Two high-profile trials delayed until 2013
The trial of a commune leader accused of murdering a woman has been delayed until next spring.
Daniel Perez was scheduled to go on trial this week in Sedgwick County District Court for drowning Patricia Hughes in 2003. Her death was first thought to be an accident.
Perez is facing multiple counts of rape, sodomy, sexual exploitation of a child and lying on applications for life insurance. The Sedgwick County District Attorney said Perez used money from life insurance payouts from deceased members of their commune. The group of people lived in a compound a few miles north of Kechi off Oliver.
Perez' murder trial is scheduled for May 6.
Also delayed is the trial of former Garden Plain football coach Todd Puetz, who's accused of attempted aggravated indecent liberties and electronic solicitation.
He and six other men were arrested in a sting operation in October of 2011.
The Exploited and Missing Child Unit arrested Puetz when he went to an address that was mentioned during a phone call with a police decoy. A female police officer was posing as a teen runaway by the name of Marissa.
Puetz trial is scheduled to start Jan. 28.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.