Preliminary hearing for former Marion police chief delayed
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - A preliminary hearing for the former Marion police chief has been delayed by a couple of months in a case surrounding the August 2023 police raid on the Marion County Record newspaper. The preliminary hearing set for May 21 has been continued to July 23 at the defense’s request, the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office confirmed.
In this case, Gideon Cody faces an obstruction of justice charge. On the civil side, the former police chief is among several facing lawsuits concerning the raids.
Prosecutors say the charge arises from Cody’s actions after the raid, which targeted the newspaper and the homes of publisher Eric Meyer and former city council member (and vice mayor) Ruth Herbel.
At the time of the raid, Cody claimed he had evidence that the newspaper, Phyllis Zorn, a reporter for the newspaper, and Herbal committed identity theft or other computer crimes to obtain information about Marion restaurant owner Kari Newell’s driving record. However, his targets stated that they engaged in no illegal activity, and no charges were ever filed against them. Additionally, Cody is accused of instructing Newell to delete text messages between them. This is where the obstruction of justice charge lies.
Cody resigned from his post as Marion police chief in October 2023, a week after his suspension. He faces a maximum sentence of 23 months in prison if convicted.
Last August, Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett and Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson were appointed as special prosecutors in the case. The final report on the case from Bennett and Wilkerson said that Cody would be charged with obstruction of judicial process, a severity level 8, nonperson felony.
Initial charges against Cody in Marion County included interfering with a judicial procedure, inducing a witness to withhold or delay information in a felony case.
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