Sentencing has been delayed for Clint W. Nibarger, who pleaded guilty to the murder in October of Dakota Patton.
Nibarger, whose wife, Kimberly, is also charged with first-degree murder, was originally scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday in Neosho County District Court. Members of Patton’s family were in attendance at the courthouse on Tuesday.
Jay Witt, the attorney representing Nibarger, informed the court that he wasn’t ready to proceed with sentencing due to a delay in receiving documents caused by the Thanksgiving holiday and a family emergency.
Witt and Deputy Kansas Attorney General Jessica G. Domme, as well as Judge Daryl Ahlquist, agreed to move the sentencing to Jan. 27.
Patton was last seen alive with Nibarger and his then girlfriend on April 25, 2023, at Pete’s in Parsons. His body was found on the south side of 20th Road between Xavier and Wallace roads in Neosho County on May 8, 2023.
In Nibarger’s plea, attorneys agreed to recommend that Nibarger serve a controlling 293 months in prison, minus credit for time served in jail while his case has been pending. That will be about 24 years total before the credit.
Kimberly Nibarger’s case is set for trial starting March 11 in Erie. A hearing on pretrial motions is set for Jan. 3 in Chanute. A second pretrial hearing is set for Feb. 19.
