A mistrial was the outcome when James Hubert Exline, 47, of Jefferson went to trial May 1 in Cerro Gordo County (Mason City) on Greene County charges of sex abuse- second degree and sex abuse- third degree. A jury was selected on May 1 and the trial proceeded the next day. The state’s second witness divulged information that Judge James Drew had ruled would be inadmissible in the pretrial process. The defense attorney immediately made a motion for a mistrial and Judge Drew upheld the motion.
Judge Drew found that no double jeopardy was involved and a new trial has been set for June 4 in Bremer County (Waverly).
Greene County assistant county attorney Thomas Laehn is assisting the Iowa attorney general’s office in prosecuting the case.
In Greene County district court Shane Christopher Jewett, 42, of Paton was sentenced April 27 to 60 days in jail after he changed his plea to guilty to a charge of operating while intoxicated- first offense. All but two days of the jail time was suspended and he was placed on informal probation for one year. He may complete the Des Moines Area Community College alcohol education program in lieu of the jail time. He must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at his own expense, and he must complete a community college drinking driver’s school. Jewett was fined $1,250 with a $437.50 surcharge and a $10 surcharge for Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE). He must also pay $600 restitution for his court appointed attorney’s fees. Court costs were $100. (Sentencing: Honorable Joseph B. McCarville)
Tamera Sue Keck, 53, of Jefferson was granted a deferred judgment after she changed her plea to guilty to a charge of OWI- first offense. She was placed on informal probation for one year. She must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at her own expense. She must also complete a community college drinking driver’s school. A judgment was entered for a $1,250 civil penalty. One-half of the penalty will be waived Keck obtains a temporary restricted license. Court cost were $140. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Allyn James Case, 30, of Jefferson was sentenced to 60 days in jail after he changed his plea to guilty to a charge of OWI- first offense. All but two days of the jail time was suspended and he was placed on informal probation for one year. He must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at his own expense, and he must complete a community college drinking driver’s school. Case was fined $1,250 with a $437.50 surcharge and a $10 DARE surcharge. He must also pay $600 restitution for his court appointed attorney’s fees. A charge of child endangerment was dismissed. Court costs were $100. (Sentencing: Honorable Joseph B. McCarville)
Dispositions were entered in three cases against Shawn Allen Ellsbury, 29, of Jefferson. He was sentenced to two years in prison on a charge of domestic abuse assault- display or use weapon. All but seven days of the prison term was suspended and he was placed on probation for two years. He must complete the Iowa domestic abuse program. Ellsbury was fined $625 with a $218.75 surcharge; both were suspended. He must pay a $100 domestic abuse assault surcharge, restitution for his court appointed attorney’s fees to be determined. Court costs in that case were $231.50
In a second case Ellsbury pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct, amended from public intoxication- second offense. He was sentenced to seven days in jail, concurrent to the domestic abuse assault sentence. Court costs were $60.
In the third case Ellsbury was charged in magistrate court with violation of a no contact order. He was sentenced to seven days in jail, also concurrent. Court costs were $360. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Persons pleaded not guilty at arraignment as follows: Nicholas Weber, 17, of Jefferson, burglary- third degree, burglary- third degree motor vehicle (eight counts), and theft fourth degree; Joshuah Jay Blumberg, 22, of Farlin, driving while license barred; and Nathaniel Brown, 51, of Scranton, OWI- first offense. Trial dates were set for June 5 for Blumberg and Brown, and for July 17 for Weber.
