Lawrence man faces five years of incarceration for 2021 crimes

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that John Timothy Price, 35, of Lawrence, was sentenced to a total of 48 months in prison for aggravated assault, interference with law enforcement and criminal damage to property and another year in county jail for battery on a law enforcement officer and misdemeanor criminal damage following a string of incidents that occurred in September 2021. The convictions resulted from back-to-back trials that occurred in December 2022.

“Today’s sentencing was a just result as Mr. Price put many at risk through his actions,” District Attorney Suzanne Valdez said. “I also want to thank the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for ensuring the safety of all who enter the courthouse every day and enabling the advancement of justice.”

The State of Kansas was represented by Senior Assistant District Attorney David Greenwald and Assistant District Attorney Samantha Foster. The matters were investigated by the Lawrence Police Department.

Price’s convictions from his first trial stemmed from incidents that occurred on the night of September 12, 2021 near the intersection of W. 9th and Iowa streets when Price threw objects at passing cars. Convictions from the second trial stemmed from incidents that occurred on September 9, 2021 when Price threw objects that caused damage to windows located in the Hillcrest Shopping Center in the 900 block of Iowa Street, and then at windows of a nearby Quick Trip. Price also was convicted of charges of spitting at officers and hitting another officer.

In his first sentencing, Judge Stacey Donovan sentenced Price to 32 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) for one count of aggravated assault and 12 months for a second aggravated assault count. The second count will run concurrently to count one. Price also received 6 months in the Douglas County jail for each of three counts of criminal damage to property that also will run concurrently. The court also ordered 12 months post-release supervision upon Price’s release.

Price’s second sentencing will run consecutively to his first sentencing. Judge Donovan sentenced Price to 16 months in the KDOC for one count of felony criminal damage to property. For a second count of felony criminal damage to property, Price received 6 months in the KDOC as well as six months for felony interference with law enforcement. The sentences will run concurrently to count one. Price also must serve 12-months of post-release supervision for each of the counts that will concurrently. Price also was sentenced to 12 months in jail for two convictions of battery on a law enforcement officer. The sentences will run concurrently along with a 6-month sentence for misdemeanor criminal damage.