Hawkinson Preliminary Hearing Set for October in Soden Shooting Case
Case reassigned from magistrate to District Judge John B. Klenda; next court date June 26 via Zoom
MCPHERSON, Kan. — A two-day evidentiary preliminary hearing for Daniel T. Hawkinson, charged with voluntary manslaughter in the Jan. 31 shooting death of Joshua Soden, has been set for Oct. 13-14 in McPherson County District Court. Hawkinson, 18, of McPherson, remains free on a $200,000 bond.
Court records show a preliminary hearing had been scheduled Wednesday morning before Magistrate Judge Amanda Faber but was canceled for reassignment to District Judge John B. Klenda. Klenda held a hearing the same day and set a status hearing for June 26 at 11:15 a.m. by Zoom. The two-day evidentiary preliminary hearing before Klenda is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Oct. 13.
A preliminary hearing is not a trial. In Kansas, when a person is charged with a felony, the state must convince a judge there is enough evidence — called probable cause — to believe the accused person likely committed the crime. If the judge agrees, the case is sent, or "bound over," to district court for trial. If not, the felony charge is dismissed.
The defendant does not enter a plea at the preliminary hearing. Under Kansas law, that comes at a separate event called an arraignment, where the charges are formally read and the defendant answers guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Because Klenda is a district court judge, he has the option to hold the arraignment right after the preliminary hearing — meaning Hawkinson's plea could be entered as soon as Oct. 14 if Klenda finds probable cause.
Hawkinson was arrested March 23 by Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents on a warrant for voluntary manslaughter. Soden, 19, of McPherson, died of a gunshot wound after a fight on a rural road near Inman following a house party. The KBI has said Hawkinson called 911 to report the shooting and drove to the Inman Police Department, where he was questioned but not arrested at that time. He is presumed innocent unless or until found guilty.
Brought to you by
Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:
