WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man who was charged with a misdemeanor after he shared a social media post that encouraged violence in suburban Wichita neighborhoods during last summer’s racial injustice protests has been placed on diversion.
Rashawn L. Mayes Jr. of Park City was placed on diversion Thursday and ordered to write a letter of apology to Wichita police, the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office said.
Mayes and Michael E. Boston Jr. of Wichita were arrested after a post on Snapchat urged groups of people to meet in several locations around Sedgwick County, according to court documents.
Their arrests caused a public outcry that led to their prompt release.
Mayes was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit a riot. Boston will not be charged, Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said.
Mayes’ attorney, John Rapp, said his client is happy to have the incident settled.
Mayes’ mother said on Facebook in June that her son didn’t create the post and had instead shared it to warn other Park City residents to stay away from Park City and Bel Aire because of potential violence.