By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A new sheriff’s deputy, on the job less than two weeks, was fired Sunday after being arrested in a domestic disturbance in Hillsboro.

Officers were called at 4:30 p.m. Saturday to a rental home at 112 N. Washington St. on a complaint of a disturbance involving deputy Byron D. McDonald, 39.

McDonald’s domestic partner, an unidentified 36-year-old woman with whom he shared the house, told officers that McDonald had kicked her during an argument, Hillsboro Police Chief Jessey Hiebert said.

An official offense report submitted by Hillsboro investigating officer John Huebert states that the woman showed no sign of injury afterward.

Sheriff Jeff Soyez and Undersheriff Larry Starkey were notified about the incident and went to McDonald’s home while Huebert continued his investigation. Other officers were called, as well.

Hillsboro police ended up taking McDonald to Marion County Jail on suspicion of domestic battery and disorderly conduct. State law requires officers to arrest anyone suspected of striking another person during a domestic dispute.

Online jail records do not show McDonald as having been booked into Marion County Jail. According to Soyez, McDonald was taken instead to McPherson County Jail, where he spent Saturday night.

Jail records there also fail to show any record of him. When asked by the Record, a McPherson County sheriff’s office employee said it was “a Marion County thing” and the Record would have to contact Marion County.

She would neither confirm nor deny whether McDonald had been in jail there.

McPherson County Sheriff Jerry Montagne said he was notified while at a training event in Topeka that a Marion County deputy was being taken to his county’s jail, but he said he did not know further details.

Before transferring McDonald Saturday night, Marion County authorities contacted District Judge Susan Robson. Often, suspects arrested over the weekend have to wait until Monday before a judge sets bail.

Robson dismissed the allegation of domestic battery, saying there was insufficient evidence to support it, Soyez said. McDonald instead was booked only on suspicion of disorderly conduct and was held in lieu of a default $1,000 surety bond.

On Sunday, Soyez and Starkey went to McPherson and fired McDonald, Soyez said. Afterward, McDonald bonded out.

McDonald previously worked at the Neodesha police department, where he had been employed since 2022.

Neodesha Police Chief Sam Tomlinson said he had never had any problem with McDonald even though, according to Soyez, McDonald told Soyez during the hiring process in Marion County that he previously had been arrested on a charge of domestic battery but was acquitted after a trial.

Online court records, often incomplete because of transition to an electronic system that recently was hacked, show only traffic infractions, debt collection cases, evictions, and bad check cases filed against McDonald.

A municipal court clerk in Humboldt, where McDonald formerly resided, said officers responded to a call July 9, 2012, and wrote an informational report on an alleged domestic battery incident involving McDonald, but no charges were filed.

In 2013 or 2014, McDonald applied for a job as a police officer in Humboldt.

Chief Shannon Moore told the Record that she declined to hire him. Moore cited a previous domestic battery matter in Allen County.

Because of that matter, McDonald was relieved of his duties as a La Harpe firefighter, she said.

Allen County District Court records do not indicate he formally was charged.

Court cases against McDonald are listed below.

Traffic cases
and license suspensions

McDonald was charged Jan. 31, 2022, in Neosho County with having a defective tail lamp, no liability insurance, and improper registration. The case was dismissed May 4, 2022.

McDonald was charged July 21, 2020, with speedingin Allen County and pleaded guilty the same day.

McDonald was charged April 9, 2013, in Coffey County with following too closely. His license was suspended Aug. 1, 2013. He pleaded guilty nine months later.

McDonald was charged Aug. 18, 2011, in Allen County with speeding. After he did not pay a fine, his license was suspended Dec. 1, 2011.

McDonald was charged April 3, 2009, in Allen County with speeding and driving while his license was suspended. He pleaded guilty June 24, 2009. After a number of court orders to pay the ticket were issued, he paid Aug. 26, 2009.

McDonald was charged Jan. 21, 2009, in Anderson County with speeding and failure to wear a seat belt. His license was suspended April 9, 2009, after he failed to pay the fine. He pleaded guilty to both charges Oct. 13, 2009, paid the fine, and his license was reinstated.

McDonald was charged Oct. 8, 2008, in Reno County with speeding and failure to wear a seat belt. His license was suspended Dec. 19, 2008. He pleaded guilty Sept. 22, 2009.

He was charged June 11, 2008, in Greenwood County with speeding. His license was suspended Sept. 15, 2008.

McDonald was charged May 8, 2008, in Reno County with speeding and failure to wear a seat belt. His license was suspended Dec. 9, 2008.

McDonald was charged Sept. 14, 2006 in Allen County district Court with violation of motor carrier safety rules and driving without liability insurance. He pleaded guilty Feb. 20, 2007. His license was suspended Dec. 14, 2006.

McDonald was charged Sept. 23, 2003, in Allen County district court with speeding. He pleaded no contest the same day.

Debt collection lawsuits
and BAD-CHECK prosecutions 

The City of Iola filed suit against McDonald, then living in Chanute, on Feb. 21, 2021, seeking payment of $262.69 plus costs and interest. Online documents do not indicate why the amount might have been owed. The case was dismissed two months later.

A collection agency filed suit April 26, 2021 in Allen County against McDonald, who then lived in Iola, for$1,522.29 plus costs and interest for an unpaid revolving loan. The case later was dismissed.

An eviction suit was filed against McDonald on April 2, 2019, the next county south of Allen County, where McDonald then lived. He was evicted April 24, 2019.

Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute filed a debt collection suit against McDonald on June 2, 2015. Garnishments were ordered after McDonald failed to pay the debt as ordered.

Sunflower Markets filed suit March 3, 2008 in Neosho County. A judgment was entered against him April 23 of that year after he failed to appear in court. Garnishments later were issued in the case.

American Payday Loans filed suit Dec. 3, 2007. in Neosho County and a default judgment was issued after McDonald failed to appear in court. Garnishments were later issued.

Tim and Tina Poe sued McDonald and Ashley Tull on Oct. 27, 2011, in Allen County. A judgment was entered after a bench trial. Garnishments were later issued.

McDonald was charged Jan. 12, 2007, in Allen County with giving a worthless check. The charge later was dismissed.

Aday’s Speedy Mac’s filed suit May 5, 2006, in Allen County to collect a debt. McDonald confessed to owing the money May 23, 2006, and garnishments were later issued.

Sigg’s Auto Parts filed suit Jan. 5, 2006 ,in Allen County to collect a debt. McDonald paid the debt Jan. 23, 2006.

McDonald was charged Feb. 18, 2005, in Allen County with giving a worthless check. The case was later dismissed.