Trial for Netawaka man delayed until spring

A Netawaka man charged with picking up a package reportedly containing four pounds of marijuana at the Whiting post office in May has retained the service of a new defense attorney, resulting in postponement of a jury trial on drug charges against him, possibly to sometime next spring, it was reported.

Topeka attorney Pantaleon Florez Jr. filed his appearance as attorney of record for Johnny Lee Williams, 54, late Friday in Jackson County District Court. Williams also filed a speedy trial waiver, and as a result, his trial on drug charges, scheduled to begin Tuesday morning in district court, has been continued to an unspecified date.

Earlier that day, Williams had appeared in district court to ask for the dismissal of his previous attorney, J. Richard Lake of Holton, stating that he had retained Florez as his attorney. However, at that time, Kansas Second District Judge Jeff Elder denied the motion, saying that Florez had not yet filed an entry of appearance as Williams’ defense attorney.

Williams had also asked for a speedy trial waiver that morning, and Elder denied it, saying that his attorney would have to file that motion. But Florez appeared later in the day to file his entry of appearance, and Williams’ motion to have Florez as his attorney and dismiss Lake was granted, as was his request for a speedy trial waiver.

Williams was arrested in May on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, a Level 2 drug felony, after he was observed picking up a package reportedly containing about four pounds of marijuana from the Whiting post office. He is currently being held at the Jackson County Detention Center on that charge, as well as on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse said at the time of Williams’ arrest that Williams had been alleged to have distributed marijuana from shipments he had been receiving through the mail from California. No federal charges have been filed in the matter despite the package seized in May having crossed state lines.