Johnson County District Attorney

A Roeland Park, Kansas, couple have been charged with first-degree murder in the 2023 overdose death of a pregnant woman. District Attorney Steve Howe said he’s fighting the fentanyl crisis, but studies show such prosecutions aren’t effective.

The Jackson County legislator was charged in Kansas City, Missouri, with violating a protection order and in Johnson County, Kansas, with domestic battery. The mother of Abarca's son wrote in a social media post that she had not seen her son since May 28.

Johnson County has a number of competitive down-ballot races, including elections for sheriff and district attorney. But the county also has competitive races in the Kansas House and Senate, which could determine if Republicans preserve their total control of the legislature.

Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe declined to file criminal charges against the Overland Park Police officer who killed 17-year-old John Albers in 2018. But police dash video contradicted Howe’s account of what happened in the shooting.

The four officers — Sgt. Brandon Faber, Officer Brad Heater, Sgt. Rachel Scattergood and Sgt. Tim Tinnin — were placed on paid leave more than a year ago while District Attorney Steve Howe’s office investigated claims that they misused funds for the Overland Park Police Officers Foundation while serving as board members.

Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden has been investigating election results for over a year, but has so far failed to produce any confirmed cases of voter fraud. An open records request revealed only a single case that has been referred to the district attorney, who said there was no evidence to support criminal charges.

Brandon Lynch, 27, was shot three times by Olathe Police after responding to a 911 call from Lynch's sister on New Year’s Eve 2022, saying he was threatening her. He had a knife, a Taser and a history with police.

The investigation by the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator was opened following a complaint by Sheila Albers, whose teenage son John was shot and killed by Overland Park police in 2018.

Shawnee Mission North math teacher Alex Morris was booked into Johnson County jail on Wednesday. He is charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

Federal investigators did not find sufficient evidence that former Overland Park police officer Clayton Jenison willfully violated 17-year-old John Albers' constitutional rights when he shot and killed Albers. Jenison filed 13 shots into a minivan driven by Albers.

The Johnson County District Attorney said Officer Erik Clark was justified in using deadly force against the student, Jaylon Elmore, who a witness said opened fire on Clark first. The officer also likely fired the shots that hit an assistant principal, but the DA is not filing charges.

Lenexa police believe that Jennifer Hall called in a prescription for antidepressants using personal information of a co-worker. Hall has been charged in the 2002 death of a patient at a hospital in Chillicothe, Missouri.