Disposition was entered March 22 in Greene County district court in four separate cases against Royce Christopher Gonnelly, 33, of Jefferson. The earliest of the cases was initiated in July 2023 on a charge of operating while intoxicated. On that charge Gonnelly was sentenced to one year in jail, with credit for time served; all but 15 days was suspended. He was placed on probation for two years to the Iowa Department of Correctional Services. He must complete a community college drinking drivers school in lieu of two days of the jail time, and he may complete the Des Moines Area Community College alcohol education program in lieu of two days in jail. He was fined $1,250 with a $187.50 surcharge; one-half will be waived if he obtains a temporary restricted license. He must pay $500 restitution for his court appointed attorney’s fees and $166.99 court costs.
In a case initiated in September 2023 Gonnelly was charged with driving while license revoked, assault causing bodily injury or mental illness, and harassment- first degree. He was sentenced to one year in jail on the driving while revoked charged; the jail term was suspended. He was fined $1,000 with a $150 surcharge; the fine and surcharge were also suspended. On the assault charge he was sentenced to one year in jail; all but 30 days was suspended and he was placed on probation for two years. He was fined $430 with a $64.50 surcharge; both were suspended. The harassment charge was dismissed. Court costs were $198.50 in that case.
The two remaining cases were initiated earlier this year. Gonnelly was charged with unlawful possession of a prescription drug- three counts. On one count he was sentenced to one year in jail with credit for time served. The sentence was suspended with two years probation. He must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at his own expense. He was fined $430 with a $64.50 surcharge. Two counts of unlawful possession were dismissed. He must pay $500 restitution for his court appointed attorney’s fees and $136.50 court costs on that case.
In the fourth case, Gonnelly was charged with possession of marijuana- second offense, possession of methamphetamine- third or subsequent offense, and possession of fentanyl- second offense. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of controlled substance- second offense. He was sentenced to one year in jail with credit for time served; all but 30 days was suspended. He was placed on probation for two years. He must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at his own expense. He was fined $855 with a s$128.25 surcharge. The court ruled in that case that Gonnelly is unable to pay restitution for his court appointed attorney’s fees and court costs. The jail sentences will be consecutive should they be imposed. (Sentencing: Honorable Joseph B. McCarville)
Conner Laine Groves, 26, of Jefferson was granted a deferred judgment after she changed her plea to guilty to one count of child endangerment and operating while intoxicated. On the child endangerment charge, she must pay a $855 civil penalty. She must pay a $1,250 civil penalty on the OWI charge. Groves was placed on probation to Boone/Greene County Probation for two years. She must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at her own expense. She must also complete a community college drinking drivers course at her own expense. Court costs were $187.50. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Persons pleaded not guilty at arraignment as follows: Nicole Victoria Thompson, 28, of Cherokee, possession of marijuana and possession of methamphetamine; Christopher Richard Sowers, 51, of Grand Junction, driving while license barred; Justin Joe Downs, 38, of Churdan, possession of marijuana- second offense, possession of methamphetamine- second offense, and dominion/control of firearm/offensive weapon by domestic abuse offender; Kyle Evan Habrich, 35, of Boone, possession of marijuana- third or subsequent offense and possession of methamphetamine- third or subsequent offense; and Cody Aaron Wegner, 32, of Jefferson, driving while license barred. A trial date was set for April 9 for Thompson, and for May 14 for all other defendants.
Cases were initiated in district court during the week ending March 22 as follows: Eric Nathan Ranker Jr, 19, of Jefferson, possession of marijuana; Christian Michael O’Brien, 20, of Jefferson, possession of marijuana; Chelsey Williams, 20, of Jefferson, possession of marijuana; Emmanuel Sang, 43, of Des Moines, operating while intoxicated; and Angela Michele Valdivia, 59, of Ogden, possession of marijuana.
