Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez issued the following statement in response to Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s announcement regarding prosecution of recently enacted voter laws:

Researchers will present preliminary findings from their examination of pedestrian and traffic stop data during a community meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9, using Zoom. The data has been collected from Douglas County law enforcement agencies.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission is recommending a proposed text amendment to the subdivision regulations for Lawrence and the unincorporated areas of Douglas County. The amendment is scheduled to go before the Douglas County and City of Lawrence commissions for consideration in August.

In areas close to the city limits (Tier 2), the amendment would restrict land division until the property is annexed into the City of Lawrence. Farther outside the city limits (Tier 3), the amendment would limit residential development to help preserve agricultural lands.

A public hearing will be conducted beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday, August 8, in the main auditorium of the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St., to consider the potential opening of an adult felony public defender office in Douglas County.

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez announced today that her office will not prosecute a recently enacted law that has had a chilling effect on vital work to inform and register Kansas voters.

“This is not a partisan issue,” Valdez said. “This law criminalizes essential efforts by trusted nonpartisan groups like the League of Women Voters to engage Kansans on participation in accessible, accountable and fair elections. It is too vague and too broad and threatens to create felons out of dedicated defenders of democracy.”

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that Tayler James Livingston, 27, of Paola, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Deeva Sharma, 25, of Leawood.

The charge stems from a crash on U.S. Highway 56 on Feb. 24, 2020. Livingston crossed the center line to pass a vehicle on the two-lane road and struck Sharma’s car head-on. She was pronounced dead at the scene. A blood test showed Livingston was intoxicated, with a blood alcohol level of .12.

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that Erick Ogwangi, 36, of Lawrence was sentenced to 147 months for one count of Rape.

The charge stemmed from an incident early Jan. 27, 2017, in which Ogwangi forced himself on a woman who was staying in his home. He was convicted for assaulting the woman under circumstances when she was overcome by force or fear.

Douglas County Public Works announces that E 300 Road from north of N 450 Road to south of N 600 Road (Route 460) will be closed to through traffic beginning Monday, July 19, weather permitting, for a bridge replacement project. The project location is 0.8 miles north of N 450 Road. Public Works anticipates construction will be completed by Thanksgiving 2021. No signed detour will be provided. 

In her first six months, District Attorney Suzanne Valdez wasted no time creating an office that adheres to her vision of a fair and equitable administration of justice for victims and defendants.

“I’m proud of our work to create a victim-focused approach while proceeding with compassion and empathy for all people involved in our cases,” Valdez said. “By pursuing alternatives to incarceration where appropriate, we can reduce our criminal justice footprint.”

Here’s a look at some of the work since Valdez took office:

Special Victims Unit

The Board of County Commissioners reached a tentative agreement July 7 on an approximately $148.5 million budget for 2022. They agreed on a 1.008 mill levy increase, which brings the mill levy to 47.438 mills. The increase would cost the owner of a $200,000 home about $23 more a year.

The mill levy increase will cover $2.3 million in a cost transfer of ongoing expenses associated with the joint cooperation agreement between the City of Lawrence and Douglas County to finance the operation and maintenance of Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical.

In celebration of Independence Day and our community’s perseverance during the pandemic, the City of Lawrence and its Unified Command partners: Douglas County, LMH Health, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, the University of Kansas and the Lied Center of Kansas have coordinated support of the Lawrence Jaycees’ community fireworks display, creating a Fabulous Fourth.

Lawrence, Kan. – Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that Michael Hormell, 21, of Lawrence was sentenced to 18 years for aggravated robbery and attempted voluntary manslaughter.

Charges stemmed from an incident Jan. 26, 2018, in which Hormell and a co-conspirator set up a fake drug deal with the intent of robbing the victim. The victim resisted and was shot in the chest by Hormell. The victim was airlifted to the KU Hospital and eventually recovered.