Olathe man sentenced to suspended prison term, probation in domestic violence strangling

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that Austin W. Kidder, 32, of Olathe, was sentenced to 26 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for aggravated domestic battery.

Judge Amy Hanley suspended the sentence and placed Kidder, who was found guilty by a jury in February, on 24 months of supervised probation and 12 months of post-release supervision. Kidder also received a concurrent sentence of six months in the county jail for a misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property. Hanley suspended the sentence and placed Kidder on 24-months of probation. Kidder also must complete the Batterer Intervention Program. 

“Strangulation is one of the most life-threatening forms of domestic violence,” District Attorney Valdez said. “I want to thank the survivor in this case for the trust they’ve placed in our office to seek justice for them.”

Charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on or about August 16, 2022, when Kidder strangled the then 33-year-old Lawrence woman, who had been in a dating relationship with Kidder. At his trial, Kidder also was convicted of criminal damage to property, a class B non-person misdemeanor, for damaging the woman’s mobile phone.

Assistant District Attorney Madeline Bjorklun, who is a member of the District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit, represented the State of Kansas. The matter was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department.

If you are in immediate danger or know someone who is, call 9-1-1. For confidential help, 24/7, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or the Lawrence-based Willow Domestic Violence Center at 785-843-3333.