CJOnline / The Topeka Capital-Journal - Blevins sentenced to 32 months on sex crime
Blevins sentenced to 32 months on sex crime
The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. CDT
The Wabaunsee County attorney today said a former state fire inspector was ordered to serve 32 months in prison after entering a no contest plea to sexually soliciting a teenager.
County Attorney Norbert Marek said Richard Blevins, of Maple Hill, agreed to the solicitation charge in exchange for dismissal of four counts of rape and four counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child younger than 14.
“The state was seeking the prison time,” Marek said.
Blevins, an inspector with the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office for 22 years, could have been placed on probation. If the judge decided against probation, state sentencing guidelines placed Blevins' term of incarceration between 31 months and 34 months.
District Judge Gary Nafziger ruled Monday that Blevins' actions warranted a sentence in the middle range of the grid.
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Reader Comments
+ 1 Rating
Posted by: SecretAgent at Sep. 10, 2008 at 12:09:01 pm
WOW 32 months... BS!!!!! If they found meth on him he would have received 32 yrs.. He ruined a young girls life FOREVER and gets 32 months....
-5 Rating
Posted by: KUKU4KU at Sep. 10, 2008 at 12:13:15 pm
He was country before country was cool!
Posted by: 19wildcat58 at Sep. 10, 2008 at 12:14:18 pm
Whats with these judges! They dismiss FOUR COUNTS of rape of a child YOUNGER than 14, and he gets 32 months. Yesterday, a guy got like 21 YEARS for meth sales. I'm not condoning meth, and I know that was a US case, but the disparity in sentencing is ridiculous! Judges - Get these perverts off the streets, and KEEP THEM OFF!
-3 Rating
Posted by: KUKU4KU at Sep. 10, 2008 at 12:16:14 pm
***** pervs!
Posted by: DragoonCreek at Sep. 10, 2008 at 12:21:58 pm
The judge did not dismiss those charges. The DA did in return for a plea deal.
"County Attorney Norbert Marek said Richard Blevins, of Maple Hill, agreed to the solicitation charge in exchange for dismissal of four counts of rape and four counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child younger than 14."
The judge is then bound by the mandatory sentencing scheme enacted by our legislators. He chose the middle range of possibly sentencing but there is no mention of what the upper and lower limits are. Did he shave of 6 months? Six weeks? Six years? Who knows?
Posted by: DragoonCreek at Sep. 10, 2008 at 12:22:52 pm
Oh I guess we do know. 31 lower and 34 upper. :)
Posted by: kurious1 at Sep. 10, 2008 at 12:23:05 pm
the prosecutor dropped the other charges in exchange for the one low level sex offense. the judge didnt have to accept it but this is mostly on the prosecutor.
Posted by: DragoonCreek at Sep. 10, 2008 at 12:25:47 pm
The judge can't make the state prosecute someone, can they? They can just refuse to follow recommendations for sentencing that the parties work out, right? I think if the county attorney wants to drop the charges then they are dropped.
Posted by: dagascag at Sep. 10, 2008 at 12:30:07 pm
this sucks!!!!!
Posted by: luckygirl_lisa at Sep. 10, 2008 at 12:30:27 pm
I am with you 19wildcat58, to dismiss the other charges for a solicitation charge gives the wrong idea about this case. Like quadrivium's idiotic statement above - people don't realize how serious this really was when he was only sentenced for solicitation. This judge had no control unfortunately of the charges brought against Blevins or the plea deal, but at least he did punish him with jail time instead of probation.
Posted by: luckygirl_lisa at Sep. 10, 2008 at 12:35:19 pm
DragonCreek - the victim can't even make the state prosecute. This is totally on the county attorney - to take the case to trial or accept a plea deal. Mr. Marek must have not wanted to work this case - too bad the parents of young children in Maple Hill didn't put some pressure on him.
-1 Rating
Posted by: SecretAgent at Sep. 10, 2008 at 12:37:29 pm
