In Greene County district court Joel Robert Simpson, 64, of Jefferson was sentenced to 1 year in the county jail after he changed his plea to guilty Nov. 20 to a charge of operating while intoxicated- third offense. All but 14 days of the jail time was suspended and he was placed on probation for one year. He may complete the Des Moines Area Community College 48-hour alcohol education program in lieu of two days of the jail term. He must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at his own expense. Simpson was fined $1,875 with a $656.25 surcharge. One half of the fine and surcharge will be waived if he obtains a temporary restricted license. He must pay a $10 surcharge for drug abuse resistance education (DARE) and $100 court costs. (Sentencing: Honorable Joseph B. McCarville)
Persons pleaded not guilty in district court as follows: Elisha Zechariah Hiram Ward, 19, of Jefferson, possession of marijuana; Devin Julian Villalobos, 18, of Jefferson, possession of marijuana; Brittany Kay Smith, 32, of Jefferson, possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana; William Richardson, 63, of Jefferson, possession of methamphetamine- third or subsequent offense and possession of marijuana- third or subsequent offense; David Lee Spaulding, 51, of Ellsworth, possession of controlled substance- third or subsequent offense and possession of contraband in a correctional facility (two counts); and Thomas Alexander Oyres, 40, of Jefferson, possession of methamphetamine. Trial dates were set for Jan. 28, 2020, in every case.
Cases were initiated in district court as follows: Austin Tylor O’Connell, 21, of Jefferson, possession of marijuana; Katie Capri Schafer, 35, of West Des Moines, possession of marijuana; Kole Alexander Higgins, 25, of Grand Junction, driving while license barred; Richard Dean Tuhn Jr, 41, of Jefferson, burglary- first degree and assault causing bodily injury or mental illness; and Richard John Sabus, 56, of Churdan driving while license barred.
