Local man arrested following investigation

A local man was taken into custody Wednesday by the Fort Scott Police Department.

An arrest report from the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office said 83-year-old Danny Ellis was arrested at 2:19 p.m. Wednesday by the FSPD on a warrant charging him with forced aggravated sexual battery, a felony charge.

Ellis was released from custody at the Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on a $100,000 surety bond.

FSPD Capt. Shaun West said Thursday the department received a report of a suspected incident at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 at a business located at 10 S. State St.

Following an investigation by the FSPD, the department received an arrest warrant dated Oct. 21 for Ellis, who was taken into custody about 1:26 p.m. Wednesday.

During a phone call to Ellis' home Friday, a family member said Ellis chose not to comment at this time.

According to Kansas Statute 21-5505, the offense of aggravated sexual battery is defined as "the touching of a victim who is 16 or more years of age and who does not consent thereto with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of the offender or another and under any of the following circumstances: when the victim is overcome by force or fear; when the victim is unconscious or physically powerless; or when the victim is incapable of giving consent because of the effect of any alcoholic liquor, narcotic, drug or other substance, which condition was known by, or was reasonably apparent to, the offender."

The crime of aggravated sexual battery is a severity level five person felony.

West said he could not comment on specifics of the investigation or the alleged crime as the case is still under investigation.

As of Friday, a criminal complaint had not been filed with the Bourbon County District Court Clerk's office.

Ellis is a well-known local philanthropist who has donated 15 acres and $100,000 to develop a city park, contributed funds to build the Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus and offered student scholarships through The Ellis Foundation, created in 1998.