PROP Investigation Leads to Felony Arrest
On September 11, 2023, the Parsons Registered Offender Program (PROP) began an investigation into the case of registered offender Luke Dakota Martin, aged 29, from Parsons, Kansas. The investigation started when Sergeant Charlie Brown and Patrol Lieutenant Kyle Wiford came into contact with Mr. Martin during a separate call for service.
Luke Dakota Martin holds registered offender status due to a 2016 conviction in Cherokee County, KS, for the Distribution of Controlled Substances. He is obligated to maintain this registration until December 2031. The recent investigation revealed multiple violations of Kansas Offender Registration laws committed by Martin. Among these violations, it was found that Martin had relocated residences in January 2023 but failed to update his registered address, continuing to report under an outdated location where he no longer resided. Additionally, Martin neglected to report changes in his employment status and failed to renew his Kansas identification card annually, as mandated by his offender status. Furthermore, Martin neglected to notify the Kansas Department of Revenue of his registered offender status, which would have led to the appropriate marking of his identification card or driver's license.
Presently, Martin is on bond through the 11th Judicial District in Labette County for pending charges, which include possession of opiates, opium, narcotics, or certain stimulants; possession of marijuana; use/possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia; driving while suspended (1st conviction); vehicle liability insurance (permitting uninsured vehicle on the highway); operating a vehicle without registration or with an expired tag; and unsafe turning or stopping, along with failure to give a proper signal. Moreover, Martin is under interstate-compact parole supervision in Kansas, stemming from the States of Missouri and Oklahoma, and is currently being supervised by the Kansas Department of Corrections.
On September 12, 2023, at approximately 3:10 pm, Sgt. Brown and Lt. Wiford successfully located Martin again in the 2800 block of Washington Ave. Martin was interviewed and subsequently taken into custody for the violations, all of which are categorized as felonies. Martin is presently detained on charges consisting of two counts of Aggravated Violation of Offender Registration and five counts of Violation of Offender Registration. This case has been referred to the Labette County Attorney's Office for a thorough review of charges.
This continues to be an on-going investigation and citizens are encouraged to "See It, Hear It, Report It." All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If anyone has any further information on this incident or any other criminal activity, please contact the Parsons Police Department at 421-7060 or call the Tip Line at 421-7057 or email at tips@parsonspd.com.
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