Pleas Entered By Two Connected To Mayetta Murder
03/01/2013
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Rachel Dawn Hudson
Aaron Vance Lofton
Lloyd Wabaunsee
Desiree Shopteese
Steven Eastman

(KNZA)--A man and woman accused of assisting with the escape of two wanted in the January shooting death of a Mayetta man have entered pleas, according to Jackson County Attorney Shawna Miller.  

36-year-old Rachel Hudson and 29-year-old Aaron Lofton were both scheduled for pre-trial status hearings Friday. 

During her hearing, Hudson, of Denison, entered a plea of guilty on the charge of aiding a felon.  She will be sentenced March 29th. 

Lofton, of Topeka, pled not guilty to the charge, and a jury trial is scheduled for May 22nd. 

Lofton is accused of driving a vehicle, detained in Iowa on January 17th, where authorities say accused murderers Lloyd Wabaunsee and Desiree Shopteese were hiding in the trunk. 

Hudson was a passenger in the vehicle. 

Miller says Wabaunsee and Shopteese, both 22-years-old, and both charged with 2nd degree murder stemming from the January 10th shooting of Mayetta resident Kevin Stanley, are scheduled for preliminary hearings on the morning of April 24th. 

Scheduled to appear with them is 37-year-old Topeka resident, Steven Eastman, who is charged with aiding and abetting murder in the second degree, obstructing apprehension or prosecution and interfering with law enforcement official duty. Authorities say he was driving the vehicle that took Wabaunsee and Shopteese to and from Stanley's Mayetta residence.

Eastman is held in the Jackson County Jail on $15,000 bond, while Shopteese is held on $150,000 bond and Wabaunsee on  a bond of $500,000.  

Lofton's bond, despite Friday's objection of County Attorney Miller, was reduced to $10,000.  Hudson is free on bond.