While Kansas City officials pledge a crackdown on out-of-control property crime, one area man has racked up 59 criminal convictions and some 86 behind-bars disciplinary actions mostly on the Kansas side of the state line.

While most of his crimes have been in Johnson County, court records obtained by The Heartlander show the 42-year-old man, Ryan Hunter Adams, was ordered just last week by Wyandotte County Judge Courtney Mikesic to serve a previously suspended 16-month prison term for theft of a cash register, related to an October 2023 break-in at the Subway restaurant at 315 Southwest Blvd. in Kansas City, Kansas.

Though initially handed probation for his 59th conviction, his suspended 16-month prison sentence was re-imposed after he violated his probation more than once. Court records say he failed to complete substance and mental health assessments, submit to drug screening, and to get a job.

The Subway store in question more recently was the scene of a Jan. 13 fire authorities suspect was arson. A KCK firefighter’s leg was seriously injured when a passing car inadvertently drove over the hose and the pressure launched its metal coupling toward him – causing an “open tibia and fibula fracture,” according to reports.

Adams’ convictions include:

• 9 violations of a protection order
• 7 theft-related crimes
• 6 drug-related crimes
• 5 harassment by telephone
• 4 battery on a law enforcement officer
• 4 intimidation of a witness
• 3 battery
• 2 domestic battery
• 1 attempted robbery
• 1 stalking
• 1 indecent solicitation of a child

His other convictions include disorderly conduct, assault, leaving the scene of an accident, fleeing and eluding police (separate cases), obstruction of legal process, drinking in public and DUI.

In addition, records from the Kansas Department of Corrections indicate 86 disciplinary complaints while he was in state custody, spanning from 2004-16 – including for fighting, battery, threats, thefts, use of stimulants, being drunk in prison, possession of “dangerous contraband” and arson.

More where that came from

Adams is not the only multi-repeat offender on the streets. For instance, another area man, 47-year-old Wayne Minick, similarly received probation after his 48th criminal conviction. Even so, he was rearrested earlier this month on a weapons charge.

Minick’s criminal history stretching back to at least 1993 includes multiple convictions for drugs, theft, aggravated battery, possession of stolen property and automobile burglary – the latter of which he was placed on probation for by Wyandotte County Judge Jennifer Myers in a 2022 case.

In cases involving both Adams and Minick, court records show Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree’s office has even agreed to, or recommended, going more lenient on them than the law prescribed in order to put them on probation.

Why would such criminal records, both outside prison and inside, warrant dozens of second chances? The Heartlander asked a local criminal justice system professional who requested anonymity.

Those track records certainly don’t warrant such abject leniency, the professional says – noting that these cases are the tip of a much bigger, more jagged iceberg of being soft on even repeat crime in the criminal justice system.

A deeper dive into court files, the professional says, would yield more outrageous cases than these two.

“And the reason they would be more outrageous is because the crimes committed – the current crimes committed – would be more serious than property crimes.”

As revolving-door cases such as these are going largely unpunished in the courts, Kansas City, Missouri officials are pledging crackdowns on property crime – spurred on by the shooting death of popular Irish chef Shaun Brady, who was shot to death while interrupting an alleged theft of his car outside his Brookside restaurant.

Two teens were subsequently arrested in the killing, though charges against one have been dropped. The murder drew international attention, as well as local anger and calls to do more about rampant property crime.

Are more police the answer?

Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas last week announced a proposal to funnel $1 million into hiring off-duty law enforcement officers to increase security in the city’s main entertainment districts, including 18th & Vine, Central Business Districts (Downtown, Crossroads, and River Market), Country Club Plaza, Westport and Zona Rosa.

The funding would be above the existing KCPD budget.

“The City is proud to fully fund KCPD’s salary and personnel requests and will work closely with them as the department works to boost staffing over the years ahead,” Lucas said in a written statement. “But we cannot wait and are committed to ending the current challenges our small business community faces, as burglaries continue, violent and tragic incidents occur, and impacted neighborhoods ask for help.”

The criminal justice professional contacted by The Heartlander had this to say about the KCMO mayor’s proposed surge in police presence:

“As it relates to the proposed additional one million dollars of taxpayer money to temporarily surge officer presence, you’d be better off using that money to wipe your a– with. Don’t anybody be misled into thinking that there will be any measurable effect. That’s not where your problem is, guys. The problem is with courts and prosecutors. 

“My suggestion to KCMO:  Direct your court personnel (State Court AND Municipal Court) to examine all cases already in the pipeline for missed opportunities in past cases. Invite law enforcement to contribute to this process. Hold the criminals’ feet to the fire under existing law AND do so with the resources already allocated to you under the existing budget.

“Watch this problem fix itself without spending any additional money. The judges, prosecutors, probation officers, officers, detectives and police command staff already know who the problematic individuals (and groups) are. Throwing good money after bad is poor stewardship of the tax dollars you’re been entrusted with.”

What of the argument that there just isn’t enough prison space for chronic criminals?

“Well, let someone make that case,” the professional says. “Let someone be the one who identifies that as the problem. And then focus your time, money and effort on fixing that problem.

“Because pretending that extra patrol for five minutes is gonna do anything meaningful toward fixing this problem, you’re just lying to yourself.”

Oddly enough, however, the Kansas City Council last week actually passed an ordinance making convicted criminals a protected class – banning discrimination against those with criminal records for purposes of housing, employment and public accommodations.