A judge in the case of Leatha Kay Slauson has rendered his decision on how restitution will be made to victims she scammed out funds associated with her child’s fake cancer scheme. Judge Greg Steensland determined the amount of total victim restitution at $32,964.06. Funds available to pay the victims amount to $15,900.82, and will be distributed as follows:

• Melanie and Darrin Petty, of Atlantic, $100
• Beta Sigma Phi, of Atlantic, $200
• Victoria Erickson, of Kimballton, $1,000
• Jeffrey & Katie Tibbles, of Ankeny, $93
• United Methodist Church, Atlantic, $3,050.25 (The funds returned to the UMC will not be returned to donors, but used for a comparable charitable donation to the one in this case. They shall then provide proof of that donation to the court.)
• Jennifer Nobles, of Nora Springs, $335
• Mercy Medical Center North, Mason City, $2,642.20
• Ronald McDonald House, Des Moines, $3,990.19
• Rainbow House, Omaha, NE, $3,990.19.

The $15,900 described above will be placed in the trust account of Slauson’s Attorney, Jay Mez, for distribution as prescribed. The remaining balance of victim restitution in the amount of $17, 063.24 is payable by Slauson. As funds are received from her, they will be sent in equal amounts to the Ronald McDonald House in Des Moines, and Rainbow House, in Omaha.

The 30-year old Slauson was sentenced to 5-years probation after pleading guilty to falsely claiming her 5-year-old daughter had cancer and raising money for her treatment. In November, 2014, Slauson pleaded guilty to two counts of child endangerment, one of administering harmful substances, one of theft and one of unlawful possession of a prescription drug.

Three people have been arrested on drug charges, in Creston. Authorities say 48-year old Michael Esslinger and 51-year old Ricky Kimball, both of Creston, were arrested Wednesday afternoon at their homes, on Union County warrants for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine.

And, 32-year old Andy Alden Hansen, of Creston, was arrested in the 800 block of West Adams Street early Wednesday morning, on charges that include Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession with the Intent to Deliver/Meth, and Driving While Barred.

All three men were being held in the Union County Jail, where Hansen’s bond was set at $100,000.

A routine traffic stop Wednesday night at North Broadway and West Washington Streets in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of a Clarinda man. Red Oak Police report 29-year old Jason Lynn Ridnour was taken into custody at around 10-p.m. on Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charges. Ridnour was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 cash bond.