WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2004
STATE
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 11
Former student faces arson charges
By Amanda O'Toole
aotoole@kansan.com
kansan staff writer
David Ryan Jay, accused arsonist and former University of Kansas student, plead not guilty to 13 counts of arson and one count of aggravated arson on July 7 in Olathe in a Johnson County court.
Jay is suspected of starting 17 fires in both Johnson and Douglas counties, which included a fire at Watson Library in March.
Johnson County Assistant District Attorney Rick Guinn said the court recognized enough evidence on June 28 to support a case against Jay.
Jay's attorney, Alex McCauley, said he would file a motion to lessen the aggravated arson charge. He said in order for an arson to be classified as aggravated, a person needed to be in the building before the fire is set一a person entered a building after lay had set fire to it.
The way the charge stands now, a jury would be able to decide whether or not Jay should be accountable for arson or aggravated arson if he is found guilty.
Jay faces a more severe sentence with an aggravated arson charge.
Last
McCauley and Guinn both said Jay's trial would probably begin sometime in 2005.
Douglas County District Attorney Christine Kenney has not filed charges against Jay for the three fires that happened in Lawrence.
"We're still waiting for information from investigators before we press charges," she said.
The statute of limitations for arson is two years, giving Kenney until March 2006.
Kenney said she couldn't say what information the county was waiting for.
Jay fled to California and turned himself in to the Fontana Police Department.
The chain of fires, which lasted only about a week, caused close to $8 million in damages.
— Edited by Miranda Lenning
Chinese want more trade with Kansas
The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. — A senior Chinese diplomat on Tuesday encouraged greater efforts to boost trade between his nation and Kansas and the United States.
Speaking at a luncheon with state and local officials, Ambassador Yang Jiechi said China was interested in expanding
trade with Kansas, particularly in agricultural products and aircraft.
"No Boeing, no going," Yang said, referring to the Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer which employs about 12,000 workers at its Wichita plant. Sixty-five percent of China's commercial aircraft fleet is made by Boeing.
According to the Kansas Department of
Commerce, China was the state's seventh largest trading partner last year, importing $176 million in goods. Most of the trade—$96 million worth—was in processed food.
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who met with Yang at the Statehouse, said her discussion with the ambassador "was positive and that he was very pleased to see firsthand the products he enjoys at home."
AirTran brings more airline users to Wichita
The Associated Press
WICHITA, Kan. — Airport traffic in Wichita reached a record level in June, spurred by an improving economy and the attraction of discount airline service.
The passenger count at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport last month was 145,636, surpassing the previous record of 143,709 set in July 1992.
"This continued good news is just wonderful," said Tom Nolan, the airport's assistant director.
For the year, airport traffic is running 10 percent ahead the first six months of 2003 which was considerably higher than the previous year.
A major factor in the turnaround from the time when some of the highest airfares in the country kept people from using the Wichita airport has been the service initiated in 2002 by discounter AirTran Airways. The city provided incentives of $4.5 million in loss guarantees and guaranteed business travel to attract AirTran to the market.