An order was entered Oct. 26 in Greene County district court setting the trial of James Hubert Exline Jr, 46, of Jefferson to begin Jan. 23 in Mitchell County. The Honorable James Drew will preside over all remaining facets of the litigation, the order stated. Exline was charged in Greene County with sex abuse- second degree second or subsequent offense, and sex abuse- third degree. Jury selection began Oct. 17. The defense entered a motion for a change of venue, arguing that pre-trial publicity made it impossible for Exline to have a fair trial in Greene County.
In Greene County district court Jamie Lyn Stupka, 27, of Webster City was sentenced to two days in jail after she pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of methamphetamine, amended from manufacture, deliver or possess with intent to deliver methamphetamine. She must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at her own expense, and her driver’s license was revoked for 180 days. Stupka was fined $315 with a $110.75 surcharge and a $125 Law Enforcement Initiative surcharge. Court costs were not specified. A charge of possession of marijuana was dismissed. (Sentencing: Honorable James B. Malloy)
Michael Allen Kennedy, 52, of Nevada was sentenced to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to a charge of theft- third degree, amended from possession of burglar’s tools. The prison term was to be concurrent to the terms in two Polk County cases. The prison time was suspended and Kennedy was placed on probation for two years. He was fined $625 with a $218.75 surcharge and a $125 LEI surcharge. The fine and surcharge were suspended. Kennedy must pay $1,000 victim restitution, restitution for his court appointed attorney’s fees to be determined, and $100 court costs.
Another case in which Kennedy was charged with possession of marijuana was dismissed as part of the plea agreement. Court costs were $100 in that case. (Sentencing: Honorable Joseph B. McCarville)
Rusti Leanne Robinson, 36, of Jefferson was sentenced to two days in jail after she changed her plea to guilty to a charge of possession of methamphetamine. She must pay sheriff’s room and board fees for the time she served. She must also undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at her own expense. Her driver’s license was revoked for 180 days. Robinson was fined $315 with a $110.25 surcharge, a $10 surcharge for drug abuse resistance education (DARE) and a $125 LEI surcharge. Court costs were $328.65. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Nicholas James Miner, 38, of Perry was found not guilty at a jury trail Oct. 30 of operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent. A charge of burglary- third degree was dismissed and court costs were assessed to the state.
Michael Eugene Hamilton, 40, of Grand Junction was sentenced Oct. 27 in two separate cases. In the first he was charged with burglary- third degree. He changed his plea to guilty and he was sentenced to two years in prison. The prison term was suspended and he was placed on probation for three years. Hamilton was fined $625 with a $218.75 surcharge, a $125 LEI surcharge, a $10 DARE surcharge, restitution for his court appointed attorney’s fees to be determined, and $100 court costs.
In the second case Hamilton pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of methamphetamine- second offense, amended from possession of methamphetamine- third or subsequent offense. He was sentenced to two years in prison, consecutive to the prison term in the burglary case. The prison term was suspended and he was placed on probation for three years. Hamilton was fined $625 with a $218.75 surcharge; both were suspended. He mus pay a $125 LEI surcharge, a $10 DARE surcharge, and $100 court costs. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Michael Lee Mourlam, 20, of Scranton was granted a deferred judgment after he changed his plea to guilty to a charge of possession of marijuana. He was placed on informal probation for one year, and he must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at his own expense. He must pay a $315 civil penalty, a $125 LEI surcharge and $100 court costs. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Savannah Danielle Baugh, 19, of Jefferson was granted a deferred judgment after she changed her plea to guilty to a charge of possession of marijuana. She was placed on informal probation for one year, and she must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at her own expense. She must pay a $315 civil penalty, a $125 LEI surcharge and $100 court costs. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Bryant Alexander Anderson, 29, of Fort Dodge was sentenced to two years in prison after he changed his plea to guilty to a charge of carrying weapons. The prison term was suspended and he was placed on probation for two years. He was fined $625 with a $218.75 surcharge. A charge of possession of marijuana was dismissed. Court costs were $100. A charge in magistrate court of possession of drug paraphernalia was dismissed as part of the plea agreement. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Niko Lee Rice, 24, of Jefferson was granted a deferred judgment after he changed his plea to guilty to a charge of domestic abuse assault by strangulation causing bodily injury. He was placed on probation for three years. He must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at his own expense. He must pay a civil penalty of $750 and $1,200 restitution for his court appointed attorney’s fees. Court costs were $260. Charges of attempted murder, willful injury causing serious injury and harassment- third degree were dismissed. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Delores Kay Gross, 46, of Churdan was sentenced to two days in jail after she pleaded guilty to a charge of operating while intoxicated- first offense, amended from OWI- second offense. She must pay sheriff’s room and board fees for the time she serves, but she may complete the weekend offender program at Des Moines Area Community College in lieu of the jail time. She must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at her own expense, and she must complete a community college drinking drivers class. She will be on informal probation for one year. Gross was fined $1,250 with a $437.50 surcharge and a $10 DARE surcharge. Court costs were $100. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Brett Michael Roberts, 24, of Grand Junction was sentenced to two years in prison after he changed his plea to guilty to a charge of driving while license barred. The prison term was suspended and he was placed on probation for two years. He was fined $625 with a $218.75 surcharge. Court costs were $100. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Persons pleaded not guilty at arraignment as follows: Paul Marvin Askvig, 50, of Apple Valley, MN, OWI- first offense; DamonTyson Bennewitz, 19, of Des Moines, OWI- first offense; Matthew Lee Hurley, 36, of Jefferson, driving while license barred; and James Harris, 30, of Jefferson, domestic abuse assault causing injury or mental illness. Trial dates were set for Jan. 23 in every case.
Cases were initiated in district court as follows: Brock Michael Igou, 18, of Carroll, reckless use of fire or explosives; Jodi Ann Ganoe, 42, of Jefferson, possession of marijuana; and James Harris, 30, of Jefferson, assault causing bodily injury or mental illness.
