COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Judge in Pottawattamie County District Court, Tuesday, sentenced a Nebraska man to 3-years in prison, for being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. In addition, 43-year-old Tiloe Cardel Williams, of Omaha, was have his term of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. According to court documents, Williams pleaded guilty to the charge on November 4, 2021.

On July 30, 2021, a police officer stopped Williams’ vehicle for overly dark window tint. The officer could smell marijuana and requested the assistance of a canine officer. Marijuana and a firearm were located under the cup holder of the center console. At the time of the offense, Williams was a convicted felon and drug user and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A man from Colorado was sentenced Tuesday, March 22nd in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, to serve 16-years in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. In addition, the Judge sentenced 43-year-old Jeremy Antonio Trujillo to 10-years in prison for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The sentences will run concurrently. His term of imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervised release. According to court documents, Trujillo pleaded guilty to the charges on November 4, 2021.

Trujillo’s co-defendant, 37-year-old Kristen Leigh Jarrard, also of Colorado, was sentenced on November 2, 2021, to 13-years in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and 120 months in prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Her sentences will also run concurrently. Jarrard’s term of imprisonment will also be followed by five years of supervised release. She plead guilty to the charges on March 18, 2021.

On October 28, 2020, the couple was stopped for a traffic violation on Interstate 29 and a law enforcement dog was run around the vehicle. Following a canine alert for the odor of narcotics on the car, officers recovered a backpack containing 817 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded Smith and Wesson .45 caliber revolver. Surveillance video from a motel showed Trujillo and Jarrard carrying bags from the motel to the vehicle and Trujillo carrying the backpack from the motel to the car and placing it inside. Both Jarrard and Trujillo are prior convicted felons.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa State Patrol, Council Bluffs Police Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement investigated the case. The United States Marshals Service made the arrests. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – Republicans in the Iowa House have approved a budget that provides a more than seven million dollar spending boost to the state prison system. Representative Gary Worthan, a Republican from Storm Lake, led development of the budget plan. “(It) will allow them to keep hiring,” Worthan said. “They’re facing the same challenges that everybody is, trying to find qualified employees to hire.”

Representative Todd Prichard, a Democrat from Charles City, notes that a year ago today (Wednesday), two employees at the state prison in Anamosa were murdered by two inmates attempting to escape. “After time passes and we think that we solved the problem by just, in my mind, throwing some money at it — which, I’ll admit it was needed, it was part of the issue — we move on,” Prichard said.

Prichard unsuccessfully tried to attach policy to the budget that would have increased the penalty for attacking a prison employee and let prison workers bring up safety related topics in contract negotiations.  “I’ve spent a lot of time visiting and talking to people who work in the prisons and correctional institutions and wanted to do something meaningful for the two individuals that were murdered and their families,” Prichard said.

Prichard’s proposal was tabled on procedural grounds. The budget plan for the state’s entire justice system was approved with the support of all but two House Republicans. It provides a nearly 13 million dollar increase over the current year’s budget for prisons,

(Atlantic, Iowa) -During a meeting held this (Wednesday) morning in the Central Office Conference Room, members of the Atlantic School Board acted to approve a contract with Scot Aden, who will serve as the new Middle School Principal, effective July 1st. He will succeed Josh Rasmussen, who has accepted a job as the Superintendent for the AC/GC School District, effective July 1st.

According to Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber, there were 12 applicants for the AMS Principal’s job. The list was whittled down to four individuals, each of whom were interviewed in front of a parent group, student group, teacher group, and administrative committee.

As mentioned previously in our reports, Scot Aden is currently serving as Principal for the Cherokee Middle School, in Cherokee (Iowa). It’s a position he’s held for nearly six-years.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors held a short meeting this (Wednesday) morning, in Greenfield. The started with handing out “Years of Service” Awards for County Employees, and during their regular session that followed, approved a township clerk wage for Brenda Stanley, with Lee Township, in the amount of $40.

The Board also acted on Homestead and Military Disallowances, and agreed to have Board Chair Matt Wedemeyer send out letters to those persons affected by the decision. In other business, the Adair County Supervisors approved an agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation, for a Road Detour we told you about last week, that’s associated with a Highway 25 resurfacing project.

That’s Matt Wedemeyer explaining the detour route. The Board approved the use up to $1,500 of American Rescue Plan Act funds, for Adair County Tourism Department signs. Supervisor Jerry Walker….

And, Assistant to the Adair County Engineer, Sawyer Hansen, provided the Board with an update on Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities.

Hansen said they appreciate phone calls from county residents with concerns about road rock. He said they’ll get any reported issues taken care of as soon as possible.