Ellis County Attorney
An Ellis County district court jury found a man guilty this week of 10 sex crimes against two young girls.
The case stems back to incidents that happened in 2007.
The defendant is facing multiple life sentences under "Jessica's Law" for the crimes.
A jury trial was held in the Ellis County District Court in State of Kansas vs. Daniel Betancourt, Monday through Wednesday
The defendant, Daniel Betancourt, was represented by Cheryl A. Stewart of Oakley and Christopher A. Rohr of Colby. The state was represented by Ellis County Attorney Robert A. Anderson Jr. The judge presiding over the case was Judge Glenn R. Braun.
The defendant was charged with 10 counts, all being “off-grid Jessica’s Law” child sexual abuse crimes. Charges one through six, involved a 7-year-old victim. Counts seven through 10 involved her 8-year-old sister.
Those charges are as follows:
Count one: rape, count two: rape, count three: aggravated criminal sodomy, count four: aggravated criminal sodomy, count five: aggravated criminal sodomy, count six: aggravated indecent liberties with a child, count seven: rape, count eight: aggravated criminal sodomy, count nine: aggravated criminal sodomy, count 10: aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
Each of the 10 charges alleged that these crimes occurred between Feb. 1, 2007, and March 29, 2007, in Ellis County and the defendant was 18 or older at the time of these crimes and the victims were younger than 14 at the time the crimes were committed.
The original complaint in this matter was filed by the previous County Attorney Thomas J. Drees. A warrant was issued on April 10, 2007. The defendant was not arrested on that warrant until Aug. 22, 2021.
The jury deliberated for about one hour and fifteen minutes before finding the defendant guilty of all 10 charges.
Sentencing in this matter has not yet been scheduled.
While the judge does have some discretion at the time of sentencing, state law requires the defendant to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years for each count.