New charges filed against murder suspect Noriega
A Mayetta resident facing first-degree murder and drug charges in connection with a November incident now faces a new set of charges relating to an incident occurred during his incarceration at the Jackson County Detention Center, according to Jackson County District Court documents.
In addition to the murder and drug charges, stemming from the Nov. 21 stabbing death of a Mayetta woman, Wilson R. Noriega, 49, has also been charged with trafficking in contraband — namely, a “shank” — in a correctional institution. The new case against Noriega also includes charges of criminal use of weapons and criminal damage to property.
According to district court files, the new charges stem from a Dec. 14 incident that occurred during Noriega’s confinement at the county jail involving a crude, knife-like weapon known as a “shank” and damage to a light fixture at the jail.
Noriega has been incarcerated at the jail since the Nov. 21 stabbing death of 49-year-old Leann M. Sanchez at a residence reportedly owned by his parents on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation. He was charged with murder in the first degree, possession of methamphetamines and possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with that incident, it was reported.
Furthermore, Noriega has written court officials a letter asking for the dismissal of Holton attorney J. Richard Lake as his appointed defense attorney “due to lack of communication and concerns about the interest he’s shown in my case so far.” A hearing has been scheduled for Friday afternoon on the request to dismiss Lake.
Rather than Lake, Noriega wrote to request the services of attorney Julia Spainhour of Topeka’s Northeastern Kansas Conflict Office — noting the Conflict Office had represented him in a previous court case and that he was “satisfied” with the representation — or Topeka attorney Mark Bennett.
Noriega is also facing a preliminary hearing on two cases — the case involving Sanchez’s death and a separate case involving marijuana and paraphernalia charges related to an incident that occurred in July — at 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 22 in district court. He remains at the county jail with bond set at $1 million.
