EMMIE BOESE Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Paul Lee Stotts, a 35 year old Hutchinson man, was sentenced to 172 months in prison on an aggravated battery charge and 36 months of post release supervision on a violate protection order on Friday, March 8, 2023. He will also be required to register as a lifetime violent offender.
On Jan. 11, 2024, Stotts pleaded guilty to aggravated battery and violate protection order charges connected with causing great bodily harm or disfigurement to another person, his father, Larry Stotts.
"Paul Stotts is a dangerous, dangerous individual, Reno County District Attorney Thomas Stanton said at the sentencing trial. "He has shown this over and over again."
Stotts was arrested on June 2, 2023, and was booked into Reno County Jail at the time on an attempted murder charge in the 1st degree; Intentional and Premeditated, Aggravated Battery; Knowingly Cause Great Bodily Harm or Disfigurement, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Burglary; Swelling for Felony, Theft, Sex and Violate Protection Order; Condition of Pre-Trial Orders.
At about 1:49 a.m. on June 2, 2023, the Reno County Sheriff's Office were sent to conduct a welfare check on Paul Stotts mother, Jane Stotts at 3503 E. 95th Ave. The call was initiated by his father Larry Stotts who arrived at a Loves Gas Station in McPherson with stab wounds, including one in his chest. According to Stanton at the March 8 sentencing, Larry Stotts was stabbed just an 1/8 inch from his aorta.
"I'm going to live in a lifetime of guilt," Stotts said. "I would do anything to get it right with my dad."
The violate protection order was set by the court on Jan. 9, 2023. Stotts violated that order in addition to kidnapping and stabbing his father in the chest in June. The order was put into effect after an incident on Jan. 2, 2023, when deputies from the Reno County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to 30503 E. 95th Ave. in reference to a disturbance at the residence. It was reported that Stotts was yelling at his father Larry Stotts outside the house and threatening him. According to dispatch, Paul Stotts put Larry Stotts in a vehicle and left the area. Deputies found Larry Stotts on foot in the area of 95th Ave. and Tobacco Road. Larry Stotts said Paul let him out of the vehicle.
Paul Stotts stabbed his father in the chest just days before his preliminary hearing on June 5, 2023, for violating the protection order.
Paul Stotts defense attorney Charles C. Lindberg argued for probation under community supervision for Paul Stotts. Some statements from the defendants motion include, Stotts was suffering a major mental health episode at the time of the incident, defendant is willing to continue with treatment programs in the community by recommoned evaluators or supervising officers, the defendant has started mental health counseling and has a significant time period to get stabilized on medications and he has stable housing opportunities at an Oxford House in McPherson, Kansas.
DA Stanton strongly urged District Court Judge Daniel D. Gilligan to deny probation for Paul Stotts. Stanton said there was not sufficient mental health evidence brought before the court.
"Probation is not the place," Stanton said. "We can't take the next chance he won't miss by an 1/8 of an inch."
Larry Stotts spoke at his son's sentencing and also advocated on his behalf that Paul will be more successful on probation.
"There is a thin line between being an enabler and actual reliable help," Larry Stotts said.