Jeremy Boone Rath has been arrested so many times it’s difficult to keep count.
In April 2023, Topeka police arrested Rath after a man was left in critical condition following a shooting at Polk Plaza Apartments in central Topeka. Rath was charged with aggravated battery, criminal possession of a firearm, felony obstruction, and held on multiple outstanding warrants. The community expected — reasonably — that such a violent incident would keep him behind bars.
It didn’t.
By April 2024, Rath was again behind bars — this time on a Topeka bench warrant — and released on just over $2,000 bond. Since then, his pattern of arrests and releases has continued uninterrupted.
On March 25, 2025, Rath was booked once again, this time facing a litany of serious charges:
- Burglary of a dwelling to commit felony theft or domestic violence
- Stalking with reckless conduct causing fear
- Theft under $1,500 from a building
- Criminal damage to property
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
He is currently held without bond — for now.
A Pattern Too Familiar
Rath’s name is a familiar one in booking reports. In August 2022, he was charged with criminal possession of a firearm by a felon. The arrest stemmed from possessing a firearm — a clear violation of Kansas law for someone with his record — yet there were no additional charges filed at the time, and no major time served.
Now, three years later, Rath is still cycling through a system that seems unable — or unwilling — to address the threat he poses.
What Will It Take?
The broader question is one Topekans are asking more frequently: Why do repeat violent offenders keep getting out?
Local law enforcement is doing their job — arresting known felons, responding to domestic violence, picking up people wanted for stalking and firearm offenses. But the follow-through on the judicial side appears broken. Whether due to crowded jails, judicial discretion, plea deals, or mental health considerations, individuals like Rath continue to reappear in public life long before the community feels safe.
What Should Be Done?
Perhaps it’s time to ask whether Shawnee County’s approach to criminal justice is striking the right balance between rights and public safety. How many chances should one individual receive before the consequences reflect the pattern?
Jeremy Boone Rath is not an abstract problem. He’s a repeat felon with a known violent history — and he’s not alone. His story is just the most recent example of a recurring cycle in Topeka that too often ends in tragedy for someone else.
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