Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:40 a.m. CDT

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man previously arrested on suspicion of participating in a robbery that led to the stabbing death at a Council Bluffs homeless shelter has now been charged with first-degree murder in the case. Council Bluffs police say 20-year-old James Michael McCauley was served with a warrant for the upgraded charge on Thursday for the March death of 44-year-old Lee Johnson. McCauley was served at the Pottawattamie County Jail, where he was being held on the robbery charge.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted a Des Moines man of first-degree murder and burglary in the shooting death last year of his estranged wife. The Des Moines Register reports that 51-year-old Harold Dudley was found guilty Friday in the June 2017 death of 36-year-old Mary Dudley, of Des Moines. Prosecutors showed videos that captured Harold Dudley peering around a corner at his wife’s apartment holding a handgun before he kicked in her door and fired six times.

MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) — A man charged with killing Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts is set to be arraigned next week. The Des Moines Register reports that 24-year-old Cristhian Bahena Rivera will be arraigned Wednesday in Poweshiek County District Court in Montezuma. Rivera was arrested and charged with first-degree murder last month in the stabbing death of the 20-year-old Tibbetts, who vanished while out for a run in the east-central Iowa town of Brooklyn on July 18.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court has disbarred a northeast Iowa attorney accused of looting a woman’s estate. The state’s Attorney Disciplinary Board charged attorney Todd Kowalke with violating the rules of professional conduct during his representation of the executors of the estate, and the Grievance Commission later recommended revocation of his Iowa law license. On Friday, the high court found that Kowalke converted client funds for his personal use, and revoked his license.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday, that a Mills County man wanted on several felony charges associated with a domestic assault in Sidney, was arrested by Omaha Police on a Fremont County warrant. Authorities say additional information concerning 22-year old Marcus Anthony Pierce, of Glenwood, will be released on Monday, September, 17th.

Authorities said Friday, that Pierce was wanted in connection to an incident that was occurred in August at a residence in Tabor. Deputies received information about a viral video that appears to show a domestic assault that occurred in Tabor in August of 2018, and then recently published on Facebook.

Marcus Pierce

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted a Des Moines man of first-degree murder and burglary in the shooting death last year of his estranged wife. The Des Moines Register reports that 51-year-old Harold Dudley was found guilty Friday in the June 2017 death of 36-year-old Mary Dudley, of Des Moines.

Police had said officers were called to Mary Dudley’s apartment building for reports of a shooting and found her dead at the scene. Harold Dudley admitted shooting her, but that the killing arose from a sudden quarrel and that he should be convicted of second-degree murder.

However, prosecutors showed videos that captured him peering around a corner at his wife’s apartment holding a handgun before he kicked in her door and fired six times.

MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) — A man charged with killing Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts is set to be arraigned next week. The Des Moines Register reports that 24-year-old Cristhian Bahena Rivera will be arraigned Wednesday in Poweshiek County District Court in Montezuma.

Rivera was arrested and charged with first-degree murder last month in the stabbing death of the 20-year-old Tibbetts, who vanished while out for a run in the east-central Iowa town of Brooklyn on July 18.

The search for Tibbetts stretched for more than a month and drew national attention before her body was found in an area cornfield. Police say Rivera led them to her body Aug. 21 after he was detained. Rivera remains jailed on a $5 million cash-only bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court has disbarred a northeast Iowa attorney accused of looting a woman’s estate. The state’s Attorney Disciplinary Board charged attorney Todd Kowalke with violating the rules of professional conduct during his representation of the executors of the estate, and the Grievance Commission later recommended revocation of his Iowa law license.

On Friday, the high court found that Kowalke converted client funds for his personal use, and revoked his license. Last month, the 56-year-old Kowalke pleaded not guilty to a criminal theft charge.

The criminal complaint against him says he took more than $35,000 from the estate of a woman who died in 2009 and used it for gambling and for business and personal expenses. The complaint also says he promised to repay the money.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The city of Des Moines is giving those with unpaid parking tickets a chance to settle up before further action is taken to collect the debts. The city says it has $1.8 million in parking ticket fines that are more than 120 days overdue.

The city has sent out postcards reminding those with tickets that there are three ways to pay the outstanding tickets. That includes:
— Online at https://pay.dmgov.org/ ;
— In person on the first floor of City Hall;
— Or by mail with a check addressed to the City of Des Moines and sent to the Des Moines City Clerk’s Office.

Those with unpaid balances greater than 120 days will have until Oct. 12 to pay before the information is sent to a collection agency.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests that took place over the past couple of weeks. Most recent, at around 12:30-a.m. Friday, Deputies arrested 33-year-old Ryan Michael Carter, of Irwin, following a disturbance in the Myrtue Medical Center Emergency Room, in Harlan. Carter was charged with disorderly conduct and transferred to the Shelby County Jail. He was released Saturday (9/15) on his own recognizance and the transferred to another facility.

On Thursday, Deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office were called to an address along 1700th in Earling, for a male-female disturbance. Upon arrival and further investigation, 42-year-old Phillip Bradley Pool was taken into custody and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault Impeding Airway. Pool was transferred to the Shelby County Jail without incident where he remains under a $5,000 bond after appearance from magistrate.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office said Friday, they are looking for a man wanted in connection to an incident that was occurred in August at a residence in Tabor. Deputies received information about a viral video that appears to show a domestic assault that occurred in Tabor in August of 2018, and then recently published on Facebook.

Marcus Pierce

Through investigation, a warrant has been issued for the arrest for 22-year old Marcus Anthony Pierce, of Glenwood. Pierce is currently wanted on several felony charges in connection with the incident. Pierce is considered possibly armed and dangerous.  If you see him, contact the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office at 712-374-2424 or your local law enforcement agency.

A Crime Stoppers reward up to $1,000.00 is available for information leading to the capture and arrest of Pierce.

A transient who was being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail in connection with a robbery that led to the death of 44-year old Lee Johnson, the night of March 21st, was served with a warrant, Friday, for first-degree murder. 20-year old James Michael McCauley was released back to the custody of Pottawattamie County Corrections after being served with the warrant.

James Michael McCauley

Authorities said previously, that on March 21st, 2018, shortly after 11:30-p.m., Council Bluffs Police and Fire personnel were dispatched to the Joshua House, 1435 North 15th Street, regarding an assault. The Joshua House is a 24-hour men’s emergency homeless shelter.

Upon their arrival, officers located Lee Johnson’s deceased body laying outside the building. Johnson had multiple, deep lacerations to his face and neck. Joshua House staff directed officers to Vance Good and Brandon Hollis, who were both still inside the facility. A preliminary investigation revealed that Good and Johnson were in an altercation inside the Joshua House. Good allegedly used a sharp cutting instrument to fatally wound Johnson. Good and Hollis then proceeded to carry Johnson’s body out of the building, to dispose of it in the parking lot. Neither Good or Hollis attempted any life saving measures nor did they contact anyone to provide emergency medical assistance for Johnson.

Good was booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail on one count of Murder 1st Degree, while Hollis was booked for one count of being an Accessory After the Fact (Murder).

A single-vehicle accident claimed the life of a woman in Crawford County, Friday. The Iowa State Patrol reports 27-year old Christina Foote, of Dunlap, was driving a 2005 Chevy Malibu, when the vehicle left the roadway in a curve, and rolled into the ditch. Foote, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene.

The accident happened at around 2:40-p.m. near 210th Street and U Avenue, east of Dow City. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Dunlap Police and Dow City Fire and Rescue.