State v. Chilcote

Meyer, J.:

This case involves an elaborate hoax perpetrated by means of a faked robbery of the Hudson Oil Company Station No. 7 at Wichita, Kansas. Criminal charges were brought against Oliver E. Chilcote (appellant) and others; trial was to the court sitting without a jury. Appellant appeals from his conviction and sentence for felony theft.

Appellant’s first claim of error is that the trial judge assumed a prosecutorial role in the proceedings and thereby denied appellant a fair trial.

In State v. Stoops, 4 Kan. App. 2d 130, 132, 603 P.2d 221 (1979), this court stated:

“Standards of conduct for…