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KS Court denies appeal in Brown Co criminal case

By Greg Bebermeyer

11/19/2024

(KNZA)--The Kansas Court of Appeals has denied the appeal of a Hiawatha man convicted on multiple felony counts over two decades ago.

Brown County Attorney Kevin Hill said in release that the court denied the criminal appeal of Joseph Esher in an an appellate decision on Friday, November 15.

" In a unanimous decision, the Court of Appeals upheld the decision of the District Court of Brown County summarily denying Esher's habeas corpus motion requesting relief from his 2001 convictions for multiple felony counts."

In 2001, Esher was convicted following a four-day jury trial in Brown County of two counts of rape, and one count each of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated criminal sodomy, and kidnapping.

The charges followed an incident in which Esher barricaded himself in a Hiawatha residence and held two 14-year-old girls hostage until they were rescued by officers with the Hiawatha Police Department and Brown County Sheriff- Office.

Esher was sentenced to a total of 74 years and 10 months in prison on the charges.

Hill prosecuted the 2001 trial and handled the recent habeas corpus motion and appeal on behalf of the State.

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