In Greene County district court the Honorable Dale E. Ruigh on Sept. 11 denied a motion to grant a new trial to Jeremy Joe Orfield, 27, of Grand Junction after county attorney Thomas Laehn successfully argued that the evidence questioned was not hearsay and permissible as evidence.
A jury had found Orfield guilty of indecent contact with a child. A prison sentence of a maximum of two years will be imposed. He will be under the supervision of the Iowa Department of Corrections for 10 years after his release from prison. Orfield can also be fined up to $6,250.
Also in district court Randy Robert Lundberg, 51, of Jefferson was sentenced Sept. 17 to two years in prison after he changes his plea to guilty to a charge of possession of methamphetamine- second offense. The prison term was suspended and he was placed on probation for two years. He must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at his own expense. Lundberg was fined $750 with a $262.50 surcharge, a $10 drug abuse resistance education (DARE) surcharge, and a $125 Law Enforcement Initiative (LEI) surcharge. Court costs were $145.44. (Sentencing: Honorable Joseph B. McCarville)
Brandon Lee Dodson, 33, of Webster City was sentenced to 10 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while license barred. He must pay sheriff’s room and board fees for the time he serves. Dodson was fined $1,000 with a $350 surcharge; both were suspended. Court costs were $100. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Merle Crit Holland, 58, of Des Moines was granted a deferred judgment after he changed his plea to guilty to a charge of operating while intoxicated- first offense. He was placed on informal probation for one year, and he must complete a community college drinking driver’s school. Holland must pay a civil penalty of $1,250; one-half will be waived if he obtains a temporary restricted license. Court costs were $180. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Nathan William Merrill, 38, of Jefferson was fined $200 with a $70 surcharge after he pleaded guilty to a charge of no valid driver’s license, amended from driving while license revoked. He must also pay $400 restitution for his court appointed attorney and $96 court costs. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Audrie Lawrence, 19, of Jefferson was sentenced to two days in jail after she changed her plea to guilty to a charge of possession of marijuana. The judge ruled she is unable to pay sheriff’s room and board fees. She must pay a $10 DARE surcharge and a $125 LEI surcharge. She is unable to pay restitution for her court appointed attorney’s fees and court costs. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Ashley Dawn McManus, 36, of Ottumwa was sentenced to two days in jail after she changed her plea to guilty to a charge of OWI- first offense. She must pay sheriff’s room and board fees for the time she serves. She must complete the recommendations of a substance abuse evaluation she has already undergone, and she must complete a community college drinking drivers school. She may complete the Des Moines Area Community College 48-hour alcohol education program in lieu of the jail time and community college school. McManus was fined $1,250 with a $437.50 surcharge; one-half will be waived if she obtains a temporary restricted license. She must also pay a $10 DARE surcharge, $600 restitution for her court appointed attorney’s fees, and $100 court costs. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Persons pleaded not guilty at arraignment as follows: Malissa Lou Brooks, 42, of Jefferson, criminal mischief- fourth degree; Benjamin Anthony Allen, 29, of Jefferson, theft- first degree, forgery, and identity theft of more than $1,000; Ethan Thomas Hamman, 22, of Moville, OWI- first offense; Brianne Kara Wolf, 28, of Grand Junction, assault while displaying a dangerous weapon; Melynda Louise Weltha, 43, of Grand Junction, OWI- first offense; and Allen Gentry, 34, of Mountain City, TN, sex abuse- third degree. Trial dates were set for Nov. 5 in every case.
Cases were initiated in district court as follows: Brett Tyler Adams, 33, of Webster City, ongoing criminal conduct and theft- first degree; Christopher Michael Andrew, 22, of Scranton, OWI- first offense; Maurice Darshaun Johnson Wigley, 26,of Ford Dodge, possession of marijuana- second offense; Garret Rysavy, 21, of Jefferson, OWI- first offense; and Christopher Hollis Christian, 39, of Marshalltown, driving while license barred.
