Court date set for ex-Cosmosphere chief

The former director of the Kansas Cosmosphere in Hutchinson is to make his first court appearance April 27 on charges he stole artifacts from the museum and sold them.

At the hearing, which will be in Wichita, a U.S. magistrate will advise Max Ary about the charges, the maximum penalties and his right to counsel.

Ary, 55, of Oklahoma City, faces 11 felony counts, including two counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, two counts of theft of government property and three counts of interstate transportation of stolen property.

In the 11th count, the government seeks forfeiture of any proceeds that Ary realized from the alleged crimes.

— James C. Fitzpatrick/The Star