Red Oak Police report a Union County man was arrested Friday evening on a Pottawattamie County warrant. 32-year old Sean Patrick Bagby, of Creston, was arrested following a traffic stop at around 6:45-p.m., on a warrant for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order. Bagby was taken into custody with the assistance of Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies, and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held without bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad testified in a civil trial that he didn’t try to pressure a state official to quit in 2010 because he is gay. Branstad, now the U.S. ambassador to China, testified Friday in a civil trial in which he’s accused of discrimination against former Iowa Worker’s Compensation Commissioner Chris Godfrey. After being elected governor in 2010, Branstad sought Godfrey’s resignation. Godfrey sued in 2012, saying he was a victim of discrimination and retaliation.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — A homeless man charged in the killing of a former Iowa State University golfer has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. The Des Moines Register reports that 22-year-old Collin Richards entered the plea during a hearing Friday. Police say Richards fatally stabbed 22-year-old Celia Barquín Arozamena last September while she was playing a round at a public course in Ames, near the university campus, and leaving her body in a pond on the course.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man convicted of a slew of armed bank robberies in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. Federal prosecutors for Nebraska say 26-year-old Tyree Carney was sentenced Friday in Omaha’s federal courthouse. Carney also was ordered to pay nearly $193,000 in restitution to the banks. Carney had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and several counts of brandishing a gun during the spate of crimes between September 2016 and June 2017.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Officials in eastern Iowa say a 19-year-old man is behind bars after leading police on a chase and crashing into another vehicle, killing the driver. The Quad-City Times reports that Angel Domingo Ochoa, of Davenport, has been charged with vehicular homicide while driving recklessly and other counts. Police say an officer tried to stop Ochoa’s car Thursday and a chase ensued. Investigators say Ochoa was speeding and running red lights before hitting a car, killing 48-year-old Lori Ann Letts.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man convicted of a slew of armed bank robberies in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.

Federal prosecutors for Nebraska say 26-year-old Tyree Carney was sentenced Friday in Omaha’s federal courthouse. Carney also was ordered to pay nearly $193,000 in restitution to the banks. Carney had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and several counts of brandishing a gun during the spate of crimes between September 2016 and June 2017.

Prosecutors say Carney and another person robbed banks at gunpoint in the eastern Nebraska towns of Springfield and Murray, as well as banks in the western Iowa cities of Crescent and Underwood. Police say Carney tried to rob a bank in Bellevue, Nebraska, but was unsuccessful in getting any money there. Investigators say Carney and an accomplice also carjacked vehicles in Omaha to use as getaway cars in the robberies.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — A homeless man charged in the killing of a former Iowa State University golfer has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. The Des Moines Register reports that 22-year-old Collin Richards entered the plea during a hearing Friday. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison when he’s sentenced Aug. 23. Richards had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge and was set to stand trial in September.

Police say Richards fatally stabbed 22-year-old Celia Barquín Arozamena last September while she was playing a round at a public course in Ames, near the university campus, and leaving her body in a pond on the course. Investigators say Richards he had been staying in a small homeless encampment in the woods near the public course.

Barquín Arozamena was a top golfer in Spain as a teenager and came to Iowa State to pursue her career.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad testified Friday in a civil trial that he didn’t try to pressure a state official to quit in 2010 because he is gay but because he wanted someone who shared his political views about the state’s needs.

Branstad, a Republican who is now the U.S. ambassador to China, returned to Des Moines to testify for one day in the trial in which he’s accused of discriminating against former Iowa Worker’s Compensation Commissioner Chris Godfrey, who is a Democrat and is openly gay.

After being elected governor in 2010, Branstad sought Godfrey’s resignation and cut his pay by $39,000 when he refused. Godfrey, who was appointed to a six-year term by Democratic Gov. Chet Culver, sued in 2012, saying he was a victim of discrimination and retaliation.

Branstad testified he didn’t know Godfrey was gay until after cutting his salary and being threatened with a lawsuit, according to The Des Moines Register. “I have always treated everyone, gay or straight, with respect and dignity. That’s the way I have always operated,” Branstad said.

As worker’s compensation commissioner, Godfrey decided disputes between businesses and injured workers. Branstad said he’d heard from business groups that Godfrey wasn’t fair. Paige Fiedler, a lawyer for Godfrey, repeatedly asked Branstad if she evaluated Godfrey’s performance or sought the opinions of anyone other than those in the business community who had complained.

Branstad responded, “Well, a number of people did and I don’t know if they were business owners or not.” Although Branstad was opposed to a 2009 Iowa Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage in the state, Branstad said he now support rights for lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people. “People have accepted it and I support it,” he said.

The trial began June 5 and will continue in Polk County District Court next week.

(Update 6/15: The missing 11 year old female in Council Bluffs, child has been located)

The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating an 11-year old female runaway from Children’s Square USA (500 North 7th Street).

Jenna Bentrott

The child, Jenna Bentrott, was last seen at 6:03 pm in the area of North 16th Street and Avenue A in Council Bluffs. Bentrott is a white female with short Brown hair, wearing black and pink leggings and pink crocs shoes.

If you see her please contact the Council Bluffs Police Department 712-328-4728 or call 911.

Atlantic, IA — Officials with the Cass County Health System/CCMH report Holly Christensen, BSN, MSN, ARNP has joined the Cass County Health System Emergency Department.
“Emergency medicine has always been my true love,” said Holly. “I love being able to practice a full scope of healthcare, and I love the variety that comes with working in an emergency department.”

Holly Christensen, BSN, ARNP

Holly graduated from Graceland University in 2007, earning her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner. Since that time she has served in Iowa as a Family Nurse Practitioner in the emergency departments at Manning Regional Health Center, Audubon County Hospital, and Myrtue Medical Center. She has also served as a Medical Examiner for Shelby County.

Holly, her husband Craig, and daughter Carly live on a farm outside of Harlan. They enjoy traveling, camping, tractor pulling, spending time around the farm and are very involved with the Shelby County Fair.

The Atlantic Police Department reports three separate arrests. On Thursday, 26-year old Daniel Jones, of Exira, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct. Last Saturday, 39-year old Kantauo Mark, of Atlantic, who was already in custody, was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. The charge is in connection with a previous incident. And, on June 7th, 33-year old Justin Kubicki, of Tonganoxie, KS, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear. Jones and Kubicki were booked into the Cass County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two psychiatric experts testifying in a lawsuit against the Iowa Human Services Department say the use of isolation and restraints at the state school for delinquent boys can psychologically damage them. Psychologist Andrea Weisman testified in U.S. District Court in Des Moines that a Velco and leather contraption called “the wrap” used to restrain boys at the State Training School for Boys in Eldora is “akin to a torture device.”

The class-action lawsuit filed in November 2017 by two advocacy groups says the school is failing to provide adequate mental health care to the boys. The Des Moines Register reports that state administrators say the facility tries to minimize the use of restraints and isolation. The school’s superintendent, Mark Day, told the judge Thursday that he and his staff try to make the school feel more like a campus than a prison.

A man from Australia was transported by helicopter to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Thursday afternoon, after the bicycle he was riding was struck by a car in southeast Iowa’s Jefferson County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 79-year old Steven Timm was traveling westbound on Burlington Avenue, in Fairfield, and was to the right of the white line, when he entered the westbound lane of traffic. The driver of a westbound 2006 Cadillac, 27-year old Ethan Daniel Ball, of Cedar Rapids, moved towards the center line of the road in an attempt to give Timm some room, but the bike turned in front of the car. The right front of the Cadillac struck the bicycle. The accident remains under investigation.