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8/20/2010

Salina Journal

By DAVID CLOUSTON

Salina Journal

CONCORDIA — Reform Party gubernatorial candidate Salinan Ken Cannon has been charged in Cloud County District Court with falsely reporting a domestic disturbance.

On July 10, an anonymous caller to the 911 Emergency Center reported that as he was driving by a rural Cloud County residence he heard screaming and sounds of a disturbance and he thought those should be investigated, said attorney Nels Noel, who has been appointed as special prosecutor for the case.

When authorities arrived they were able to speak with a man and a woman at the residence and found no disturbance.

“The allegation is that Mr. Cannon made the call to the police. We believe evidence shows that Mr. Cannon should have charges brought against him and beyond that, I’m not going to comment,” Noel said.

Cannon would not comment when he was reached by phone Thursday. He referred all questions to his attorney, Joe Allen. Allen could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Cannon was scheduled to make a first appearance Wednesday in Cloud County District Court but could not be served with a court complaint in time, Noel said. Cannon’s first appearance is now scheduled for Sept. 21 before District Magistrate Judge Guy Steier.

The case in Salina

Cannon is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. today in Saline County District Court where he is charged with battery and making a criminal threat.

Those charges stem from an alleged altercation in April with Greg Thoman and others from the Concordia area at a public gathering in Robert Caldwell Plaza in downtown Salina. Thoman is expected to be called as a witness in the case.

Thoman is a former president of the board of the Concordia School District. Salina Police Capt. Mike Sweeney said at the time of Cannon’s arrest that the alleged altercation stemmed from problems that had occurred in the past, while Cannon was employed by the Concordia district.

Noel on Thursday would not identify the rural residence or the names of the couple identified in connection with the disturbance call without their approval.

Kathy Thoman, who lives with her husband, Greg, in rural Cloud County, when reached by phone said, “You are on the right track is all I’ll say.”

Noel said the charge of making a false report is a misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $2,500 fine, but the sentence is up to the judge’s discretion.

n Reporter David Clouston can be reached at 822-1403 or by e-mail at [email protected].