Charged with involuntary manslaughter for the fatal “beanbag round” shooting of Steven Myers, former Barber County Undersheriff Virgil “Dusty” Brewer pleaded “not guilty” in district court in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, last Wednesday morning.

The day before, Feb. 12, the Honorable Francis E. Meisenheimer, district judge, issued an opinion on the case – The State of Kansas vs. Virgil Brewer. The information in this article comes from that 29-page document. The judge refers to Brewer as “the Defendant” in this document.

The judge said Brewer argued that his use of force was justified, that he was e...