Michael Lester convicted of crimes linked to Topeka crash that killed Alycia Noriega

A Shawnee County District Court jury Friday convicted Michael Shane Lester of crimes that included first-degree murder linked to a two-vehicle crash Oct. 30 that killed Alycia A. Noriega, 33, of Topeka.

Lester was found guilty of one count each of first-degree murder in the commission of a felony, reckless but unintentional second-degree murder, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer by engaging in reckless driving and failure to stop at the scene of an accident known to result in death.

Jurors weren't able to reach a verdict on the one other count Lester faced, of interference with a law enforcement officer.

What happened regarding the crash?

A charging affidavit written by Topeka police officer Jared Strathman said a Topeka police officer, whom it identified as "C. Allensworth," was wearing his uniform and driving a marked patrol vehicle about noon Oct. 30 when he pulled up to the stop light at N.E. Golden and Seward Avenue while driving southbound on Golden.

As Allensworth and a Dodge Durango were both stopped at the light, with the latter vehicle facing north, Allensworth noticed that the Durango's driver wasn't wearing his seat belt and was putting it on while at the light, the affidavit said.

"When the light changed, OFC Allensworth completed a U-turn while activating his emergency equipment to complete a traffic stop," it said.

The driver of the Durango failed to stop and continued driving, the affidavit said.

Allensworth followed the Durango as it went north to N.E. Sardou Avenue, including once going left of center, then west on Sardou and approached the Sardou Bridge at an estimated 55 to 60 mph, it said.

"OFC Allensworth observed the Durango again go left of center, and pass another vehicle in a no passing zone," the affidavit said. "OFC Allensworth deemed the Durango was driving in such a reckless manner, the suspect was a danger to the public at large. OFC Allensworth deactivated his emergency equipment and slowed to where the suspect was out of sight."

Rosie Nichols, public safety communications specialist for Topeka's city government, stressed in December to The Capital-Journal that the affidavit didn't say the officer pursued Lester.

"The officer initiated a traffic stop, and when the driver of the vehicle did not stop and committed serious traffic infractions, the officer deactivated their lights and siren," she told The Capital-Journal. "The officer remained in the area before coming upon the crash a short time later."

What happened next?

At 12:09 p.m. Oct. 30, the affidavit said, the blue Durango was caught on security camera video going west past a business in the 1300 block of N.W. Topeka Boulevard.

At about 12:10 p.m., the affidavit said, dispatchers received a report of a crash at N.W. Tyler and St. John involving a 1999 Dodge Durango and a 2015 Subaru Forester driven by Noriega.

The driver of the Durango fled on foot, the affidavit said.

Noriega was taken by ambulance to a Topeka hospital, where she was pronounced deceased at 2:43 p.m. Oct. 30, it said.

Police then received a tip that Lester was at a specific house and knocked at that door at 11:44 p.m. Oct. 30, asking to search the home, the affidavit said.

After being led away from a basement, an officer searched that basement, where Lester was found to have been hiding beneath a stairway, the affidavit said.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Jury convicts Michael Lester of crimes linked to fatal Topeka crash