are excited to be returning to Milford Lake with the King Kat Trail. It’s been several years in the process setting these events up an we can’t thank the staff at the Geary County CVB enough for all they do in making these events a success! Milford Lake i one of the top destinations in the sport of catfishing!

Geary County Commissioner Charles Stimatze stated that the event will demonstrate why Junction City was named in the past as one of the Top 200 Towns to Live for Anglers and Hunters.

The Milford Lake King Kat Qualifier will be on March 30th, 2019 at the Farnum Creek Boat Ramp at Milford Lake.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A 44-year-old man with a history of abuse was sentenced to nearly 16 years in federal prison for child pornography crimes.

Sean O’Brien was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years and eight months in federal prison for receiving and distributing child pornography.

O’Brien was sentenced in 2010 to 10 years in prison and later released on parole for sexually abusing a 4-year-old child in Texas.

Federal prosecutors say O’Brien moved to Ozark in 2017 and started downloading child porn 10 months after he was released from a Texas prison.

Because of his prior conviction, 15 years was the minimum sentenced O’Brien could receive.

Before he was sentenced, O’Brien apologized to his family and the victims.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A suspect in the ambush, kidnapping and rape of a Johnson County sheriff’s deputy wants to withdraw his guilty plea.

23-year-old Brady Newman-Caddell, of Independence, Missouri, was scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty in May to the attack.

Instead, he asked to withdraw his plea and go to trial. His attorney, Zane Todd, then withdrew from the case.

His co-defendant, 26-year-old William Luth, of Blue Springs, Missouri, previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 41 years in prison.

Court testimony indicated the two men kidnapped the deputy as she arrived for work, forced her into a car and took turns raping and sodomizing her.

Newman-Caddell and Luth also are suspected of attacking an Independence, Missouri, woman several months before the deputy was attacked.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A judge has sentenced a Lincoln man to prison for burglarizing the Lincoln home of Nebraska football coach Scott Frost.

Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong on Tuesday sentenced 21-year-old Andrew M. Williams to three to five years in prison. He could be eligible for parole in just over a year.
In December, Williams pleaded guilty to burglarizing Frost’s home on July 29 as well as possession of methamphetamine in a separate case.

At the hearing, Williams apologized to Frost.

Two 17-year-olds also were arrested in connection with the burglary. They are awaiting trial in adult court.