Federal prosecutors are likely to take over case of man charged in death of girl in Leavenworth

The Leavenworth County attorney said Thursday that the case against a 30-year-old Atchison, Kan., man charged in the death this summer of a 5-year-old girl probably will be transferred to federal court.

County Attorney Todd Thompson said the state charges against Marcas McGowan will be dismissed once federal prosecutors file charges. He did not give a timetable.

McGowan was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday on charges stemming from a July incident in which Cadence Harris of Atchison died.

He instead waived the hearing. Defense attorney Deb Snider entered not guilty pleas on his behalf.

Cadence died after McGowan, her mother’s boyfriend, allegedly took her from her home in Atchison and led officers on a chase that ended with him being shot and wounded by police in Leavenworth after he allegedly pointed a gun at them.

Authorities have not said how Cadence was killed, but McGowan is charged with first-degree felony murder because her death occurred during the commission of another dangerous felony.

Besides the murder charge, McGowan is charged in Leavenworth County with two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated child endangerment, and fleeing and eluding.

Bond for McGowan has been set at $1 million. He remains in the Leavenworth County Jail.

This story was originally published November 20, 2014 at 1:28 PM.