Executive Summary
- Sentencing for Daniel Olivarez has been postponed to March 18 at 9 a.m.
- Olivarez entered an Alford plea to indecent liberties and pleaded no contest to kidnapping and assault charges.
- The charges stem from a January 2024 hostage situation and separate allegations involving a minor.
The sentencing hearing for Daniel Olivarez, an Emporia man facing charges related to a violent kidnapping and separate indecent liberties allegations, has been postponed by the court. Originally scheduled for Wednesday, the proceedings have been rescheduled to March 18 at 9 a.m. following a request for a continuance.
Olivarez was taken into custody in January 2024 following an investigation by the Emporia Police Department. Authorities allege that Olivarez entered a residence in southeast Emporia armed with a handgun, holding the occupants against their will through the night. Police reports state that he subsequently forced one of the victims to transport him to a separate location, where law enforcement officers located him. A standoff ensuing for over three hours concluded with his peaceful surrender.
According to court filings, Olivarez faced multiple charges, including aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and interference with law enforcement. In October 2025, just prior to a scheduled trial, he entered into an Alford plea agreement. Under this arrangement, the defendant maintained his innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors possessed sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. Specifically, the plea covered one count of indecent liberties with a child involving a 10-year-old victim, occurring between April and December 2023. Additionally, Olivarez pleaded no contest to two counts of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated kidnapping.
Judicial Procedural Update
This marks the second continuance in the sentencing phase of this case, which was initially set for December 17 before being moved to January. Delays in sentencing can occur for various administrative or procedural reasons, including scheduling conflicts within the court docket or the need for additional time to prepare pre-sentencing reports. As the case proceeds toward the finalized hearing in March, the court will weigh the severity of the charges, which include violent felonies and crimes against a minor, against the terms of the plea agreement. It is important to note that under the U.S. legal system, all individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
