A Cushing man previously convicted of several felonies now facing a robbery charge has pleaded innocent and his case has been set for the felony call docket this month.
Donnie Ray Ventris, 59, was formally charged in Lincoln County District on Dec. 31, 2024 with robbery with a dangerous weapon.
He made his initial appearance before Associate District Judge Sheila Kirk on Jan. 3, 2025 and she has set his bond at $3,500.
Special Judge Emily Mueller set his preliminary hearing for March 6, 2025. On that date he waived his preliminary hearing.
At his arraignment before District Judge Sarah Bridge, he pleaded innocent. She set the cause for the felony call docket at 9 a.m. Sep. 23, 2025.
Ventris is accused on Dec. 24, 2024 of robbing William Osterhout by taking and carrying away a cell phone that belonged to and was in possession of Osterhout without his consent and against his will by using a knife and threatening to kill Osterhout with harm if he resisted, putting the victim in fear of immediate and unlawful injury to him in order to overcome his resistance and rob him of his cell phone.
Supplemental information filed by Assistant District Attorney Rachel Thompson shows Ventris has been convicted of at least five previous felonies.
They include: On Sep. 30, 2004, he was convicted in Montgomery County District Court in the state of Kansas of Aggravated Robbery.
On Feb. 6, 1987, Ventris was convicted in Payne County District Court of attempted escape from county jail.
He was convicted on Feb. 26, 1987 in Lincoln County District Court of vehicle theft and on the same day of robbery with a dangerous weapon.
On Oct. 25, 1989 in Greer County District Court Ventris was convicted of the offense of conspiracy to commit a felony–escape.