New attorney appointed in Osborne murder case
Published on -9/8/2010, 10:50 AM
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By MIKE CORN
OSBORNE -- Concordia lawyer Nels Noel will take over as defense attorney in the murder case pending against Delbert McBroom.
Noel was appointed to the case by Magistrate Judge Jacqueline E. Thornton on Friday, a week after two attorneys from the public defender's office in Salina withdrew from the case, citing a conflict of interest.
After naming Noel, a native of Colby, to the case, Thornton set McBroom's preliminary hearing for Oct. 18 and 19. It is the fourth time the hearing has been set.
McBroom is charged with first-degree murder in Osborne County in connection with the March 25, 2008, murder of Jeffery Scott Noel in Portis.
McBroom, 40, is an inmate at Hutchinson Correctional Facility, serving time on a conviction out of Gove County.
McBroom was sentenced to prison Nov. 3, 2009, on a felony charge of burglary and a misdemeanor charge of theft.
In 1991, he was sentenced to prison on felony charges of aggravated arson and attempted first degree murder. He was released from prison on those charges in February 2002.
McBroom is the second person charged in connection with the March 25, 2008, murder of Jeffery Scott Noel. Last year, Kenneth E. Wilson was sentenced to 50 years in prison in connection with Noel's death.
Charges against McBroom were filed Jan. 28, by the Kansas Attorney General's office.
In addition to the first-degree murder charge, McBroom is charged with felony murder, the act of killing someone during the commission of a felony, and aggravated burglary.
He also is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated burglary of Noel's residence, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, the burglary of a residence near Downs and conspiracy to commit burglary.
McBroom is eligible for parole on the Gove County convictions March 15, but a $1 million bond has been set for him.
