Court records: Woman charged with giving guns to Hesston mass shooter to change plea

The woman charged with giving her children’s father the guns used to carry out a mass shooting at a Hesston lawn equipment manufacturing plant in February is planning to change her plea in the case, according to federal court records.

Sarah Jo Hopkins, 28, pleaded not guilty in March to one count of transferring weapons to a prohibited person — her former boyfriend Cedric Ford. But an entry in her court file Monday shows her Aug. 9 jury trial has been canceled and a change of plea hearing set for Aug. 19. She is accused of giving Ford an assault rifle and a handgun knowing his prior felony convictions in Florida barred him from possessing them. Court records say she did so after Ford threatened her.

Hopkins’ defense attorney, Douglas Adams, said Monday that he had no comment about the development. Last month he told the court he planned to mount a battered woman’s syndrome defense at her trial.

Ford, 38, was killed by Hesston’s police chief after he opened fire at Excel, where he worked as a painter. Harvey County authorities have said service of court paperwork from a Wichita woman seeking a protective order against Ford tipped off the rampage.

Ford killed three co-workers and wounded 14 other people. His shooting spree started along a highway near his Newton home.

An autopsy report released last month showed Ford was under the influence of methamphetamine and alcohol at the time.

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 3:07 PM with the headline "Court records: Woman charged with giving guns to Hesston mass shooter to change plea."