Ross Fanning pleads not guilty to felony, misdemeanor charges

Ross Fanning, 35, of Wauneta pleaded not guilty to three felony and three misdemeanors in Chase County District Court Nov. 15. The charges stem from two different incidents, one on July 23, 2023 and the other on Aug. 12, 2022.
In the July 2023 incident, Fanning faces felony charges of assault by strangulation and child abuse, both Class IIIA felonies, and two Class I misdemeanor charges of child abuse.
In the 2022 incident, Fanning is charged with false imprisonment in the first degree, a Class IIIA felony and a Class I misdemeanor charge of third degree domestic assault.
District Judge Patrick Heng said the Class IIIA felonies are punishable by up to three years imprisonment and 18 months supervised release. The Class I misdemeanors are punishable by up to one year imprisonment.
Fanning’s attorney, Ashley Spahn of Benkelman, said extensive discovery needs to be completed, along with depositions from witnesses in the two incidents.
Judge Heng set a status hearing on the two cases for 2:30 p.m. MT Jan. 4, 2024.