by Mary Rupert
Jamaal R. Lewis, accused of the July 19 murder of Kansas City, Kan., Police Capt. Robert David Melton, made his first appearance in Wyandotte County District Court this morning to face capital murder charges.
District Attorney Jerome A. Gorman filed capital murder charges against Lewis on Thursday.
Lewis, 20, entered the courtroom and stood with his attorney, Jeffrey Dazey, around 11:10 a.m. Friday. More than 25 people were in the courtroom.
Judge Aaron Roberts explained his rights, and then read the charges against him, including capital murder, aggravated assault and criminal discharge of a firearm.
Lewis met with Dazey, who has represented defendants in other capital cases, this morning before the hearing.
Bond remains at $10 million, Judge Roberts said, and the case has been continued until 10 a.m. Sept. 23 in Wyandotte County District Court.
Another defendant, DaQon J. Sipple, 18, also made his first appearance this morning before Judge Roberts in Wyandotte County District Court.
Judge Roberts read three charges against Sipple, and the defendant said he understood them. The charges against Sipple include placing another person in fear of bodily harm with a firearm; discharging a firearm at an unoccupied dwelling in the 200 block of Edgerton, in the Juniper Gardens complex; and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
Sipple did not yet have an attorney, and the judge explained one could be appointed for him.
Sipple’s bond was not changed from $100,000. Sipple’s next court date is 8:30 a.m. Aug. 2 on the third floor of the Wyandotte County courthouse.