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Linn County man pleads guilty to killing mom in 2016

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April 29th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man has pleaded guilty to killing his mother by shoving chunks of an apple down her throat as part of a deal with prosecutors. Thirty-three-year-old Joseph Hubbard pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Friday in connection with the December 2016 death. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped several other charges against Hubbard who had shared a mobile home with his mother, 56-year-old Deborah Roman, in Hiawatha.

Prosecutors say officers found Hubbard wandering naked on a Hiawatha street Dec. 2 after he broke into a church, poured gasoline inside and punched a man. Police say officers found Roman’s body when they checked their home.

Hubbard could spend up to 10 years in prison for the crime. He was also ordered to pay $150,000 to Roman’s estate.