Muscatine woman pleads guilty to introducing methamphetamine to Muscatine County Jail

March 27, 2012, in Muscatine County District Court:

BETTY JO GRAY, DOB: 1/30/1974, 612 Evans Street, Muscatine, pleaded guilty to Introduction of Contraband to a Jail Facility, a class “D” felony.

GRAY had been arrested for theft by the Muscatine Police Department after being caught shoplifting. Upon being booked into the Muscatine County Jail she was found to be in possession of methamphetamine.

GRAY will be sentenced May 11, 2012, at 9:15 a.m.

Muscatine County District Court 3/23/2012

The following occurred today (3/23/2012) in Muscatine County District Court:

STARLIN WILLIAM VARGAS, DOB: 3/9/1994, of #10 Samantha Dr., Conesville, was sentenced for the offense of Burglary in the Second Degree, a class “C” felony.

The Court granted a deferred judgment and placed VARGAS on probation for 24 months and imposed a $1,000 civil penalty plus victim restitution. The investigation into this incident by the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office showed that VARGAS burglarized a residence in Conesville.

ANTHONY WAYNE WINSTON, II, DOB: 6/6/1991, of Fruitland, Iowa, pleaded guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, a class “C” felony.

WINSTON was arrested by the Muscatine Police Department after a traffic stop revealed that he was in possession of cocaine which had been packaged for distribution.

WINSTON will be sentenced May 4, 2012, at 9:45 a.m.

MARIO GARCIA, DOB: 2/7/1988, of 420 E. 4^th Street, West Liberty, pleaded guilty to Fraudulent Practices in the Second Degree, a class “D” felony.

Investigation by the Iowa Department of Workforce Development showed that GARCIA had fraudulently received unemployment compensation by falsely reporting that he remained unemployed when he had started a new job.

GARCIA will be sentenced May 4, 2012, at 9:30 a.m.

KEGAN TATE, DOB: 3/6/1957, of 915 Oregon St., Muscatine, pleaded guilty to Manufacture of a Controlled Substance, a class “C” felony.

Investigation by the Muscatine County Drug Task Force showed that TATE had conspired with other individuals to manufacture methamphetamine. TATE purchased pseudoephedrine and provided it to coconspirators who were going to manufacture methamphetamine with it. The offense was intercepted by law enforcement prior to any drugs being manufactured.

TATE will be sentenced May 4, 2012, at 9:15 a.m.

HECTOR MARTINEZ, DOB: 9/9/1984, of 514 E. 8^th Street, West Liberty, Iowa pleaded guilty to Delivery of a Controlled Substance and Drug Tax Stamp Violation.

Investigation by the Muscatine County Drug Task Force showed that MARTINEZ had sold cocaine to a confidential informant.

MARTINEZ will be sentenced May 4, 2012, at 9:00 a.m.

Guilty plea in meth manufacture investigation

March 16, 2012:

Today in Muscatine County District Court JASON GARRETT, DOB: 9/18/1975, formerly of 605 E. 8th Street, Muscatine, pled guilty to Manufacture of a Controlled Substance and Theft in the Third Degree.

GARRETT was arrested after shoplifting at a Muscatine business. During the investigation of the shoplifting incident officers discovered he was in possession of methamphetamine manufacturing components.

GARRETT will be sentenced April 27, 2012, at 9:15 a.m.

Muscatine man pleads guilty to sexual offenses against child

March 16, 2012:

Today in Muscatine County District Court JACK MATHIS, DOB: 7/28/1985, formerly of 710 Lombard Street, Muscatine pleaded guilty to four counts of Lascivious Acts with a Child, a class "C" felony. The plea agreement calls for consecutive sentences for a total term of incarceration for a term not to exceed 40 years. In addition, MATHIS will be subject to lifetime supervised release as if on parole following his prison term. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

The arrest of MATHIS was the result of an investigation by the Muscatine Police Department. The investigation showed that MATHIS had sexually abused a five year old girl.

"Justice was served in this case," said Muscatine County Attorney Alan Ostergren. "The Muscatine Police Department did a professional and thorough job in the investigation. I'd like to thank the Muscatine Child Protection Center for providing services to the victim. Their services included a forensic interview of the victim which gave me enough evidence to prosecute the case," he added.

MATHIS will be sentenced April 27, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. He remains in the Muscatine County Jail on a $300,000 cash only bond.

Muscatine County District Court 3/2/2012

ALEXANDER BROWN, DOB: 8/30/1993, of 613 E. 5^th Street, Muscatine was sentenced after pleading guilty to Burglary in the Third Degree, a class “D” felony, and Unlawful Possession of a Prescription Drug, a serious misdemeanor. The Court entered a deferred judgment and ordered the defendant to successfully complete the Residential Correctional Facility program as a condition of probation.

BROWN was arrested by officers of the Muscatine Police Department after an investigation into a residential burglary. During the burglary the defendant stole a laptop computer and prescription medication.

HENRY ZAMORA, DOB: 4/12/1984, formerly of 1515 Mulberry Ave., Muscatine, was sentenced after pleading guilty to Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a class “D” felony. ZAMORA was arrested after an investigation by the Muscatine County Drug Task Force in which he sold marijuana. ZAMORA had previously been granted a sentence of probation which was revoked by the Court.

JUSTIN LANE, DOB: 11/10/1981, of 1219 Dale Street, Muscatine, was sentenced for the offense of Manufacture of a Controlled Substance. LANE had been arrested for his involvement in the manufacture of methamphetamine. He had previously been placed on probation in connection with the offense. Due to his violation of the terms of the probation, the Court revoked the suspended sentence and sentenced the defendant to serve a term not to exceed ten years.

Two prison sentences for meth manufacture

February 17, 2012:

Today, two Muscatine men were sentenced to serve prison terms for their involvement in methamphetamine manufacture. Brent REDDICK, DOB: 7/21/1968, formerly of 513 E. 6th St., Apt. 1, Muscatine and Tad JOB, DOB: 6/14/1968, of the same address had previously pleaded guilty to Manufacture of a Controlled Substance, a class "C" felony.

In each case the Court imposed a prison term not to exceed ten years. Both defendants were ordered to be transported to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center to commence their sentences.

The prosecution of REDDICK and JOB was the result of an investigation by the Muscatine Police Department. Patrol officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by both defendants on October 10, 2011. Investigation during the stop revealed a methamphetamine lab in the vehicle. Assisting in the case was the Muscatine County Sheriffs Office.

Muscatine County District Court 2/10/2012

The following occurred in Muscatine County District Court on Friday, February 10, 2012:

ISSAC HERNANDEZ, JR. (DOB: 4/29/1982), of 60 Boston Park, Muscatine, was sentenced for the offense of Forgery, a class “D” felony. The Court granted the defendant a deferred judgment. A $750 civil penalty was imposed and the defendant was placed on supervised probation for 24 months. The prosecution of HERNANDEZ was the result of an investigation by the Iowa Department of Transportation, Office of Motor Vehicle Enforcement.

RAMIRO CISNEROS, (DOB: 1/10/1983), formerly of Racine, Wisconsin, was sentenced for the offense of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (marijuana), a class “D” felony. The Court imposed a prison sentence for a term not to exceed five years and a $750 fine. The Court also ordered the defendant to pay restitution for the costs of extraditing him. The prosecution of CISNEROS was the result of an investigation by the Muscatine County Drug Task Force.

STARLIN VARGAS, (DOB: 3/9/1994), of #10 Samantha Court, Conesville, pleaded guilty to Burglary in the Second Degree, a class “C” felony. The investigation showed that the defendant burglarized a residence in Conesville. His arrest was the result of an investigation by the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office. VARGAS will be sentenced March 23, 2012. He had originally be prosecuted as a juvenile but was waived to the jurisdiction of adult court.