LARNED, Kan. – On Monday afternoon, Carl A. Bortz, 39 of Larned, Kansas, and Landon Jay Ellis, 21 of Garfield, Kansas, appeared before Magistrate Judge Dale Snyder via Zoom from the Pawnee County Jail for formal first appearances on separate felony sexual assault cases.
Bortz is charged with: (1) Rape of a victim overcome by force or fear; and (Alternate Count 1) Rape of a victim incapable of consent due to intoxication. The crime involves a single incident alleged to have occurred at a motel in Larned, Kansas during the earlier hours of August 16, 2026. Bortz was arrested without incident on August 18, 2026. The Larned Police Department is handling the investigation with the assistance of the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department. The defendant was initially arrested without bond. Following the First Appearance, Judge Snyder set bond at $250,000 bond cash or surety. He is currently being held in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff in lieu of bond.
In an unrelated matter, Ellis, 21 of Garfield, Kansas, is charged with: (1) Rape of a victim overcome by force or fear; and (Alternate Count 1) Rape of an unconscious victim. The crimes involve a single incident alleged to have occurred at a residence in Garfield, Kansas on or about August 22, 2026. The Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department is handling the investigation. Ellis was arrested August 24, 2026, without incident and is being held in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff in lieu of $250,000 bond. Additionally, Judge Snyder ordered that in the event Ellis posts bond, he will be subject to electronic monitoring and supervision by Court Services under standard bond conditions.
At the First Appearances, Judge Snyder advised both defendants of the charges, the possible penalties if convicted and his constitutional rights, including his right to counsel. If convicted, under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines the defendant faces a presumptive prison sentence between 147 months and 653 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections depending on his criminal history. Additionally, the defendant would be subject to the Kansas Offender Registration Act as a sex offender.
Counsel was appointed for each defendant. Separate Preliminary Hearings have been scheduled for September 8, 2026.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Douglas W. McNett
Pawnee County Attorney
Pawnee County Courthouse
715 Broadway
Larned KS 67550
