Five men sentenced in narcotics investigation
According to a press release posted on the Rooks County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, five men have been sentenced on drug charges from an in-depth narcotics investigation that began in early 2019. This investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine in Rooks County, Kansas, resulted in the following criminal sentences, as prosecuted by Rooks Conty Attorney, Danielle N. Muir:
1) John R. Bennett, Woodston, Kansas, was sentenced on September 11, 2019 for the crime of Unlawful Distribution of Methamphetamine in an amount of at least 1 gram but less that 3.5 grams. Bennett was sentenced to fifty-six (56) months in the Kansas Department of Corrections and will be required to register as an offender for fifteen (15) years after the date of parole, discharge or release, whichever date is most recent.
2) Francis R. Everett, Woodston, Kansas, was sentenced on September 24, 2019 for the crime of Unlawful Distribution of Methamphetamine in an amount of at least 1 gram but less than 3.5 grams. Everett was sentenced to fifty-six (56) months in the Kansas Department of Corrections and will be required to register as an offnder for fifteen (15) years after the date of parole, discharge or release, whichever date is most recent.
3) David L. Seales, Woodston, Kansas, was sentenced on November 6, 2019 for the crime of Unlawful Distribution of Methamphetamine in an amount less than 1 gram. Seales was sentenced to an underlying prison term of thirty-four (34) months and placed on twenty-four (24) months probation to be supervised by Northwest Kansas Community Corrections. Seales is required to register as an offender for fifteen (15) years.
On that same date, Seales was sentenced on a second case for the crime of Possession of Methamphetamine. Seales was sentenced on this case to an underlying prison term of twenty-four (24) months and placed on twelve (12) months probation to be supervised by Northwest Kansas Community Corrections. The sentence and probation in this case are to run consecutive to the first case.
This resulted in a combined sentence of an underlying prison term of fifty-eight (58) months and placement on thirty-six (36) months probation to be supervised by Northwest Kansas Community Corrections.
4) Dustin Higdon, Plainville, Kansas, was sentenced on March 4, 2020, for the crime of Unlawful Distribution of Methamphetamine in an amount of at least 1 gram but less than 3.5 grams. Higdon was sentenced to sixty-eight (68) months in the Kansas Department of Corrections and will be required to register as an offender for fifteen (15) years after the date of parole, discharge or release, whichever date is most recent.
On that same date, Higdon was sentenced on a second case for the crime of Unlawful Distribution of Methamphetamine in an amount of at least 1 gram but less than 3.5 grams. Higdon was sentenced to sixty-eight (68) months in the Kansas Department of Corrections and will be required to register as an offender for fifteen (15) years after the date of parole, discharge or release, whichever date is most recent. Sentence and post release supervision are to run concurrent with the first case.
5) Ethan J. Morgan, Stockton, Kansas, was sentenced on April 9, 2020, for the crime of Unlawful Distribution of Methamphetamine in an amount less than 1 gram. Morgan was sentenced to forty (40) months in the Kansas Department of Corrections and will be required to register as an offender for fifteen (15) years after the date of parole, discharge or release, whichever date is most recent.
Additionally, John K. Swaney, Stockton, Kansas, was sentenced on July 3, 2019, for Distribution of Marijuana. Swaney was sentenced to forty-nine (49) months in the Kansas Department of Corrections.
First Christian Church
“If all else fails, read the directions!” How often have you heard that old axiom? Unfortunately, even though we may have heard it many times, sometimes we still need be reminded. We think that we can figure things out on our own, only to find out that we can’t and we need directions to show us the way.
The Bible is a book of directions. It is made up of guidelines given by God. Guidelines were given to the Israelites coming out of Egypt, to David as he went from shepherd boy to king, and to Solomon, this weeks subject from Chapter 13 of The Story.
Solomon, one of the wisest men of the Bible, seemingly had it all. He was the king. He had wisdom, wealth and respect from others. But in the end, even Solomon determines that it is all meaningless. Fearing God and keeping His commandments are what is important. God wants your focus to be on Him.
In our search for happiness in this world, our focus often times goes to things that we think are important. The world says, “If it feels good, do it.” Even Solomon, the wisest of men, strayed from the directions God had given him. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. His wives turned his heart after other gods. He did not follow God completely.
Sometimes it is easy for us to look at others and the problems they are experiencing and become critical. We might think something like, “If you had just followed the directions, this never would have happened.” At times like that we should be reminded of Matthew 7:3-5, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?” We all fail to follow the directions.
We would be well advised to get back to the Bible and God’s instructions. Proverbs 4:13 tells us, “Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.” Follow the directions! There is some wisdom that even Solomon could appreciate!
Continue in prayer this week. We are getting closer to being back together as a congregation. Things may look a little different, but let’s follow the directions and everything will work together for good.
Half of us are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks. The other half will come out with a drinking problem.
