What a difference a handful of days can make.
The domestic battery case against Burden police chief Travis Lowe was back in a Winfield courtroom Wednesday, although Lowe himself was not there. Defense attorney Chris Rogers appeared on behalf of his client and a not guilty plea was entered for the defendant.
Rogers also notified the court his client – who was arrested on Nov. 21 after an argument with his wife that is said to have turned physical – would seek a jury trial, if no plea agreement could be reached.
Last Friday, hearing Rogers and Cowley County Attorney Chris Smith going back and forth in a lukewarm exchange in front of Judge Nick St. Peter, such an agreement seemed highly unlikely.
But Rogers and Smith met in the interim and both indicated there maybe some way to resolve the case without going to trial.
“I’m hoping we may be able to work something out,” Rogers said.
Outside the courtroom, Rogers again acknowledged a plea agreement might be possible. It’s clear, though, the defense would be seeking an arrangement in which Lowe could remain a cop.
That means Lowe couldn’t plea – or even enter diversion – to a domestic battery charge. The charge against the chief is domestic battery with simple battery in the alternative.
St. Peter asked both side to discuss possibilities and return for a pretrial conference at 2:15 p.m. Feb. 28.
