A man known locally as “KC Superman” is being released from jail Thursday after serving a two-day sentence on multiple charges dating from 2020 through last year.
Michael Wheeler, 73, was booked into the Vernon County Jail in central Missouri Tuesday night after a Kansas City municipal court sentenced him Tuesday morning on four separate counts of trespassing relating to incidents on June 26, 2023, July 23, 2023, Aug. 18, 2023, and Sept. 1, 2023.
The evangelical Christian pastor and runner gained local notoriety over the years for his habit of running around Kansas City in a Superman-esque costume, complete with a long red cape, a football tucked under his arm and the occasional reference to Jesus.
Though he said in 2019 that he would pass on the mantle, the part-time caped crusader has appeared at several local events in the years since, including the 2024 Super Bowl parade. He shared his retirement plans again with The Star earlier this year, saying he plans to pass the cape on to Jewell Sol.
Wheeler was previously convicted of trespassing on March 18, 2020, and Nov. 18, 2022, but had not yet served the resulting two-day sentences, according to court records. All six of Wheeler’s convictions were the result of jury trials.
Wheeler was initially scheduled to serve a total of four days in jail, according to Kansas City Municipal Court records. On Thursday, a municipal court judge modified Wheeler’s sentences so that his two-day sentence for the two previous charges could be served concurrently with the two-day sentence for his four most recent charges. The move reduced Wheeler’s total jail time to two days.
According to Vernon County jail records, Wheeler was not eligible for bail during his two-day sentence.
Five of the six counts against Wheeler allege he committed offenses in the business corridors of Kansas City’s Westport neighborhood, known primarily as a nightlife and entertainment district. The incidents in Westport are alleged to have occurred late at night, between 11 p.m. and 1:30 a.m.
Charging documents from June 2023 allege that Wheeler at least twice trespassed on the premises of at least one business at Westport Road and Pennsylvania Avenue, an intersection that connects several bars and restaurants. Another alleged incident occurred one block west at Westport Road and Mill Street, and the first incident occurred at a Walmart just off East U.S. Hwy 140.
Some residents have stated online that Wheeler was preaching on the street when he was arrested.
“Since when did it become illegal to preach the gospel on the streets?” Shelle West, a Kansas City resident who organized a Change.org petition calling for Wheeler’s release, wrote on Facebook Thursday.
West’s petition, which also calls for a “fair trial” on Wheeler’s behalf, had collected more than 500 signatures as of Thursday afternoon.
“Beyond his flashy Superman outfits and daily jogs around town, Michael embodies the spirit of a true community warrior,” the petition reads. “Witnessing his selfless efforts to preach the gospel and fill our lives with hope has been a blessing to our community.”
Wheeler has pleaded not guilty to five of the six charges against him, according to court records. No plea was entered in the sixth count.
Wheeler was summoned to appear in Kansas City Superior Court on Tuesday on all six charges. He had initially been given previous court dates for all six, according to court records. According to court records, Jackson County officials met with Wheeler in January to inform him that he had six active warrants for his arrest.
Kansas City police declined to comment on Wheeler’s arrest.
The Star’s Kendrick Calfee contributed reporting.
