In the News

Belleville teen faces federal charge

By Tim Unruh
THE SALINA JOURNAL
November 30, 2011

CONCORDIA -- Not much information has been released in the federal case against Landon B. Hedstrom since his Nov. 17 arrest.

Officials on both sides would not discuss what led local and federal authorities to take the 18-year-old college student into custody.

Hedstrom is accused of attempting to persuade someone to commit armed robbery at Citizens National Bank in Concordia.

Hedstrom, of Belleville, was released from jail on an own-recognizance bond in Topeka on Nov. 18, the same day the court entered a "not guilty" plea on his behalf.

He is awaiting federal trial there Jan. 24 on one count of solicitation to commit bank robbery. His defense team at Joseph and Hollander in Topeka expects a longer wait.

"In most cases, those dates are continued," said Chris Joseph, a partner in the firm, who spoke for Hedstrom's attorney, Sonya L. Strickland. Joseph said he can't release details beyond what is public record.

If convicted, Hedstrom could face a maximum penalty of 12 1/2 years in federal prison and a fine up to $125,000, said Jim Cross, spokesman for U.S. Attorney for Kansas Barry Grissom.

The Concordia Police Department received information and forwarded it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which resulted in the federal warrant against Hedstrom, according to a Nov. 17 Concordia Police Department press release.

The indictment reads that Hedstrom is charged with soliciting another person to commit armed robbery, and lists that person as "R.H." Cross said R.H. will be a witness at trial.

'He was a good kid'

News of the charge was a surprise to Chris Vignery, the high school principal and supertintendent at Pike Valley Schools in Scandia, where Hedstrom graduated in May.

"We were all shocked here. He was a good kid," Vignery said.

Hedstrom threw the discus and was on the 4-by-400 meter relay team for Pike Valley at the 2011 state track meet, was a leading scorer on the boys' basketball team, and was the defensive most valuable player at the Cloud County High School All-Star basketball game played March 27.

Vignery said the case was discussed at the school, and those who know Hedstrom hope for the best.

"We are concerned that everything turns out OK for him," Vignery said. Enrolled in college

A Facebook page for a person named Landon Hedstrom listed employment as a teller at Citizens National Bank and at Swedish American State Bank. The page also listed Hedstrom as being from Belleville but living in Concordia.

That Facebook page did not exist Tuesday.

Michael Johnson, president of Swedish American State Bank in Courtland, said Nov. 18 that Hedstrom was no longer employed there because he is a student at Cloud County Community College in Concordia.

Linda Peterson, the college registrar, confirmed Tuesday that Hedstrom is currently enrolled.

Johnson declined further comment.

A member of Hedstrom's family would not comment, and another did not return a call.