TOPEKA, KS — A Shawnee County judge has sentenced Michael Lester to more than 55 years in prison for the murder of Alycia Noriega and related charges stemming from a fatal vehicle incident in 2023.
According to Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay, Lester was sentenced on August 22, 2025, for his role in the October 30, 2023, incident near NW St. John Street and NW Tyler Street in Topeka.
Sentence Details:
Lester was convicted of four felonies and received the following sentences:
Murder in the First Degree (Off-Grid Felony): Life in prison, with no parole eligibility for 25 years
Flee or Attempt to Elude Law Enforcement (Level 7 Felony): 12 months
Failure to Stop at an Accident Resulting in Death (Level 5 Felony): 32 months
The court ordered the sentences to be served consecutively, meaning Lester must serve the full 25 years before becoming eligible for parole. If granted parole, he will then begin serving an additional 44 months for the remaining charges.
Timeline of the Case:
The fatal incident occurred on October 30, 2023
A jury trial began on May 6, 2024, and concluded with a guilty verdict on May 10, 2024
Lester was arrested following an investigation by the Topeka Police Department
Lester was also originally charged with an alternative count of Second-Degree Murder, which is a Level 2 Felony, though the jury found him guilty of First-Degree Murder committed in the commission of a felony.
