Supreme Court Ruling
The Kansas Supreme Court ruled that Maughan violated professional standards while representing Bret Blevins in a 2016 crash that resulted in the deaths of two men. The court found that Maughan’s handling of conflicts of interest in the case was improper.
Lack of Response from Maughan
Maughan did not immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press or phone calls from the Kansas City Star. Despite the ruling, Maughan has previously defended his actions in the Blevins case, although Blevins is currently suing him over the matter.
Conflicts of Interest
The conflicts arose because Maughan had previously represented Blevins’ girlfriend, Tammy Akers, in DUI cases. Additionally, Maughan accepted $30,000 from Akers and her husband to defend Blevins. Akers, a key witness in the trial, was implicated by Maughan as the driver responsible for the crash, despite being one of the vehicle’s occupants alongside Blevins.
Court’s Findings and Sentencing
The Supreme Court found that the conflict-of-interest waivers signed by Blevins and Akers did not adequately address the situation or fully inform them of the consequences. Blevins was initially sentenced to over 60 years in prison in 2017 after being convicted of two counts of second-degree murder. However, the Kansas Court of Appeals later ruled that he deserved a new trial due to Maughan’s conflicts of interest. Blevins subsequently pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and received a 13-year sentence.
Political and Legal Fallout
Maughan announced last month that he would not seek re-election for his House seat, but his name remains on the primary ballot alongside three other Republicans because he missed the withdrawal deadline. Maughan is also facing two misdemeanors and two traffic violations following a traffic stop in Topeka in March. He has been charged with possession of a firearm while under the influence, DUI, failure to signal a lane change, and failure to maintain safe passage from a single lane.
