1. Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered
Practice Focus: Criminal defense including high-profile cases, white collar criminal defense, appellate defense, and complex litigation.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, federal crimes, white collar crimes, fraud, embezzlement, drug offenses, violent crimes, murder, manslaughter, sexual offenses, and appellate matters.
Legal Services: Federal court defense, state court defense, grand jury representation, trial defense, appellate representation, habeas corpus petitions, and post-conviction relief.
Background: Dan Monnat received the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wichita Bar Association. He has been recognized on the Top 10 List of Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers for five consecutive years and among the Top 100 of Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers for 17 years. The Champion Magazine (National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers) has published his work on trial advocacy. The ABA Journal has featured his career. Eli O’Brien is a 2019 graduate of the National Criminal Defense College Trial Practice Institute at Roger Williams School of Law and was named to Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Rising Stars from 2021-2024. He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2021. He received his B.S. in History from Emporia State University (2009) and his J.D. from Washburn University School of Law.
Location: 200 West Douglas, Suite 830, Olive W. Garvey Building, Wichita, KS 67202
Contact: (316) 264-2800 (available 24/7) | https://monnat.com
Consultation: Contact office for consultation availability.
2. Hulnick, Stang, Gering & Leavitt, P.A.
Practice Focus: Criminal defense with over 80 combined years of experience handling DUI, drug crimes, violent crimes, traffic infractions, and other criminal matters.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, DUI, drug sales and distribution, drug manufacturing, drug possession, murder, manslaughter, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, kidnapping, theft, and traffic violations.
Legal Services: Trial defense, preliminary hearings, motion practice, plea negotiations, sentencing advocacy, DMV hearings, and post-conviction representation.
Background: The firm has over 80 combined years of experience and holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating. C. Ryan Gering has a 10.0 Superb Avvo Rating and has been named to Rising Stars for three consecutive years. He also received the Avvo Clients’ Choice Award for 2016. John Leavitt has over a decade in practice and a 10.0 Superb Avvo Rating. He has been named to Rising Stars for two years. The firm is known for thorough case review and identifying details that prosecutors or law enforcement may have missed.
Location: Wichita, KS
Contact: https://www.hulnicklaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available.
3. McConnell Law Firm, P.A.
Practice Focus: Criminal defense with a focus on creative defense methods and comprehensive legal representation.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, DUI, drug offenses, violent crimes, domestic violence, assault, theft, weapons charges, sex crimes, and federal crimes.
Legal Services: Trial defense, preliminary hearings, arraignment representation, motion practice, plea negotiations, and sentencing advocacy.
Background: Jonathan W. McConnell founded the firm in 2014 and rebranded it to McConnell Law Firm in 2017. The firm has built a reputation for creative defense methods and thorough client representation. The attorneys work to represent each client as if they were family members. The firm has earned high ratings from legal directories.
Location: Wichita, KS
Contact: https://jonathanwmcconnell.com
Consultation: Contact office for consultation availability.
4. Joseph, Hollander & Craft LLC
Practice Focus: Criminal defense and civil litigation in federal and state courts across Kansas.
Case Types Handled: Federal crimes, high-level state felonies, white collar crimes, fraud, drug offenses, violent crimes, and complex criminal matters.
Legal Services: Federal court representation, state court defense, grand jury representation, pre-indictment investigation defense, trial defense, and civil litigation.
Background: Christopher (Chris) Joseph is the Managing Member and chairs the firm’s criminal defense practice group. He defends individuals facing federal criminal charges and high-level state felony charges and counsels individuals and businesses subject to government investigations. Julia Craft has been recommended for handling complex criminal matters. The firm handles criminal defense throughout Kansas in both federal and state jurisdictions.
Location: Wichita, KS
Contact: https://www.josephhollander.com
Consultation: Contact office for consultation availability.
5. Law Office of Jess Hoeme
Practice Focus: Criminal defense in municipal, state, and federal courts across Kansas, with practice representing law enforcement officers and agencies in professional affairs matters.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, federal crimes, violent crimes, white collar crimes, drug offenses, DUI, domestic violence, theft, and weapons charges.
Legal Services: Trial defense, federal court representation, state court representation, municipal court defense, representation of law enforcement in professional matters, and post-conviction representation.
Background: Jess Hoeme is a Wichita-based criminal defense attorney who defends clients in municipal, state, and federal courts across Kansas. He represents individuals in criminal cases involving everything from violent crimes to white collar crimes. He is an experienced trial attorney and has taught trial advocacy skills at the National Advocacy Center. He also maintains a notable practice representing Kansas law enforcement officers and agencies in matters of professional affairs.
Location: Wichita, KS
Contact: https://www.hoemelaw.com
Consultation: Contact office for consultation availability.
Criminal Defense Regulations in Kansas
Kansas attorneys must be admitted to the Kansas Bar to practice law. Kansas has adopted the Uniform Bar Examination and requires a minimum score of 266 to pass. The bar exam is administered in February and July. Applicants must also pass a character and fitness evaluation.
Kansas requires all active attorneys to complete 12 hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) each year. Of these hours, at least 2 must be in legal ethics. Kansas is expected to adopt the NextGen bar examination in 2028.
Kansas public defender services are provided through the State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services, which operates statewide. Eligibility is based on financial need and is determined at arraignment.
Attorney advertising in Kansas is governed by the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct. Communications about services must not be false or misleading.
Kansas maintains attorney-client privilege under Kansas law, protecting confidential communications between attorney and client from disclosure.
Kansas classifies felonies using a sentencing grid system with severity levels ranging from 1 (most serious) to 10 (least serious), with separate categories for drug offenses and nondrug offenses. The Kansas Sentencing Guidelines establish presumptive sentences based on the offense severity level and the defendant’s criminal history score. Presumptive sentences may call for probation, imprisonment, or border boxes where the court has discretion. Misdemeanors are classified as Class A (punishable by up to 1 year in jail), Class B (up to 6 months), Class C (up to 1 month), and unclassified misdemeanors with penalties specified by statute.
Kansas has the death penalty for capital murder, though executions are rare. Capital defense requires specialized attorneys who meet certification requirements.
Kansas allows expungement of criminal records under K.S.A. 21-6614. Waiting periods apply: 3 years for misdemeanors and certain lower-level felonies, 5 years for most felonies, and 5-10 years for DUI offenses depending on the number of convictions. Murder, manslaughter, rape, and most sexual offenses cannot be expunged. A petition must be filed in the court where the conviction occurred. The court will hold a hearing and consider whether the circumstances and behavior warrant expungement, whether expungement is consistent with public welfare, and for felonies, whether firearm possession by the petitioner would pose a threat to public safety.
Kansas has mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses, particularly drug crimes and offenses involving firearms. The Kansas habitual offender statute provides enhanced sentences for repeat offenders with multiple prior felony convictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens after an arrest in Wichita and where are criminal cases heard?
Following an arrest in Wichita, you will typically be booked at the Sedgwick County Jail located at 141 W. Elm Street. For misdemeanor cases, you may appear in Wichita Municipal Court at 455 N. Main Street if charged under city ordinances. For state misdemeanor and felony cases, you will appear in Sedgwick County District Court at 525 N. Main Street. At your first appearance, the court will inform you of the charges, advise you of your rights, and address bail. For felony charges, a preliminary hearing must be held within 10 days if you are in custody or 20 days if released, unless waived.
How does bail work in Sedgwick County?
Kansas law establishes a presumption of release on personal recognizance for most offenses. Bail is set based on the nature and circumstances of the offense, weight of the evidence, defendant’s ties to the community, employment and financial resources, character and mental condition, prior criminal record, and history of appearing for court dates. Sedgwick County uses a risk assessment tool to help determine release conditions. For serious felonies, bail may be set higher or denied in certain circumstances involving danger to the community. You may post bail through a bail bond company (typically 10% of the bail amount), cash bond, or property bond.
What are the penalties for a first-time DUI in Kansas?
A first-time DUI in Kansas is a Class B misdemeanor. Penalties include 48 hours to 6 months in jail (or 100 hours of community service in lieu of 48 hours), a fine of $750 to $1,000 plus court costs, 30-day driver’s license suspension followed by 330 days of restricted driving with an ignition interlock device, completion of an alcohol and drug safety action program, and court-ordered alcohol evaluation and treatment if recommended. A diversion may be available for first-time offenders, which can result in dismissal of charges upon successful completion. Refusal to submit to testing results in a 1-year license suspension.
Does Kansas offer diversion programs for criminal charges?
Kansas offers diversion programs for certain offenses. District attorney diversion programs are available for first-time, non-violent offenders at the prosecutor’s discretion. Successful completion results in dismissal of charges. Drug Court provides intensive supervision and treatment for qualifying drug offenders as an alternative to incarceration. Mental Health Court serves defendants with diagnosed mental health conditions. Veterans Treatment Court provides specialized services for veterans with service-related conditions. Specialty courts operate in Sedgwick County for qualifying defendants. Eligibility depends on the offense, criminal history, and other factors determined by the prosecutor and court.
How can I get my criminal record expunged in Kansas?
Kansas allows expungement of certain criminal records under K.S.A. 21-6614. To petition for expungement, you must wait the required period after completion of your sentence: 3 years for misdemeanors and certain drug felonies of severity level 4-5, 5 years for most felonies, 5 years for a first DUI, 7-10 years for second or subsequent DUI. You file a petition in the court where the conviction occurred. At the hearing, the court will consider whether the circumstances and behavior warrant expungement, whether expungement is consistent with public welfare, and for felonies, whether firearm possession would pose a threat to public safety. Murder, manslaughter, rape, and most sexual offenses cannot be expunged. Arrests that did not result in conviction may be expunged if charges were dismissed, you were acquitted, or prosecution was not pursued. There is a filing fee, though fee waivers may be available. Once expunged, you may legally state that you have not been arrested or convicted, though the record may still be accessed by law enforcement and certain agencies.