Sentencing Nov. 16 for Riendeau

Sentencing is set for 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 16 for Daniel Riendeau who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder-intentional Wednesday morning in Pratt County District Court for the Nov. 22, 2008 murder of Alesia Dorris-Graham of Pratt.
Nov. 16 was the start date set for Riendeau’s trial but the plea means no trial will be held. Second-degree murder differs from first-degree murder in that there is no premeditation.
Pratt County District Court Judge Bob Schmisseur found Riendeau guilty on a plea agreement in an amended complaint of just second degree murder-intentional. The original complaint included murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and attempted possession of opiates, opium, narcotic drugs or designated stimulates.
Charles Robert Denmark-Wagner previously pleaded guilty to first-degree felony murder in the same case and is currently serving a life sentence. He pleaded guilty on Feb. 25 and was sentenced on March 11.
After Riendeau pleaded guilty, Schmisseur said it was not the first time Riendeau had been in a courtroom and that he had committed another felony and spent time in a penitentiary. He told Riendeau he would not get a trial and had 10 days after sentencing to file an appeal but that appeal would be more difficult after a guilty plea than after a trial conviction.
Assistant Attorney General C.W. Klebe reviewed the facts in the case just after the plea was entered and before Schmisseur passed judgment.
Klebe said early on the morning of Nov. 22, 2008 just after midnight Riendeau and Denmark-Wagner drove to Dorris-Graham’s residence in Riendeau’s pickup to purchase narcotics or drugs.
Upon arriving she would not let them in and Denmark-Wagner kicked in the door and went into the house. Riendeau stayed outside for a time then went in the house and unsuccessfully tried to get Denmark-Wagner to leave.
Riendeau went outside then re-entered and got Denmark-Wagner to leave. He obviously witnessed Denmark-Wagner repeatedly stabbing Dorris-Graham in the head, hands and torso, Klebe said.
The pair then went to Riendeau’s residence at 822 Pine where they burned the clothes they were wearing to cover up the crime. Riendeau’s involvement in the crime was aiding and abetting, Klebe said.
A home health care worker discovered the crime at 8:30 a.m. and called 911 saying Dorris-Graham was unconscious and bleeding. It was determined that she was deceased. A cell phone was found underneath her body. The cell phone was traced to Riendeau.
Riendeau agreed that description was substantially correct and Schmisseur then accepted the plea and found him guilty.

Timeline

Daniel Riendeau’s second-degree murder-intentional plea brought almost to a close a case that started almost a year ago.

• Nov. 22, 2008, 8:28 a.m. A home health care worker, Shannon Peterson, goes to 48-year-old Alesia Dorris-Graham’s home at 623 South High in Pratt and discovers the scene. An autopsy is ordered. Cause of death was suspicious and foul play suspected.
• Nov. 24, 2008. Death is officially ruled a homicide. Pratt Police Chief Steve Holmes said the attack was extremely aggressive and brutal. It appeared to be aimed at Dorris-Graham and not random.
• Nov. 25, 2008. No suspects, many questioned, Holmes wouldn’t speculate on motive.
• Dec. 3, 2008. Kansas Bureau of Investigation assigns a third agent to case to work with two Pratt Police officers. Many interviews of persons of interest.
• Dec. 19, 2008. Daniel Riendeau arrested around 4 p.m. at the Law Enforcement Center. Charles Robert Denmark-Wagner arrested around 8 p.m. at 109 West Seventh. Both held without bond. Death due to a sharp instrument (knife).
• Dec. 22, 2008. Riendeau and Denmark-Wagner charged with murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and attempted possession of opiates, opium, narcotic drugs or designated stimulates. Both ask for court appointed attorneys.
• Feb. 25, 2009. Preliminary hearing. Denmark-Wagner waives the hearing and pleads guilty to one count of first-degree murder. The rest of the charges are dropped. Riendeau is bound over for trial.
• March 11, 2009. Denmark-Wagner sentenced to life after a motion to change is plea is denied.
• March 25, 2009. Riendeau pleads not guilty on all counts.
• Aug. 12, 2009. Riendeau changes lawyers. Trial continued until Nov. 16.
• Nov. 4, 2009. Riendeau pleads guilty to second degree murder-intentional in a plea agreement. All other charges dropped. No trial will be held.
• Nov. 16, 2009. Riendeau scheduled for sentencing. Could receive a maximum of over 54 years.