(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa House subcommittee has again advanced a bill to ban what’s been called the “gay panic defense.” It would prevent defendants charged with a violent crime from claiming temporary insanity because they discovered the victim was gay, lesbian or transgender. The bill has never been considered in the Iowa Senate, but it has passed the House unanimously twice before. Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton said he’s hoping persistence pays off this year. “Nothing’s changed in my mind,” said Kaufmann, chair of the three-member subcommittee. “I find the use of this defense preposterous and heinous and it does not pass the common sense test that this should be a defense.”

Keenan Crow of One Iowa, a group that advocates for lesbian, gay and transgender Iowans, addressed the House subcommittee that advanced the bill. “Thank you for bringing this forward again. I appreciate the tenacity of the House on this matter. I do think it’s important enough to merit a third vote,” Crow said. “What this bill does is it outlaws a discriminatory defense tactic that is based on excusing or minimizing the actions of a perpetrator based on the characteristics of their victim.”

Defendants in a few other states have been able to use a “panic defense” to reduce their sentences. Supporters of the bill cite the 2016 murder in Burlington. During House debate of the proposal last year, a state representative asked for a moment of silence for Kedarie Johnson, a 16-year-old who was wearing women’s clothing the night he was killed by two men.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports a Bridgewater woman was arrested January 16th in Adair, on two Adair County warrants. 57-year-old Michelle Renee Evans was taken into custody at a restaurant in Adair, on a warrant pertaining to an Order Revoking her pre-trial release that was filed on August 26, 2022, and, a warrant filed July 8, 2022, charging her with Failure to have a Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI) interview. The warrants are connected with six counts of Animal Neglect with Serious Injury or Death, filed in Adair County on March 24, 2021. According to court records, Evans’ sentencing hearing is set for Feb. 3rd at 10-a.m. She remains in the Adair County Jail on a $20,000 cash-only bond.

Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports also, 59-year-old Todd Lavern Lauridsen, of Ames, was arrested Jan. 15th in Stuart, following an investigation into an occupied vehicle on the side of the road at Adair/Madison Avenue, with its lights off. Lauridsen – who was in the passenger seat – told the Stuart Police officer a friend who was driving, was picked-up by another friend. Together they went to retrieve a trailer to haul the broken down Honda Accord.

A check of Lauridsen’s ID revealed his driver’s license was revoked. The officer noticed a clear plastic zip-style baggie with a torn half, laying on the driver’s seat. The baggie appeared to continue residue consistent with methamphetamine, according to the officer’s report. The officer ordered Lauridsen out of the vehicle, and a substance believed to be meth fell from the passenger seat and onto the floorboard. The substance tested positive for meth. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted, resulting in the discovery of a glass pipe under the passenger seat. The trunk contained a black box with another glass pipe, along with paraphernalia. Lauridsen’s wallet contained $448, $300 of which was in 100-dollar bills. Lauridsen was arrested for Possession of less than 5 grams of meth, and possession of paraphernalia. He was released from the Adair County Jail Jan. 17th, on a $10,000 cash or surety bond.

And, 41-year-old Stormy Allen, of Greenfield, was being held in the Adair County Jail after being arrested on the 15th. She served a her court-ordered sentence and was released on Jan. 19th.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Police Department reports four people were arrested on separate warrants from Dec. 26, 2022 through Jan. 11, 2023:

• This past Saturday (1/21), 29-year-old Benser Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear, and 25-year-old Ason Pisalil, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant along with a Public Intoxication.
• On Jan. 11th, 28-year-old Nicholas Renner, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Violation of Probation (2 counts). And…
• On Jan. 8th, 39-year-old Larry Oles, of Kimballton, was arrested on an Audubon County warrant for Simple Assault.

The following persons were arrested for Public Intoxication:

• On January 23rd (Today), and on Jan. 14th, 23-year-old Tarek Bunan, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intox.
• 19-year-old Tarzan Kochiro, of Atlantic, was arrested Jan. 21st, for Public Intoxication.
• and, on Jan. 8th, 43-year-ol Kierstian Takis, of Atlantic was arrested twice, at 2:02-a.m. and again at 9:15-p.m., both times for Public Intoxication.

On January 21st, 33-year-old Benjamin Sonish, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. One day earlier (Jan. 20th), Atlantic Police arrested 31-year-old Cody Pleis, of Atlantic, on charges of Harassment in the 1st Degree, Simple Assault, and False report to public entity. On January 15th, Atlantic Police arrested 29-year-old TR Takauo, of Atlantic, was OWI/1st offense. The A-PD reports two people were cited and released for different, alleged offenses: On Jan. 10th, 59-year-old Debra Frazier,of Atlantic, was cited for Theft in the 4th, in connection with an incident that occurred in Dec., 2022. And, 24-year-old Allen VanAernam, of Atlantic, was cited for Simple Assault.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday (Jan. 24, 2023), will discuss the future of the former Willow Heights care facility. The building and grounds for the facility are owned by the County. Both failed to sell during an auction held last Saturday. The minimum asking bid was $250,000. The other tracts offered during the auction did sell, for a total of $1.7-million.

Their discussion on the matter will take place during the Supervisors’ regular weekly Board meeting at 9-a.m., Tuesday, in their Boardroom at the Cass County Courthouse, in Atlantic. In other business, the Board will act to approve the resignation of Robert Vernon, Grove Township Trustee, the appointment of Mike Kennon, as Zoning Administrator, and the appointment of a Yardman’s position.

During Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken’s report, the Board will act to approve a Resolution for a bid on a County Bridge Project.