Lawrence man pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that Johnathon L. West, 43, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of Jennifer Mosby, 41, of Lawrence.

West shot Mosby in the back of the head on Jan. 24, 2021, while the defendant was under the influence of the mind-altering drug PCP. The victim’s body was found in her residence after Lawrence Police received information from the Topeka Police Department, which was interviewing West in an unrelated investigation.

The State was represented by Chief Assistant District Attorney Eve Kemple. The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department.

Sentencing for West will occur at 3:30 p.m. June 16 at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center. Pending a presentence investigation, West faces a sentence of 221-247 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections.