(Update 3/5/20: Jury trial continued until 9-a.m. April 16, 2021) The Cass County Attorney’s Office Monday (Today), filed a motion to revoke bond established for Rex Dean McDermott, on the grounds of his propensity to  commit crimes of a dangerous and/or violent nature and for the general welfare of the citizens of the State of Iowa.

Cass County Attorney Vanessa Strazdus said “At that hearing, Rex’s attorney argued that no conditions had been placed on Rex that would justify revoking his bond. I argued that revoking or modifying bond was justifiable considering the ongoing nature of Rex’s criminal activity and that he’s legitimately at risk of killing someone if he’s not in jail. The judge increased the bond amount on three indictable cases.

On Dec. 12th, a lawyer for the 53-year-old McDermott entered a written plea of Not Guilty to felony charges of Willful Injury causing bodily injury, and Going Armed with Intent. Earlier this month, the court set the date for his pretrial conference as 9:30-a.m. Feb. 5th at 9:30-a.m.  His jury trial will take place March 9th, also at 9:30-a.m.

A criminal complaint against McDermott alleges that at around 11-p.m. on Oct. 30th, he pulled a woman out of a pickup truck near Fontanelle, punched her and then struck her with an unknown wooden object. The victim suffered a laceration above her right eye, bruising and swelling of the face and other areas of pain.

Strazdus told KJAN News, McDermott is currently being held in the Crawford County Jail on charges of OWI/3rd Offense, and Driving While Barred.

Strazdas said if McDermott is freed on bond sometime in the near future, the Judge required him tol be monitored at all times by a special, SCRAM (Scram Continuous Alcohol Monitoring) transdermal bracelet.

A SCRAM bracelet (scramsystems.com)

Strazdas said she hopes McDermott is able to get the help he needs to overcome his issues.