Wichita man accused of double voting appears in court

A Wichita man has made his first appearance on charges of voting fraud being prosecuted by Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s office, according to court records.

Ron R. Weems, 77, faces a total of five felony and misdemeanor criminal counts in connection with allegations that he voted more than once in the 2012 and 2014 general elections.

Following his first appearance Thursday, he was booked at the Sedgwick County Jail and released on a $5,000 own-recognizance bond, meaning he didn’t have to post bail but could be liable for the $5,000 if he misses any court appearances.

Weems is scheduled for a preliminary hearing March 31 before Judge Jeff Goering.

Weems did not return a phone call seeking comment. His lawyer, James McIntyre of Wichita, would not comment.

Weems is among the first Kansans facing prosecution by Kobach’s office since the Legislature granted the secretary of state authority last year to criminally prosecute allegations of election crimes.

The first two and most serious counts against Weems allege election perjury, that he unlawfully signed a Kansas poll book affidavit in the November 2012 and 2014 general elections. Each count is a Level 9 nonperson felony.

Counts three and four charge that Weems “voted without being qualified,” a Class A nonperson misdemeanor.

Count five alleges Weems made a false affirmation to obtain an advance voting ballot, a Class C nonperson misdemeanor.

Weems was registered to vote in both Wichita and Teller County, Colo., records show.

Going back 15 years, his Kansas voting records show he voted in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2012 and 2014.

Colorado records show he voted there in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

His voting registration address in Kansas and the mailing address on his Colorado registration match up to a small industrial building near the Intrust Bank Arena.

The building entrances are surrounded with locked metal security screening and the windows are covered with metal or plastic siding. A large mailbox labeled “Weems” pokes out through the metal mesh of the screening.

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 5:04 PM with the headline "Wichita man accused of double voting appears in court."