A District Court Judge has granted a request by the defense attorney in the case of 30-year old Leatha Kaye Slauson, to have her trial moved out of Cass County. The Atlantic woman is accused of faking her daughter’s cancer and endangering her life by administering drugs and a feeding tube. She’s also accused of theft by deception for soliciting funds for her daughter’s treatment. Her trial is now set to begin 9:30-a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18th, in Mills County District Court.

Leatha Slauson enters the courtroom for a hearing 11/10/14 (Ric Hanson/photo)

In last month’s motion for a Change of Venue, Slauson Attorney Jay Mez said the woman’s trial should be moved for a number of reasons, including extensive media coverage. Mez reiterated those same contentions Monday morning in Cass County District Court.  He said a limited jury pool resulting from the extensive media coverage, and allegations that the community was the victim in this case, make getting a fair and impartial trial in Cass County impossible.

In his ruling, Judge Mark Eveloff agreed, saying if the court tried to pick a jury in Cass County next week and a mistrial is declared, it could be violating Slauson’s Right to a Speedy Trial.  He said there “Was such a degree of prejudice that would exist in Cass County that there would be a substantial likelihood of a fair and impartial trial that could not be preserved with the jury selected in Cass County.”

Eveloff selected Mills County because it is similar in size to Cass County. The Judge said the court will reconsider the conditions of Slauson’s bond next Monday, Nov. 17th at 9-a.m. Attorney Mez has stated he intends to use a defense of “Diminished Responsibility” when Slauson’s case comes before a jury. He said she was competent to stand trial, but unable to tell right from wrong.

Authorities say Slauson lied about her daughter having cancer, inserted a feeding tube into the 5-year-old girl and gave her drugs and cannabis oils. Slauson has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts, including assault, child endangerment and theft by deception.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports out of five separate, recent accidents, only one resulted in injuries. An accident early last Saturday afternoon occurred as 16-year old Stephanie Sweesy of Clarinda,  was traveling westbound on 150th Street, and lost control of the 2004 Dodge Durango she was operating. The vehicle went into the north ditch and rolled over coming to rest on the passenger side. Sweesy was transported to Clarinda Regional Health Center by Essex Ambulance. The vehicle, which is owned by Shannon Baum, of Clarinda, sustained $10,000 damage.

An accident early Sunday morning happened on Highway 71, when several deer ran out in front of a car driven by 32-year old Leslie D. Wright, of Anchorage, Alaska. The vehicle, a 2012 Dodge Calibre , was traveling northbound on the east side of Shambaugh. At least two of the animals in the deer herd were struck, causing an estimated $9,000 to the car. No injuries were reported.

The remaining three accidents happened last Friday, November 7th. The Page County Sheriff’s Office says at around 2-p.m., 61-year old Steven Richard Olson, of rural Shenandoah, was driving his 1995 Chevrolet S-10 pickup westbound on 190th approximately 1.5-miles east of Shenandoah, when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle entered the north ditch and traveled about 100-feet before hitting a concrete culvert. The pickup continued in the ditch and struck a fence owned by Carl Boylan of Shenandoah. Officials say Olson tried to get out of the ditch by backing the vehicle-up, but it became stuck in the ditch. Olson was cited for Failure to have a valid driver’s license and Failure to maintain control. Damage from the crash amounted to $5,000. No injuries were reported.

Later that evening, 56-year old Paula Marie Hayes, of rural Clarinda, was traveling east on Highway 2, when her 2002 Chevy Trailblazer hit a deer which ran onto the road on the south side of Shenandoah. The animal hit the driver’s side of the SUV, causing $5000 damage. No injuries were reported.

At about that same time, a vehicle driven by 45-year old Darrin Eugene Harvey, of Elmo, Mo., was traveling west on Highway 2 on the south side of Shenandoah, when he struck one of the deer that was laying in the road from the previous accident. His 2012 Chevrolet Cobalt sustained about $1,500 damage. No injuries were reported.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, today (Monday), released a report on recent arrests and accidents. On Sunday (November 9th), 41-year old John Robert Oathoudt, of Griswold, was arrested on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Oathoudt was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released on his own recognizance the following day.

Late last Friday morning (Nov. 7th), the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident at Dallas Road and 590th Street. Officials say a 1992 International semi-tractor owned and driven by 55-year old Craig Lynn Weber, of Elk Horn, was westbound on Dallas Road when Weber failed to yield to a southbound 2008 Chevy Impala, driven by 73-year old Donna Louise Jones, of Atlantic. Jones was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Wiota Rescue for treatment of her injuries. Damage from the collision amounted to $19,000. Deputies cited Weber for Failure to Yield.

Following a traffic stop on November 6th, 51-year old Milton Milligan, Jr., of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of Driving While Revoked. 22-year old Brandon Adam Fredericksen, of Atlantic, a passenger in the vehicle, was arrested on charges of Possession of Meth and Possession of Marijuana. Both men were brought to the Cass County Jail. Milligan was released later that day on $1,000 bond. Fredericksen remains held at the Jail on $2,000 bond.

And on November 5th, deputies in Cass County arrested 57-year old John Robert Chestnut, of Memphis, TN, on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Chestnut was taken to the Cass County Jail where he will be held until serving his time.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports that on Monday, November 24th, the Clarinda Police Department and Clarinda E-911 Communications Center will begin Operation Blessing 2014. This community project embodies the spirit of Christmas by helping to make sure every child in Clarinda receives a gift on Christmas day.

Children may be signed up for involvement in the program by calling the Clarinda Police Department at 712-542-2194. A Clarinda E-911 Communications Specialist will take the child’s name, age, sex, and address and request two gift requests per child. Names of children can be submitted beginning Monday, November 24, 2014 and will be accepted through Friday, December 19th 2014. All information concerning the child is kept strictly confidential.

People wishing to make a charitable contribution to Operation Blessing 2014 may either donate cash or purchase a requested gift item. . Gifts purchased can be dropped off at the Clarinda Police Department along with a note indicating the sex and age of the child the gift is for. Please leave the gift unwrapped. Cash contributions can be dropped off at the Clarinda Police Department or mailed to the Clarinda Police Department, 200 South 15th Street, Clarinda, Iowa 51632. Cash contributions will be used by the Clarinda Police Department to purchase gifts for the children.

Families will be contacted by the Clarinda Police Department when the gift items are ready to be picked up.