Topeka defendant to face hearing in attempted murder case

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - 26-year-old Topeka man charged with attempted murder and other charges will face a pre-trial hearing in February in Shawnee County District Court.

The February 4 hearing of Michael Anthony Lewis will be before District Court Judge Steven Ebberts.

Ebberts scheduled the hearing on Thursday.

Lewis faces a charge of attempted second-degree murder of Linda L. Fox, a criminal complaint says.

The charge says Lewis did “feloniously commit an overt act toward the perpetration of the crime of murder in the second degree.”

But Lewis failed in the perpetration or was prevented or intercepted in executing the crime, the complaint said.

Lewis also is charged with:

-- Aggravated burglary of a dwelling in the 10000 block of S.E. Paulen.

-- Aggravated assault.

-- Criminal discharge of a firearm at an unoccupied dwelling.

-- Criminal possession of a weapon within five years of being convicted of a felony.

-- Criminal damage to property.

-- And theft.

The charges are felonies except for the misdemeanor theft, court records said.

The attempted second-degree murder charge was filed following a preliminary hearing on August 7.

Shawnee County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 10000 block of S.E. Paulen when a homeowner heard noises in the house, then found two men inside, Sheriff Brian Hill said at the time.

The two men were fleeing the house with a stolen rifle and a cell phone when one of the men fired a shot at the homeowner and missed, Hill said at the time.

A second defendant, Nathaniel Armstrong, is charged with aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, criminal discharge of a firearm, felony criminal damage to property, and misdemeanor theft, Shawnee County District Court records said.

Armstrong is next scheduled to appear in court on December 10, court records said.