Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces the Douglas County Women’s Substance Use Disorder Prosecutor-Led Diversion and Treatment Program (WDP) is ready to accept its first referrals and participants.  The DA’s Office is launching the program this month and will accept a total of 8-12 participants annually.  The goal of the program is to reduce justice system involvement by non-violent, female offenders with substance use disorders through engagement in comprehensive substance abuse treatment.  Diversion to substance abuse treatment can reduce substance use,

Monday's Tips:

1. National Consumer Protection Week is March 4 – 10.  This week is a time to help people understand their consumer rights and make well informed-information decisions.  We will be providing you with daily tips on how to choose a home contractor.

2. As weather warms up, how do you choose a reputable contractor for all those decks and additions you are building this summer?  For more information, contact us at 785-842-0211 or via e-mail at DAConsumer@dgcoks.gov.

Construction will resume March 12, 2018 on the Route 458 major rehabilitation project from E 800 Road to just north of N 1156 Road.  Weather permitting, on March 12 Douglas County’s contractor, King’s Construction, will close Route 458 between N 1050 Road and N 1116 Road for construction of two large culverts near the Route 458/N 1075 Road intersection.  During the Route 458 closure, N 1075 Road and E 1135 Road will be closed to through traffic between E 1000 Road and N 1200 Road.  We anticipate these closures will remain in place for six to eight weeks, weather permitting.

Construction will resume soon on the Route 458 major rehabilitation project from E 800 Road to just north of N 1156 Road.  Weather permitting, Douglas County’s contractor, King’s Construction, will resume work constructing shoulders in early- to mid-March.  A full road closure will begin in mid- to late-March, weather permitting, to allow replacement of two large culverts near the N 1075 Road intersection.  The full road closure is anticipated to be in place for six to eight weeks. 

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces Lawrence resident Jaered A. Long, 19, was sentenced on Tuesday to 586 months in prison for the murder of his grandmother, Deborah L. Bretthauer.  Long was originally charged with first degree murder as a juvenile in the stabbing death of Ms.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces today that following a preliminary hearing the Court bound over Topeka residents Anthony Roberts, Jr., 20, Ahmad Rayton, 22, and Dominique J. McMillon, 19, on charges related to the October 1 Massachusetts Street triple homicide.   A trial date was scheduled for May 14 and bond amounts remain unchanged. 

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces that Lawrence resident Tria L. Evans, 38 and Leavenworth resident Christina L. Towell, 37, each had a first appearance this afternoon in the Pro Tem Division of Douglas County District Court.  Both Evans and Towell are charged with first degree murder, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, arson and aggravated burglary associated with the death of Joel Wales in November 2017.   

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces today a jury convicted 20-year-old Kansas City, Kansas resident Pierre P. Walker of three counts of aggravated robbery and one count of felony cruelty to animals.  This was the third jury trial of this case.  The first two trials ended with hung juries in July and October 2017. 

Senior Assistant District Attorney Eve Kemple stated after the trial, “The District Attorney’s Office felt confident going forward with a third jury trial given the strong evidence we had against this defendant.” 

During its 6:00 PM meeting on January 3, 2018, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will discuss planned improvements to Route 1055 from the north leg of the curve at E 1650 Road/N 700 Road to the intersection with E 1700 Road at Vinland.  An improvement project is planned for construction in 2019.  The BOCC meeting is held on the 2nd floor of the county courthouse at 11th & Massachusetts in Lawrence.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces that today a jury convicted Lawrence resident Stacey N. Ballard, 24, of aggravated robbery. 

District Attorney Charles Branson hopes to launch a new pre-trial prosecutor led diversion program in 2018.  Branson started work on the project in early 2017 as part of an effort to find meaningful alternatives to the repeated incarceration of women in the county jail.  

A production company will shoot video for a commercial on several roads in Douglas County on Thursday, December 14, weather permitting.  Two road sections will be temporarily closed for the video activity:

• E 900 Road on top of Clinton Dam; closed approximately 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM
• E 1130 Road along Martin Park; closed approximately 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM