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Friday, June 30, 2017

Prison sentence for theft and willful injury

Today, June 30, 2017, in Muscatine County District Court SONNY RAY BOYCE, 22, of Carrollton, Georgia, was sentenced after pleading guilty to theft in the first degree and willful injury causing bodily injury. The Court imposed concurrent prison sentences for a total term of incarceration of not to exceed 10 years.

Investigation by the Muscatine Police Department showed that BOYCE had taken a wallet containing U.S. Currency from the victim during an altercation at the Muscatine Wal-Mart. The victim received knife wounds during the struggle.

BOYCE's mugshot:


Friday, June 23, 2017

Sexual abuse of children results in prison sentences for two defendants

Today, June 23, 2017, in Muscatine County District Court:

MARTIN EDUARDO GUERRERO, 43, of Muscatine, was sentenced after being found guilty of sexual abuse in the third degree at a bench trial. The court imposed a prison sentence of a term not to exceed 10 years followed by supervised release as if on parole for the remainder of the defendant's life. The defendant will also have to register as a sex offender.

Trial testimony showed that the defendant performed a sex act against a twelve-year-old child. The case was investigated by the Muscatine Police Department.

GUERRERO is subject to a detainer from the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He will likely be removed from the United States following completion of his prison sentence.

GUERRERO's mugshot:


DENIS EDILBERTO LOPEZ-HERNANDEZ, 33, of Iowa City, was sentenced after pleading guilty to sexual abuse in the third degree. The court imposed a prison sentence of a term not to exceed 10 years followed by supervised release as if on parole for the remainder of the defendant's life. The defendant will also have to register as a sex offender. Investigation by the West Liberty Police Department and Iowa City Police Department showed that LOPEZ-HERNANDEZ performed a sex act with a fifteen-year-old child.

LOPEZ-HERNANDEZ is subject to a detainer from the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He will likely be removed from the United States following completion of his prison sentence.

LOPEZ-HERNANDEZ's mugshot:



Also in district court today:

BRADLEY VERNON HONTS, 34, of Muscatine, pleaded guilty to election misconduct in the first degree, a class "D" punishable by imprisonment for a term not to exceed five years. Investigation by the Muscatine County Sheriff showed that HONTS, a previously convicted felon, voted in the 2016 general election despite being ineligible to do so. The court scheduled sentencing for August 11, 2017, at 9:00 a.m.

HONTS's mugshot:



Friday, June 9, 2017

Prison sentence for domestic abuse strangulation

Today, June 9, 2017, in Muscatine County District Court, JONATHAN BEJARANO-MORENO, 27, of West Liberty, was sentenced after pleading guilty to domestic abuse assault by strangulation, resulting in bodily injury. The defendant also pleaded guilty to harassment in the first degree and possession of a controlled substance, to wit: cocaine. The Court imposed concurrent prison sentences of not to exceed five years, two years, and one year respectively.

Investigation by the Muscatine County Sheriff's Office showed that BEJARANO-MORENO assaulted his victim in the early morning hours of December 10, 2016. The assault included putting pressure on the victim's neck causing the victim to have difficulty breathing and become dizzy. BEJARANO-MORENO also threatened to kill the victim. In a separate incident, BEJARANO-MORENO was found to be in possession of a personal-use quantity of cocaine.

BEJARANO-MORENO was taken into custody immediately after the sentencing hearing.

BEJARANO-MORENO's mugshot:


Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Muscatine man convicted of criminal mischief after jury trial

Today, June 6, 2017, a Muscatine County jury found MARCO IMANUEL MARTINEZ, 18, of Muscatine, guilty of criminal mischief in the second degree. The jury trial began yesterday, June 5, 2017. The charge is a class "D" felony punishable by imprisonment for a term not to exceed five years.

Evidence at trial showed that MARTINEZ fired a .22 caliber handgun at a residence located in rural Muscatine County in the early morning hours of February 13, 2017. The residence was struck several times by the bullets with one bullet narrowly missing one of the homeowners.

"I would like to compliment the efforts of law enforcement in investigating this case," said Muscatine County Attorney Alan R. Ostergren. "Both the Muscatine County Sheriff's Office and the Muscatine Police Department worked together closely to make arrests and protect the community," he added. County Attorney Ostergren prosecuted the case at the jury trial.

MARTINEZ remains in the Muscatine County Jail while awaiting sentencing on July 14, 2017, at 9:00 a.m.

MARTINEZ's mugshot: