In the News

Charges against Stearns dropped

By Courier Staff
THE WINFIELD DAILY COURIER
Thursday, August 03, 2006

Disorderly conduct charges against Daniel Stearns, Sweetwater, Texas, brought up on March 23, were dismissed "without prejudice" at the Cowley County Courthouse July 27.

"The information we were given did not meet the statutory requirement (for disorderly conduct)," said county attorney Chris Smith today. "We are not going to pursue the case."

Stearns' attorney, Christopher McHugh, Wichita, was pleased with the outcome of the trial.

"We were going in there (the courtroom) planning on fighting the charges," said McHugh, in a phone interview. "He did nothing wrong ... we felt it was a big misunderstanding."

Stearns is a son of Danny Fruits, who died after being shot by a police officer at Tunnel Mill Dam March 8.