A Shawnee man on trial for 41 felony charges of sex-related crimes with minors has made a blind plea during the trial on all of the counts.
After hearing all of his victims testify on Wednesday, Sep. 27, Danny Ray Weeks entered a blind plea on Thursday morning.
The jury trial was being held in Pottawatomie County District Court. Associate District Judge Tracy McDaniel presided over the trial.
She has scheduled sentencing for Weeks at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 27.
Assistant District Attorneys Lori Mc-Connell and Alison Sells prosecuted the case.
Weeks was represented by OIDS. Pottawatomie and Lincoln Counties District Attorney Adam Panter commented, “Defendant was facing 41 total felony counts for sexually assaulting multiple young children over a period of years.
“The jury trial began on Sep. 26 and ended on Sep. 28. The defendant entered a blind plea of guilty, where there is no plea agreement with the State, on all 41 charges after all of his victims testified. The trial judge will later determine what sentence to impose at the sentencing hearing. This case was investigated by the Shawnee Police Department and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.”
“Defendant Danny Weeks is an extremely dangerous child sexual abuser who preyed on multiple young girls. Those young survivors of his abuse showed tremendous strength and courage facing their abuser and testifying about the horrific acts he perpetrated on them. Due to their bravery, we are able to ensure that this defendant never hurts another child again.
“The State anticipates asking the Court to sentence this defendant to multiple life sentences at the upcoming sentencing hearing. I am very proud and thankful of the efforts made by the Shawnee Police Department and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office in their investigation to ensure that the defendant faced justice. I am also extremely thankful for the assistance of Project Safe for their support and advocacy on behalf of the young survivors.
“I would also like to recognize the efforts made by the District Attorney’s Office staff, victim witness coordinators, and Assistant DA’s who dedicated an enormous amount of time and energy to secure this outcome.”
Weeks, 52, was charged in Pottawatomie County District Court on Dec. 15, 2022 with 34 felony counts.
At the conclusion of his preliminary hearing before Special Judge David Cawthon on March 3, Weeks was bound over. His arraignment was held on April 19.
He was bound over to stand trial on 34 counts. Panter amended the charges on March 10 to include seven additional counts against Weeks.
Weeks originally was charged in Lincoln County District Court on Aug. 25, 2022 with five felony charges of lewd or indecent acts to a child, then on Sep. 7, 2022 four more felony charges were filed against him.
Lincoln County District Court records show the state filed a motion to dismiss all nine charges in December, the day after the original 34 were filed in Pottawatomie County District Court against him.