Olathe teen originally charged with felony murder gets probation on drug charges
An Olathe teenager was sentenced Thursday to nine months of probation for her part in an attempted Xanax sale that led to the killing of another teen last year.
Jordan Denny pleaded guilty earlier this month in Johnson County District Court to attempted possession of Xanax with intent to distribute, conspiracy to commit possession of Xanax with intent to distribute, interference and use of a telecommunication device during a drug felony.
Denny and co-defendant Rolland Kobello were each originally charged with felony murder following the March 2019 shooting death of 17-year-old Rowan Padgett during the failed drug deal.
Court records alleged she used an Ipad to arrange the drug sale outside her home but tried to call off the arrangement when she realized she couldn’t get the drugs.
Denny was not accused of shooting Padgett, but was charged under the felony murder doctrine that allows someone to be charged with murder if a death occurs while they are committing another inherently dangerous felony. It exists in 42 states, including Missouri and Kansas.
She pleaded guilty to lesser charges.
Danger of guns
In her statement addressing the court, Denny tearfully apologized to Padgett’s family for her actions and for taking videos and posting them on social media following the shooting.
According to court records, Denny initially lied to police about the circumstances surrounding Padgett’s death.
“I feel very lucky to have people listen to me after I lied to police,” Denny said.
At the sentencing hearing, Thursday, Padgett’s mother, Semie Rogers, said that, while Denny did not kill her son, her actions did lead to his death. She said Denny had been given an opportunity in her sentence to make better choices.
After the hearing, Rogers spoke about an increase in gun deaths in Kansas.
More responsibility from gun owners she said, could have prevented her son’s death.
“People who own guns need to be responsible enough to not keep them in their glove box and not keep them in places where they could be easily taken,” she said. “Someone’s gun was used to kill a child.”
In September the third and final defendant related to Padgett’s killing is scheduled to go to trial. Matthew Lee Bibee Jr., 19, is accused of shooting Padgett and is charged with capital murder and other offenses.
“It’s a three-year, at least, consistent pain. It’s just everyday,” said Padgett’s stepfather Thomas Pond.
The sentence of probation included a stipulation that Denny not use social media.
This story was originally published February 20, 2020 at 12:48 PM.
