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The father of a man who was shot by a Leavenworth officer during a police search last year has been sentenced to probation for drug related charges.
John J. Baskas Jr., 55, Leavenworth, was sentenced Friday in Leavenworth County District Court for distribution of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He received a suspended prison sentence and was placed on probation for 18 months.
He pleaded no contest to the charges in November. The charges were filed following a June 21 search of his Leavenworth residence. During the search, Baskas’ son was shot after the man allegedly pointed a gun at police. The son survived the shooting.
Debra Snider, attorney for John J. Baskas Jr., said her client was not home at the time of the shooting.
Snider asked that Baskas be placed on probation. He’d already started a treatment program to help him with what his attorney said was a “very long-standing addiction.”
The attorney said Baskas had accepted responsibility for his actions.
District Judge Gunnar Sundby said under state sentencing guidelines the case fell into what is considered a “border box.” He said this allowed Baskas to be placed on probation if a treatment program existed that would be more effective than a prison sentence in reducing recidivism. The judge said the program also had to be available so the defendant could start in a reasonable period of time.
Sundby said Baskas met this criteria that had been set out by the Legislature.
Baskas’ wife was sentenced last month to probation for drug related charges.
Court records indicate Baskas' son, whose name also is John, has been charged for alleged drug crimes and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
His next scheduled court appearance is set for Feb. 22.
The father of a man who was shot by a Leavenworth officer during a police search last year has been sentenced to probation for drug related charges.
John J. Baskas Jr., 55, Leavenworth, was sentenced Friday in Leavenworth County District Court for distribution of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He received a suspended prison sentence and was placed on probation for 18 months.
He pleaded no contest to the charges in November. The charges were filed following a June 21 search of his Leavenworth residence. During the search, Baskas’ son was shot after the man allegedly pointed a gun at police. The son survived the shooting.
Debra Snider, attorney for John J. Baskas Jr., said her client was not home at the time of the shooting.
Snider asked that Baskas be placed on probation. He’d already started a treatment program to help him with what his attorney said was a “very long-standing addiction.”
The attorney said Baskas had accepted responsibility for his actions.
District Judge Gunnar Sundby said under state sentencing guidelines the case fell into what is considered a “border box.” He said this allowed Baskas to be placed on probation if a treatment program existed that would be more effective than a prison sentence in reducing recidivism. The judge said the program also had to be available so the defendant could start in a reasonable period of time.
Sundby said Baskas met this criteria that had been set out by the Legislature.
Baskas’ wife was sentenced last month to probation for drug related charges.
Court records indicate Baskas' son, whose name also is John, has been charged for alleged drug crimes and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
His next scheduled court appearance is set for Feb. 22.
