Clarinda Police have charged a local man in connection with an armed robbery that took  place Monday afternoon. Police Chief Keith Brothers reports 27-year old Aaron Gar Nelson, of Clarinda, is charged with robbery in the first degree, felony assault, false imprisonment and theft in the fourth degree.

The charges stem from an investigation into a complaint filed by the 25-year old victim, who alleges Nelson forced him at knife point  to withdraw cash from a drive-up ATM located at an area Clarinda Bank. The victim was not injured during the robbery.

Nelson was being held in the Page County Jail on a $32,000 bond. The Clarinda Police Department was assisted in its investigation by the Page County Sheriff’s Department.

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Federal prosecutors in Illinois say a Texas man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison on child pornography charges involving more than 40 girls in eight states. Prosecutors said Tuesday 36-year-old Mark P. Barnwell of Whitehouse, Texas, was sentenced on Jan. 9. Authorities say he used false Facebook profiles to contact girls and advertise modeling opportunities. Prosecutors say Barnwell directed the girls to send him sexually explicit photos and threatened to post the nude photos online if they failed to send more.

Officials say Barnwell obtained nude photos from 43 victims, including 28 in central Illinois. Others were from California, Iowa, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas, Washington and West Virginia. Barnwell was ordered to remain on supervised release for the rest of his life when he completes the prison term.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted a man for the shooting death of another Davenport man outside a bar. The jury deliberated for less than an hour Wednesday morning before finding 37-year-old Deondra Thomas guilty of a weapons crime and first-degree murder. They deliberated for less than 30 minutes Tuesday afternoon following closing arguments. Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced March 1 to the state’s mandatory of life in prison.

Officers sent to check a report of gunshots early on June 9 found 46-year-old Jason Roberts outside MVP Sports Bar suffering from three bullet wounds. He was pronounced dead later at a hospital. Prosecutors say Thomas had interjected himself into a disagreement among friends. Defense attorney Jack Dusthimer questioned the credibility of several of the witnesses.

Police in Glenwood report 27-year Zachery Coddington, of Red Oak, was arrested Tuesday, on numerous charges. Coddington was taken into custody for Interference with Official Acts, Bodily Injury and Possession of Contraband in a Correctional Facility. His cash or surety bond was set at $6,000 on the charges, plus $2,000 bond for a warrant out of Montgomery County.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports that at around 10:30 this (Wednesday) morning, deputies arrested 67-year old Linda Francele Lauber. The woman was taken into custody at the Sheriff’s Office, on a Page County Warrant for Theft 5th / Failure to appear. Lauber immediately posted a $300 bond and was released, pending future court proceedings.

(Radio Iowa) — The chief justice of Iowa’s Supreme Court is asking legislators for a significant, seven-point-two MILLION dollar boost in the budget for Iowa courts.  Cady would direct a third of that increase to a digitial initiative, using the money to develop electronic warrants and start paying for the court’s digital services with taxpayer dollars rather than court fees. Cady’s also warns lawmakers fewer people are applying to be judges because of the pay. He’s asking for nearly one-point-nine MILLION dollars extra to finance a four percent hike in judicial salaries.

The other big-ticket item in Cady’s request to lawmakers is for rural courthouses. Cady’s asking for enough funding to hire 37 more full-timers to work in the clerks of court offices. Cady outlined his requests this (Wednesday) morning during the annual “Condition of the Judiciary” speech at the statehouse.

COLFAX, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Lottery officials say someone who bought a Mega Millions ticket at a central Iowa convenience store won a $1 million prize. The ticket was purchased at Kum & Go in Colfax. It matched the first five numbers in Tuesday night’s drawing for the $55 million jackpot but missed the Mega Ball number. A ticket bought in California also is worth $1 million. No ticket bought matched all six numbers, so the jackpot is expected to climb to $68 million for Friday’s drawing. Prizes of $1 million or more in Iowa must be claimed at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive.