Barton County sheriff plans to fight mistreatment charge
The Barton County sheriff announced on Friday that he plans to fight allegations that he mistreated a confined person in August.
Sheriff Brian Bellendir was issued a summons on Wednesday to appear in Barton County District Court, following an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Bellendir is alleged to have mistreated a confined person while serving an arrest warrant on Aug. 10 in Great Bend, according to the summons.
“I intend to plead not guilty as I do not believe my actions rise to the level of the crime charged,” Bellendir said in a statement released late Friday afternoon. “I look forward to the time when I will be able to inform the public of the entire situation.”
Bellendir has hired Wichita attorney Jesse Hoeme in connection with the case. Mistreatment of a confined person is a misdemeanor, according to Kansas statutes.
Stan Finger: 316-268-6437, @StanFinger
This story was originally published November 3, 2017 at 6:07 PM with the headline "Barton County sheriff plans to fight mistreatment charge."