Ruling: City conviction requires sex offender registration

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that a man’s municipal conviction for sexual battery requires him to register as a sex offender. The 5-2 decision Friday comes in the case of Asnake H. Adem, who was convicted in 2018 of sexual battery in violation of the Shawnee municipal code. At issue was whether the Legislature intended the Kansas Offender Registration Act to apply to those prosecuted under city ordinances. The Supreme Court ruled that Adem did need to register,  finding that the Shawnee ordinance is identical to the state statute. According to the ruling the conviction stems from an incident that occurred when he was driving a taxi late at night with a female passenger and repeatedly tried to embrace her.