DES MOINES, Iowa – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a Des Moines man, 45-year old Marlin Santana Thomas, has been charged in federal court with sex trafficking eight victims. In August, a United States Grand Jury filed a Superseding Indictment in the United States District Court charging Thomas with the offenses. Thomas appeared before a federal magistrate judge on September 2, 2020, and is currently detained in federal custody.

Thomas is charged with sex trafficking seven adult victims by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion, and is alleged to have sex trafficked one minor victim. Thomas is charged with
trafficking victims over nearly a decade, from as early as September 2009, up until February 2018. Thomas is also charged with distributing heroin to two victims, who were under the age of twenty-one, and with several related offenses, such as transporting victims out of state for the purpose of prostitution. In late February 2018, Thomas was arrested as part of a separate federal drug investigation, for which he is currently serving a federal prison term.

The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the
burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
If convicted, Thomas is subject to a fifteen-year mandatory minimum prison term for sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, up to life imprisonment. Sex trafficking of children 14 years
of age and older, without the allegation of force, fraud, or coercion, carries a ten year mandatory
minimum, and a maximum term of life in prison.

Human trafficking is a crime involving the exploitation of youth under the age of 18 for commercial sex; the exploitation of adults for commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or
coercion; and the exploitation of any individual for compelled labor. Human trafficking does not require the transportation of individuals across state lines, or that someone is physically restrained. Signs that a person is being trafficked can include working excessively long hours, unexplained gifts, physical injury, substance abuse issues, running away from home, isolation from others, or having a person in their life controlling them or monitoring them closely. Victims particularly susceptible to being trafficked include those with criminal histories, a history of physical or sexual abuse, uncertain legal status, and dependency on controlled substances.

Individuals who purchase sex from minors or from those who are otherwise exploited for commercial sex are also subject to prosecution for sex trafficking under federal law, if they knew or
were in reckless disregard of the fact that they were under the age of 18, or that force, fraud, or coercion was used. Anyone who suspects human trafficking is occurring, be it a minor engaging in paid sex acts, or anyone being coerced into prostitution or labor, is urged to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

If anyone has information about this defendant, Marlin Santana Thomas, they are urged to call the Des Moines Police Department Vice/Narcotics Office at 515-237-1516, or
call the National Human Trafficking Hotline. This case is being investigated by the Des Moines Police Department and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Three people were arrested on separate charges recently, in Shenandoah. According to Police, two people from Nebraska were arrested after allegedly attempting to steal from a Shenandoah business. Officers today (Thursday) witnessed a black Jeep pull into the Earl May parking lot at 301 South Fremont Street around 1 a.m. Those same officers say the Jeep’s occupants began loading the vehicle with flowers.

Following an investigation, 63-year-old Rickey Lynn Frame and 34-year-old Tiffany Jane Byrd — both of Lincoln, NE., were arrested. Frame was charged with third-degree theft. He was also wanted on a Mills County warrant for fifth-degree theft. Byrd was charged with fifth-degree theft. Frame was being held in the Page County Jail on $2,300 bond. Byrd was released from the jail after posting $300 bond.

And, Wednesday, Shenandoah Police arrested 44-year-old Nikki Lynn Garner. She was taken into custody on a Page County warrant for violation of probation. During the arrest, officers say Garner was found to be in possession of marijuana. She was additionally charged with possession of marijuana/2^nd offense, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Garner was being held in the Page County Jail on $3,300 bond.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) – The final holiday of one of the strangest summers in memory is just ahead. Mark Peterson, spokesman for Triple-A-Iowa, expects a boost in vacation traffic on Iowa’s roads for the three-day weekend, but he notes it likely won’t be bumper-to-bumper due to the pandemic. “Labor Day is the last big hurrah for the summer travel season,” Peterson says. “It won’t be as crowded as it has been in the past but we’ll still probably find some increased travel through the coming weekend.”

Road trips will be cheaper than Labor Day of 2019, as gasoline prices in Iowa are averaging two-dollars and 11-cents a gallon. That’s down from an average of two-40 a gallon a year ago.  “Low gas prices will continue and will probably make going out affordable for a lot of the travelers,” he says. “It appears drivers will pay some of the lowest Labor Day prices in four years. National average is about $2.23 a gallon which is about 35-cents less than it was last Labor Day.”

Triple-A reports Iowa’s most expensive gas is in Iowa City at $2.27 a gallon, while it’s cheapest in Council Bluffs at $2.01.

(Radio Iowa) – Woodbury County Auditor Pat Gill says he will not appeal a judge’s decision that nullified thousands of absentee ballot request forms Gill’s office mailed out that included the voter’s I-D number. Gill says he strongly disagrees with Republicans who say that endangered election security. “Everything I did was to make sure that the voters of Woodbury County could participate in the election safely and securely,” Gill says.

A judge issued a temporary injunction last Friday, invalidating the forms Gill mailed to Woodbury County voters Gill estimates it will cost about 30-thousand dollars to send a letter to voters in Woodbury County and a letter explaining they must fill out a new, blank form to request an absentee ballot. A hearing on the G-O-P’s lawsuit against Johnson County’s auditor over absentee ballot request forms is scheduled next week.

Linn County’s Auditor also sent forms that included the voter’s name and voter I-D number. A judge has already issued an injunction invalidating the 50-thousand forms he mailed out.

(Radio Iowa) – California Congresswoman Katie Porter says one of the lessons she learned growing up in southwest Iowa during the Farm Crisis was that Washington politicians weren’t there for Iowans when it really mattered.  “Iowa’s not just a place you visit every four years,” Porter said. “It is a home. It is a place where people are raising families and building an economy, taking care of loved ones.”

Porter was last (Wednesday) night’s keynote speaker for Progress Iowa’s 6th Annual, but first-ever virtual Corn Feed fundraiser. Porter, who was born in Fort Dodge and grew up in Lorimor, talked about the day in 1983 when the bank in Afton failed and was closed. Porter shifted to the 2020 campaign as she concluded, telling Iowa Democrats there’s work to be done at both the national and local level.

“I know that campaigning this year looks a little different,” Porter says, “…It’s more phone calls and less large rallies, but those conversations count just as much.”

Porter is a former consumer protection lawyer and law professor who won a first term in the U.S. House in 2018. She’s garnered the attention of Democratic Party activists for the way she questions witnesses at congressional hearings, including her quizzing of the U.S. Postmaster General last month. She now joins past presidential candidates like 2020 Iowa Caucus winner Pete Buttigieg as having been a keynote speaker at the Progress Iowa Corn Feed.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — As Iowa sees some of the highest rates of coronavirus cases in the nation, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’ll wait to determine whether her move to close bars in six counties causes spread of the virus to slow before considering additional steps. Reynolds says the soaring number of confirmed virus cases is largely due to infection among young people, especially those in the college towns of Iowa City and Ames. That trend prompted her last week to order the closure of bars. Now, she says it’s best to wait to see if those moves will cause numbers to drop. If not, she will consider additional actions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa is suggesting government statistics on coronavirus infections and deaths have been inflated. Ernst, who is facing an unexpectedly tough reelection fight, is echoing a discredited conspiracy theory. Ernst made the comment after a man at a campaign stop in Waterloo, Iowa, said he believes the numbers of cases and deaths are being exaggerated. Experts refute that and some data suggests the toll is higher than the official count. Ernst said she, too, is “so skeptical” of the official numbers. In a statement later Wednesday, she referred to the government-reported death toll as fact.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police are investigating the shooting death of a man at an apartment complex near Drake University. Officers were called to the complex Wednesday afternoon. They found a 36-year-old man dead from apparent gunshot wounds. The man was identified Wednesday night as Sean Newman. Police say they believe the shooter and the victim knew each other and there is no danger to the public. No other details were released. The death is Des Moines’ 16th homicide of the year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A longtime special education teacher with Des Moines Public Schools has died of complications from the coronavirus. District spokesman Phil Roeder said the teacher at the Ruby Van Meter School for intellectually disabled students fell ill after an out-of-state trip and died this week. He did not release the teacher’s name or gender for privacy reasons. The death is believed to be among the first of an Iowa educator during the pandemic. A 73-year-old gym teacher at Iowa City Regina High School died in April, and the state’s coronavirus website lists only one known death of an educator. Roeder said the teacher had not been in the classroom for several months.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, approved several matters to come before them, recognized a long-time City employee, and discussed COVID-19 related issues. The Council first-off tabled action on their Consent Agenda items related to Tree Trimmer permits for Cook Hauling & Tree Service/Cook Roll Off Service, and Steve’s Tree Service, due to unresolved questions pertaining to proof of insurance. They then recognized Sandy Walter, who has served at the Atlantic Wastewater Treatment Plant for the past 20-years, ensuring the City is in compliance with State and Federal Regulations.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones reads from a plaque presented to Sandy Walter (Ric Hanson/photo)

The Council approved the slightly revised 1st Reading of Amended Ordinance with regard to Sanitary Sewer System hookups. The latest version calls for “The owners of any houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation of other purposes situated within the City Limits,” to install at the owner’s expense, suitable toilet facilities and a building sewer connecting to such facilities directly with the proper public sewer, “within 30-days after date of official notice from the City…provided [the] public sewer is within 500-feet of the [owned] structure.”

The Ordinance says also, “No private sewage disposal system shall be installed, repaired or rehabilitated where a public sewer is available withing 500-feet of the structure.” Final determination of availability shall be made by the Waste Water Department Superintendent. In addition, “Properties with septic systems installed prior to Sept. 2nd, 2020, shall be exempt…until the septic system fails, or until the property is sold, or conveyed…and [at that time] will be required to have a public sewer connection. Billing for sanitary sewer service will begin the date of official notice to connect to the public sewer or the property owner makes the connection, whichever occurs first.”

In the Council reports, Councilman Jim Behrens, who attended Tuesday’s Fire Department meeting, said the decision was made to cancel this year’s Atlantic Fireman’s Parade, but the October 4th breakfast will take place, with social distancing. He said also the Fire, Police and Sheriff’s Departments are looking to purchase a Search and Rescue drone sometime next year. And, Mayor Dave Jones said “If we have Halloween [Trick or Treating] this year, it will be on October 31st…we’ll play it by ear,” with regard to COVID-19.

Mayor Jones said also he was approached by Alan Zellmer and a small group of farmers, about what it would take to get a Splash Pad in town. The group is thinking about donating money from a tractor pull and other events, to help pay for the popular attraction other cities have. Jones said the budget is tight right now, so “It won’t happen this year for sure,” and it takes a lot of planning, so he’d like to see committee comprised of citizens and a Council representative to explore the current costs and designs of such a facility.