L&T staff report
Former Liberal City Manager Rusty Varnado was in custody at the Seward County jail Wednesday after being arrested and charged with three criminal counts.
Varnado served as the city manager for Liberal from April 12, 2022 until Sept. 27, 2024.
After an initial vote to terminate Varnado unanimously passed the commission, a negotiated settlement was later reached in October on a 3-2 vote.
According to the complaint, Varnado is accused of one count of rape, one count of sexual battery, and one count of lewd and lascivious behavior.
In the complaint, Varnado is accused of raping a woman on or between March 13 and March 14, 2024. The penalty ranges from 147 months to 653 months in prison and/or a fine up to $300,000 and 36 months of post-release supervision.
Varnado is also accused of unlawfully touching a separate woman on or about Aug. 2. That charge of sexual battery carries a punishment of up to one year in the county jail and a fine up to $2,500.
Also on Aug. 2, Varnado is accused of unlawfully and publicly exposing a sex organ in that woman’s presence. The penalty for such an act includes up to six months in the county jail and a fine up to $1,000.
Varnado made his first appearance Wednesday and entered a plea of not guilty to all three charges. Varnado is being defended by Derek Miller.
District Magistrate Judge Ethan Harder approved a reduction in bond from $250,000 to $100,000 with the stipulation that the defendant “shall have no contact with the victim in this matter,” and “The Defendant cannot reside or be in Seward County, KS, unless he is meeting with his attorney or attending court.”
A scheduling conference for the case will take place at 9 a.m. Dec. 2.
Defendants accused of crimes are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
