A judge has ordered a Wichita man to stand trial over text threats to kidnap and kill Mayor Brandon Whipple over a mask mandate.
A preliminary hearing was held Wednesday in Sedgwick County District Court for 59-year-old Meredith Dowty, who is charged with three counts of criminal threat. He is accused of making threats to the mayor in text messages that were sent to a former city council member. Defense attorneys argued that the statements were not a threat but a political expression and they are protected under free speech.
Dowty’s trial has been scheduled for July 21st.
