He was supposed to be one of the good guys

Varmit · January 18, 2010, 12:04:19 AM

Town 'terribly shocked'
19 sex charges for Inman police chief
By Darcy Gray - The Hutchinson News - dgray@hutchnews.com

INMAN - The arrest of Inman's police chief at his home Tuesday night on 19 charges - including allegations he molested four children - shocked the small community of about 1,200 people.

Michael L. Akins Jr., 38, is accused of sexually abusing three girls and one boy between the ages of 9 and 14, according to the criminal complaint filed against him Tuesday night by the Kansas Attorney General's Office.

Akins is charged with one count of rape of a child, 12 counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, two counts of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child, one count of indecent solicitation of a child, one count of lewd and lascivious behavior, and two counts of misdemeanor battery.

The crimes are alleged to have occurred between December 2008 and December 2009.

Six of the charges fall under Jessica's Law, mandating a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years upon conviction, according to the complaint.

Akins was arrested at 8:25 p.m. Tuesday after sheriff's deputies forcibly entered his home in Inman, McPherson County Sheriff Larry Powell said Wednesday.

"Deputies verbally announced their presence and knocked lively on the door," Powell said. "We knew that he was inside the residence, and it was our concern that he could have done something."

Recent investigation

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation was called in to investigate about a week and a half ago at the request of the McPherson County Sheriff's Office. The Kansas Highway Patrol also aided in the investigation, according to Ashley Anstaett, a spokeswoman for the attorney general's office, although she would not comment on who initially reported the alleged crimes.

Inman Mayor John O'Brien said authorities notified him New Year's Eve of an investigation into Akins, but he was not informed of what the allegations were. O'Brien called a special meeting of the Inman City Council on Dec. 31, but without knowing more details, "it was a matter of waiting to see what happened," he said.

City officials didn't learn until early Wednesday of the allegations of child sex abuse, O'Brien said, noting officials were "absolutely shocked." Council members met for a special meeting at 6:30 Wednesday morning and agreed to suspend Akins without pay. The council also named police officer Bob Herron as acting chief.

Shackled and dressed in a black and white striped jumpsuit with a bright orange sweatshirt, Akins made his first appearance Wednesday morning in court before McPherson County District Judge Carl Anderson, who refused to reduce Akins' $250,000 bond.

As the judge read aloud the 19 counts, Akins nodded his head and later acknowledged he understood the charges against him. Akins told the judge he was going through a divorce but would try to hire an attorney.

"I assume I don't have a job," Akins said.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, although Anderson said the hearing would likely be continued. He explained a judge from Saline County would be in town Friday to address the case, since McPherson County judges will not be able to in the future.

"Obviously, I know you," Anderson said to Akins, explaining why a Saline County judge would be stepping in.

A Hutchinson native, Akins was hired in 2005 and named police chief in 2007, according to Inman city officials. O'Brien said Akins previously worked in law enforcement in Rolla in southwest Kansas.

'Terribly shocked'

Many Inman residents expressed shock and sadness Wednesday after learning of the allegations against their police chief.

Richard Shroyer, who is retired but serves as a firefighter and EMT for the city, recalled working with Akins on many occasions and described him as friendly and "really outgoing."

"When he first came here, he became acquainted with everyone from the preschoolers to the elderly," Shroyer said. "He was a people person - everyone knew him by name.

"This was a real surprise to us. He's done a good job as chief, and I think he took his job seriously. It wasn't just something to fill his time with."

At the Main Street Pizza Cafe, 23-year-old employee Drew Luty said Akins knew just about everyone in town and gave his cell phone number to local citizens.

Longtime resident Kyle Buller, 32, also said Akins had always been very friendly and described the recent charges as "awful."

Even though the charges are just allegations, Buller said, "he was put in a position of power, so either way it's a bad deal."

Nancy Schroeder-Warner, who with her husband, Norton, splits her time between Inman and Connecticut, said she was "terribly shocked" to learn of Akins' arrest.

"It's such a shame, because this is such an intimate community," she said. "You know everybody and they know you, and this is just sowing seeds of wariness."

O'Brien said Akins' arrest and subsequent charges would be on the agenda for discussion during the upcoming City Council meeting Monday night.

"We're not going to convict him until he's convicted," he said of Akins. "He's presumed innocent until proven guilty."

Reporter Clara Kilbourn contributed to this report
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And yet we are supposed to trust these people with our safety...

Diane Amberg · January 18, 2010, 04:36:23 PM

What was the purpose of putting that on the forum? Just curious.That stuff sadly happens somewhere every day all over the world.

Sarah · January 18, 2010, 06:03:13 PM

Quote"I assume I don't have a job," Akins said.

Ya think? ROTFL

Anyway, just goes to show you can't trust anybody too much these days.

twirldoggy · January 18, 2010, 06:25:46 PM

He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sarah · January 18, 2010, 06:49:31 PM

Quote from: twirldoggy on January 18, 2010, 06:25:46 PM
He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

I think pretty much no matter how it goes the people won't trust him and he'll be removed even if found not guilty.

srkruzich · January 18, 2010, 07:09:40 PM

You can bet your bippie that they didn't arrest him until they had proof that he was guilty. A man in that position of power doesn't get rousted until someone has all their i's dotted and t's crossed

Varmit · January 18, 2010, 08:15:25 PM

Quote from: Diane Amberg on January 18, 2010, 04:36:23 PM
What was the purpose of putting that on the forum? Just curious.That stuff sadly happens somewhere every day all over the world.

Diane, I posted that show that just because a person is in law enforcement, and charged with our safety, doesn't mean that they can be trusted. Yet many on here are willing to turn over their freedoms to people like this.

Twirldoggy, the guy has 19 charges against him, I seriously doubt he is innocent, but you are right, he gets his day in court.

srkruzich · January 18, 2010, 08:32:22 PM

Quote from: Varmit on January 18, 2010, 08:15:25 PM
Diane, I posted that show that just because a person is in law enforcement, and charged with our safety, doesn't mean that they can be trusted. Yet many on here are willing to turn over their freedoms to people like this.

Twirldoggy, the guy has 19 charges against him, I seriously doubt he is innocent, but you are right, he gets his day in court.

Varmit, you do realize that the police are not charged with our safety or protection. THey have no legal obligation to do so.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/28/politics/28scotus.html?_r=2

Varmit · January 18, 2010, 08:37:42 PM

I know what you mean srkruzich but most people don't realize that. And that is usually the excuse that law enforcement uses to violate our rights.

Diane Amberg · January 19, 2010, 01:32:19 PM

Varmit you must have a hard time if you assume everybody is out to get you in one way or another. Nobody can be trusted? If there is one bad pervert priest out of thousands, should Catholics abandon their faith? If there is one arsonist out of thousands of firefighters, should we close the stations and let your house burn? If one person dies during surgery should all surgeons stop trying to save lives? If one mail carrier steals mail should we close down the US mail system? It sounds sad that you seem to have such a mistrust of your fellow human beings. You seem in my opinion to be mixing private issues with public issues and mixing freedom with convenience and social programs with sociaism. You do not have the right to drive. If DUI checks are inconvenient to you, tough! Everybody is inconvenienced equally so get over it. As far as a child being scanned in an airport....so what. Touching is something else again. Flying is not a right either. So take the train. Sure, bad stuff does happen from time to time, but what about the good times? Shall we all have survivors guilt? Sounds like PTSD to me. There is no relationship whatever to someone coming on your property without cause and looking in your windows, and some one's behavior on a public street, whether its on some form of transportation or walking around. On the one hand you say the agencies trying to help Haiti are corrupt but there are people here who need help. But if we tackle that poverty ,the people are accused of being socialist! Sorry, life will go on. We will never, as a people live up to your expectations. But that's what chronic complainers thrive on,something to complain about. The rest of us will keep pecking away at the bad stuff when it's found and never ever give up. Try being positive, you might like it.