Guilty plea in drive-by shooting; update on other cases

Today, April 4, 2017, in Muscatine County District Court, BENITO MARTINEZ, 21, of Milwaukee, WI, pleaded guilty to intimidation with a dangerous weapon, going armed with intent, and criminal mischief in the third degree in connection with a shooting on October 30, 2016. Investigation by the Muscatine Police Department showed that MARTINEZ fired a pistol at an occupied residence on King Avenue. MARTINEZ's gunfire also struck a second house nearby.

The first two offenses are class "D" felonies punishable by imprisonment for a term not to exceed five years. Criminal mischief is an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for a term not to exceed two years.

MARTINEZ will be sentenced May 19, 2017, at 9:00 a.m.

MARTINEZ's mugshot:

In addition, Muscatine County Attorney provided the following update on several pending cases involving serious crimes of violence:

PATRICK ROBERT JOHNSON, 41, of Muscatine charged with attempt to commit murder and willful injury, both as a habitual offender. JOHNSON remains held in the Muscatine County Jail on $500,000 bond. Next court date is a pretrial conference set for April 21, 2017.

NOAH WYATT HASS, 16, of Fairfield, IA charged with attempt to commit murder, robbery in the first degree, felon in possession of a firearm, and assault while participating in a felony. HASS remains held in the Muscatine County Jail on a $500,000  bond. Next court date is a pretrial conference set for April 21, 2017.

SONNY BOYCE, 22, of Carrollton, GA charged with robbery in the first degree and theft in the fourth degree. BOYCE remains held in the Muscatine County Jail on a $300,000 bond. Next court date is a pretrial conference set for April 14, 2017.

JUSTIN LEE DEWITT, 37, of North Liberty, IA charged with three counts of attempt to commit murder. DEWITT remains in the Muscatine County Jail on a $750,000 bond. Next court date is a status conference set for April 14, 2017.

JUAN GOMEZ, JR., 39, of Muscatine, charged with attempt to commit murder, going armed with intent, felon in possession of a firearm, assault while participating in a felony, and assault with a dangerous weapon; all as a habitual offender. GOMEZ remains in the Muscatine County Jail on a $250,000 bond. Next court date is a final pretrial conference set for May 19, 2017.

This post was updated 4/5/2017 to correct King Street to King Avenue as well as to add the information about the Gomez case.