COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A former Council Bluffs city employee is scheduled to be sentenced in September for his child pornography convictions. Federal court records say Jamin Fletcher was found guilty April 20 of receiving and distributing child pornography. He was acquitted of advertising child pornography. His sentencing is set for Sept. 19 in U.S. District Court in Council Bluffs. Authorities say Fletcher was an accounting clerk for the city from 2008 to 2017.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests and warrants served. Officials say 40-year old Moreice Putnam Stewart, of Omaha, was served with a Nebraska warrant at the Pott. County Jail, for being a fugitive from justice. Stewart was then returned to the custody of jail staff. On Saturday, a Pott. County Deputy was called to the 2600 block of Old Lincoln Highway, to check on the welfare of an adult male walking southbound. He ended up arresting 42-year old James Anthony Miller, of Council Bluffs, for Disorderly Conduct, by blocking a street. Also arrested Saturday, was 25-year old Austin Charles Harmon, of Crescent. Harmon was arrested on a Pott. County warrant for Failure to Appear (in court). He was brought to the jail in Council Bluffs.

Sunday morning, 25-year old Ladarius James Moye, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pott. County Jail for allegedly breaking a shower head in the jail. The damage was estimated at $400. Moye was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree and returned to the custody of jail staff. A traffic stop Sunday on Interstate 80 for a vehicle with a possibly intoxicated driver, resulted in the arrest of 34-year old Koka Konya Shebe, of Bellevue, NE, for OWI/1st offense, and driving while suspended. A passenger in the vehicle, 25-year old Martha N. James, of Omaha, was arrested on a warrant out of Des Moines, for Assault Causing Bodily Injury, and Criminal Trespass w/injury or damage greater than $200.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque mobile home park owner accused of bypassing water meters to save thousands of dollars has been sentenced to two years of probation. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that Michael Friederick paid the city $110,000 in restitution before sentencing. He’d entered an Alford plea to a charge of theft. In an Alford plea, a defendant doesn’t admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a jury to reach a guilty verdict. Friederick also was given a suspended jail sentence of 180 days.

Court records say city officials suspect Friederick opened a valve that let water bypass meters into lines for his Table Mound Mobile Home Park. The officials estimate more than 21.5 million gallons were taken.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two separate arrests, both of which occurred last Friday. At around 11:40-p.m. a traffic stop on Highway 59, about five-miles north of Shenandoah, resulted in the arrest of 44-year old Derek Jason Ellis, of rural Emerson. Ellis was arrested for Driving under suspension. His bond was set at $566. And, at around 7:15-p.m., Friday, a traffic stop on 140th Street in Page County, about 5-miles east of Essex, resulted in the arrest of 45-year old Tina Ann McClain, of Essex. She was taken into custody for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. McClain was transported to the Page County Jail, posted a $300 bond, and was released pending further court appearances.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 9:50-p.m. Sunday, of 44-year old Luke Alan Johnson, of Greenfield. Johnson was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for Violation of Probation. Johnson was being held in the Union County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, a woman from Lorimor, reported on March 19th, that sometime that day someone damaged two doors to her residence and took food from her refrigerator. On April 24th, she provided authorities with a list of missing items, which included: Two PlayStation 4’s and 4 games; A Visio 60” flat screen TV; two mountain bikes; A DeWalt tool kit; Snap-On tools; An HP Laptop; dry goods and canned goods; and miscellaneous food from a freezer. The value of items taken and damage to doors was estimated at $10,000.

Another woman from Lorimor reported on April 21st, that sometime between the 18th through the 21st, someone entered here residence and took approximately 30 pairs of jeans, a vacuum cleaner, and numerous tools. The loss was estimated at $3,400.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A research facility in Des Moines wants to bring more bonobos to central Iowa in hopes of breeding the animals and learning more about the apes’ abilities and behaviors.
The Des Moines Register reports that the Ape Cognition & Conservation Initiative has applied for accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accreditation would give the initiative permission to breed with other captive bonobos in the U.S.

The initiative’s goal is to learn more about human evolution through the study of bonobos. Researchers say bonobos are the closest genetic relative to humans. The nonprofit hopes to hear back on its application next year. There are less than 100 bonobos living in captivity in the U.S. Philanthropist Ted Townsend brought five to Des Moines in 2004 through the Great Ape Trust.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to be on the lookout for a silver Dodge Caravan, following an incident that took place last Thursday. Authorities say at around 3-p.m., the Sheriff’s Office received a call about a person performing a sex act in the Sidney City Park. The witness said the subject was driving a silver Dodge Caravan with Iowa license plates, but the witness was unable to get the license plate number. The driver was described as being a white man in his mid-30’s, with brown hair and a beard. When the man saw that he was being observed, he left the park and was last seen heading west on Knox Road.

If you see the suspect vehicle or driver, do not approach the man. Instead, call your local law enforcement agency.

WELLMAN, Iowa (AP) — A superintendent who let a convicted sex offender volunteer at an eastern Iowa school district says he’ll resign if the school board doesn’t give him a vote of confidence.
Minutes of Saturday’s special Mid-Prairie school board meeting in Wellman show Superintendent Mark Schneider apologized for dividing the community with his 2015 decision regarding volunteer Trent Yoder. Yoder had pleaded guilty to exploiting a minor at an Anita school by videotaping a high school athlete changing her clothes in 1998. He was removed from the sex offender registry after 10 years.
Schneider told the board members he needed their votes of support at their May 14 meeting to resolve the Yoder issue and others.
Yoder also spoke Saturday and told the board he wouldn’t volunteer for any events for the remainder of the school year.