Man who had Joyland’s Louie the Clown charged with theft

The man suspected of stealing Joyland’s Louie the Clown was charged with two counts of theft on Wednesday.

Damian Mayes, 40, appeared over a video monitor in a Sedgwick County courtroom Wednesday afternoon, wearing an orange hoodie.

Mayes, who was convicted in Harvey County of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated criminal sodomy, is serving a sentence at the Norton Correctional Facility and isn’t eligible for parole until 2028, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

When a judge read the criminal charges against Mayes, a former Joyland employee, Mayes asked no questions.

His appearance lasted less than a minute.

He is being held on a $25,000 bond and is next scheduled to appear in court on March 2.

Mayes said Wednesday he plans on hiring a private attorney.

Mayes is also involved in a civil court case involving Joyland’s Wurlitzer organ, which he agreed to buy about six years ago.

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 5:10 PM with the headline "Man who had Joyland’s Louie the Clown charged with theft."