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One Pleads, One Bound Over

By Lauren Williams

08/26/2016

Stephen Searcy and Sondra Stutz

(KAIR)--One pleads guilty, while the other is bound over on charges related to the false robbery report of an Atchison business earlier in the summer.

32-year-old Nortonville resident Sondra Stutz appeared Thursday in Atchison County District Court where she was bound over on charges of felony theft, conspiracy to commit arson, interference with a law enforcement officer and conspiracy to commit interference with a law enforcement officer. She’s scheduled for an Sept. 2 arraignment.

Stutz’s partner in the false robbery report, 34-year-old Atchison resident Stephen Searcy, entered guilty pleas Friday in Atchison County District Court on charges of conspiracy to interfere with a law enforcement officer and arson.

In exchange for the guilty pleas, County Prosecutor Jerry Kuckelman agreed to dismiss other charges of felony theft, interference with a law enforcement officer and conspiracy to commit arson.

Searcy will be sentenced Oct. 3.

The charges for both Stutz and Searcy stem from a nearly two-month investigation in connection with what was reported as a strong armed robbery at the Atchison Dollar General.

Atchison Police Chief told MSC News Stutz claimed Searcy had forced her inside the store while she was opening, held her captive at gunpoint and robbed the store. The pair then took Stutz’s vehicle into rural Atchison and tried to set it ablaze, according to Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie.