Businessman in handcuffs faces decide in court docket
February goes to be busy for the felony justice system in Marshall County.
In November, the Iowa Supreme Courtroom suspended in-person jury trials till Feb. 1 due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic. Friday in Marshall County will probably be full of pre-trial conferences — greater than 25.
Marshall County Clerk of Courts Carol Haney stated the pre-trial conferences are supposed for the prosecution and protection to return to agreements with out juries. If agreements are usually not reached, then the circumstances will go to jury trials, with the primary one scheduled for Feb. 16. The state court docket system has 32 separate circumstances scheduled for Feb. 16 in Marshall County — all starting at 9 a.m.
Nonetheless, Haney stated it could be unimaginable to carry that many circumstances without delay. She stated if any of the circumstances find yourself continuing to jury, just one will probably be held on Feb. 16. The remainder will probably be scheduled for an additional day.
“We’re going to get slammed. Now we have been with out jury trials for a yr,” she stated. “We would want additional jury trial dates.”
District Courtroom Decide John Haney stated quite a lot of components will decide whether or not or not a case will go to trial.
“Together with however not restricted to, calls for for quick trial; how lengthy the case has been pending; courtroom area availability; if the events and counsel are ready and able to proceed; availability of witnesses; to call however a couple of,” Decide Haney stated. “There are 18 felony district court docket trial dates set for 2021. These are sometimes scheduled to start on Tuesdays. There are 12 felony trial jury trial dates set for our district affiliate court docket for 2021. These circumstances sometimes start on Thursdays.”
One case on the docket Haney expects to go to jury trial is that of Mustafa Muhammad who’s accused of first-degree homicide.
Muhammad was arrested for the deadly capturing of Blake Thomas, 27, on March 15. Thomas died of a number of gunshot wounds. Muhammad, who’s a felon, was additionally charged with possession of a firearm and reckless use of a firearm inflicting bodily damage. He pleaded not responsible to all three counts on April 5.
“I can’t think about he would plead responsible and the county lawyer would supply one thing much less,” she stated.
First-degree homicide is a Class A felony in Iowa, with a most sentence of life in jail.
Despite the fact that jury trials have been absent, the Marshall County court docket system has remained busy.
“Non-jury, or bench trials, weren’t postponed and circumstances have continued to maneuver by the courts even when jury trials had been paused,” Decide Haney stated. “Now we have tremendously elevated the usage of video conferencing know-how like Zoom.gov and GoToMeeting to conduct all kinds of proceedings.”
The usage of know-how to host court docket proceedings doesn’t imply the court docket won’t be ready for the restart of jury trials within the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Haney stated everybody within the constructing might want to keep 6 toes aside and folks will probably be staggered.
Decide Haney is worried, however is assured transferring ahead.
“The judicial department has carried out quite a few procedures and protocols to maintain the general public, workers, events and attorneys protected and socially distant,” he stated. “These embody however are usually not restricted to requiring masks; socially distant seating; sanitizing areas; air purification methods, and so forth.”
Upcoming jury trials:
(If agreements are met on Feb. 5, then jury trials won’t happen. If an settlement will not be reached, then the circumstances will proceed to trial. Jury trials will start Feb. 16.)
Defendant Fees
Vincent Ankton Second-degree housebreaking, working a motor autos with out the proprietor’s consent, assault
Jacob Borton Lascivious acts with a toddler, second-degree sexual abuse
Wade Brown Willful damage
Luis Cervantes-Pulido Third-degree sexual abuse, first-degree housebreaking
Douglas Davis Ongoing felony conduct, second-degree felony mischief, seven counts of third-degree housebreaking, three counts of second-degree theft, third-degree theft and third-degree felony mischief
Cynthia Fox Possession of a managed substance with intent to ship, failures to affix a drug stamp, retaining a drug home
Refugio Gonzalez Third-degree sexual abuse
Lonnie Hill Two counts of possession of a managed substance with the intent to ship, possession of a managed substance, eluding
Corey Hilson First-degree housebreaking, home abuse assault by strangulation, little one endangerment, fourth-degree felony mischief, home abuse inflicting bodily damage
Haylee Konicek Possession with intent to ship
Daniel Lamere Willful damage
Darnell Lamere Willful damage
Blake Lucas Possession of a managed substance with intent to ship, failures to affix a drug stamp, retaining a drug home, carrying weapons, possession of a managed substance
Ryan Minteer First-degree felony mischief, intimidation with a harmful weapon, eluding, assault whereas taking part in a felony, assault on a peace officer, driving whereas barred
Mustafa Muhammad First-degree homicide, possession of a firearm by a prohibited particular person, reckless use of a firearm inflicting bodily damage
Blake Nelson Two counts second-degree sexual abuse
Kaisha Oides First-degree theft
Tammy Papiboune First-degree theft
Jeffrey Ross Willful damage, first-degree harassment, false imprisonment
Antonio Soto-Solano Third-degree sexual abuse
Deborah Specht First-degree theft, insurance coverage fraud
Justin Sutton Three counts third-degree housebreaking, two counts first-degree theft, routine offender
Robert Thomas First-degree harassment
David Wagner Possession of a managed substance with intent to ship, failures to affix a drug stamp, retaining a drug home
Miko Youngbear Willful damage
Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 or [email protected].
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