The Reno County Sheriff's Office is investigating an alleged incident involving Stephen Maxwell, now a senior assistant district attorney in Reno County, the Hutchinson News reported.
The complaint was reportedly filed November 1 by public defender Bonnie Corrado, who alleged misdemeanor battery causing rude, physical contact from an incident on October 28 after a man was sentenced to 90 days in jail for his third DUI conviction.
Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder told the Hutch News that Maxwell told him no jail officer was in the courtroom after the defendant's sentencing, and the man was trying to leave. Maxwell was apparently standing between the man and the door to the hallway.
"Steve told him to stay until an officer arrived — he felt it was his duty as an officer of the court," Schroeder told the Hutch News. "I was told Bonnie was still assisting in taking the defendant out into the hallway."
Maxwell told Schroeder that "he never touched anyone." Schroeder said it's pretty common for prosecutors to escort defendants to jail since the sheriff's office "doesn't have the budget to keep a deputy in each courtroom."
"Why a report was made, I don't know," Schroeder told the Hutch News. "I'm supportive of what [Maxwell] did. I commend any of my attorneys for doing their duty as an officer of the court."
It sounds like the Sheriff's Office is turning the complaint over to the Kansas Attorney General's Office, where Maxwell worked during the Kline administration. When Kline became Johnson County District Attorney in 2007, Maxwell followed him there.
