By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
Law enforcement across the country will be on the lookout for a man from Mexico who skipped out on a sentencing hearing in a sex crimes case this week in Ellis County.
Fabiel Perez Zavala, 30, was scheduled for sentencing Thursday afternoon in Ellis County District Court but failed to show up.
He also failed to show up to a Zoom hearing on Wednesday.
Zavala pleaded no contest via Zoom on March 6 to two counts of aggravated sexual battery.
As a result of the plea agreement, the Ellis County Attorney’s office agreed to drop one count rape, two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy and one count of unlawfully hosting minors consuming alcohol charges against Zavala.
According to court documents, Zavala was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two women who were incapable of giving consent on May 7, 2022, in Ellis County.
Under Kansas sentencing guidelines, with Zavala’s criminal history, he is facing between 67 and 72 months in prison.
Zavala also failed to attend a psychosexual exam in Wichita in June, and as a result, a prior sentencing hearing was postponed.
Zavala’s defense attorney had scheduled the exam to use in support of a motion to have his sentence reduced to probation instead of prison time.
His attorney said Zavala had been good about staying in touch with her until recent months.
As the result of his absence District Judge Tom Drees ordered a bench warrant for Zavala’s arrest. It is a nation-wide warrant extraditable back to Ellis County.