COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Carter Lake man has been given 15 years in prison for having sex with minors. The Daily Nonpareil reports 43-year-old David Trejo also must register as a sex offender and be on parole for the rest of his life. He was sentenced Thursday in Council Bluffs.

He’d pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of soliciting lascivious acts with a minor. Prosecutors dropped six more counts in return for Trejo’s pleas. Court documents say Trejo told investigators that he believed one girl he met online was 19 and did not find out that she was 14 until after they had sex several times. Court documents say another girl involved in the case was under the age of 14.

In his acceptance speech last night (Thursday), Donald Trump recounted the story of a young Iowa woman who was killed in Omaha earlier this year by a drunk driver who was in the country illegally. The Republican presidential nominee warned of the violence America is facing and attributed part of the problem to the dangers of illegal immigration. “One such border-crosser was released and made his way to Nebraska,” Trump says. “There, he ended the life of an innocent young girl named Sarah Root. She was 21-years-old and was killed the day after graduating from college.”

Root, who was from Council Bluffs, was killed hours after her graduation in January from Bellevue University. She had a 4.0 grade point and wanted to go on and earn a master’s degree in criminology. Omaha police say 19-year-old Eswin Mejia, a native of Honduras, was drunk and drag racing a pickup when he rear-ended Root’s S-U-V and he was initially arrested.  “Her killer was then released a second time, and he is now a fugitive from the law,” Trump says. “I’ve met Sarah’s beautiful family, but to this administration, their amazing daughter was just one more American life that wasn’t worth protecting.”

That comment drew boos and jeers from the audience at the Republican National Convention. “No more,” Trump said, as the boos faded. “One more child to sacrifice on the altar of open borders.” Police say Mejia’s blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit and he was driving on a suspended license. Mejia is presumed to have fled the country after federal Immigration Customs Enforcement officers decided not to hold him following his arrest.

Root’s mother testified before Congress in April as legislation is being considered that would force undocumented immigrants to be held for their alleged crimes. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says: “Sarah’s Law would close this gap that we have existing right now and it would require that ICE issue a detainer — they would detain any illegal immigrant who has caused serious bodily injury or death to a citizen.”

(Radio Iowa)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Closing arguments are expected Friday in the trial of a Sioux City man accused of killing another man in the northwest Iowa community of Sloan. Defense and prosecution attorneys rested their cases Thursday in Timothy Schroeder’s trial. He’s charged with first-degree murder and related crimes in the Jan. 9, 2015, shooting death of 29-year-old Dustin Wilder at Wilder’s home.

The defense moved for acquittal on all charges Thursday, saying there wasn’t enough evidence to convict Schroeder. But Judge Jeffery Neary denied the motion.

(8-a.m. News)

Creston Police are investigating two incidents of break-in’s or unauthorized entry into apartments. Two residents at an apartment complex in the 700 block of W. Jefferson Street, in Creston, reported their apartments had been entered sometime between 7:30-a.m. and 4-p.m. on July 18th and 21st, respectively. Items missing include a 32-inch TV and X-box 1 System, along with a laptop computer. The loss was estimated at $790 altogether.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is updating its rules for young drivers to reflect changes in law approved by the Iowa Legislature.  Sara Siedsma with the motor vehicle division says one update involves the restriction on passengers. She says a person under 18 with an intermediate license is restricted to driving with one unrelated minor passenger when driving without supervision unless the parent waives the restriction at the time the license is issued.

Drivers must have an instruction permit for one year without an accident or conviction for traffic offense before getting an intermediate license. Siedsma says drivers have to wait six months after a conviction before the clock can start again, but the year period does not have to be 12 consecutive months. “They would be able to count valid periods of hold that instruction permit prior to a conviction and then after a conviction,” she explains.

They’ve also updated the process for parents seeking a waiver of driver’s education. “Currently that must be submitted on a department form. This change would allow a parent or guardian to sign a written statement at the school rather than having to do the form,” Siedsma says. There’s also a change designed to give more flexibility for school permits.

“For minor children who have divorced or separated parents, they would be able to drive from the school and either parents’ residence —   as long as the parent resides in the district of enrollment, or a contiguous district,” Siedsma says. She says the students often alternate staying with each parent and this allows them to still drive using their school permit as long as they meet the requirements.

(Radio Iowa)