Muscatine County District Court 8/31/2012

Today in Muscatine County District Court:

CHRISTOPHER GESUALDO, DOB: 2/18/1989, of 2016 Breese Ave., Muscatine, pled guilty to Lottery Ticket Theft, a class "D" felony. Investigation by the Muscatine Police Department showed that the defendant had been employed as a clerk at a convenience store which sold lottery products. The defendant stole 18 lottery tickets while working. The defendant additionally admitted that he was in violation of the terms of his probation for the offense of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree. The defendant will be sentenced and have disposition of his probation violation on October 12, 2012, at 9:00 a.m.

Sentencing in child endangerment case; other actions in District Court 8/17/2012

Today, August 17, 2012, in Muscatine County District Court:

JOSEPH DWAYNE TITUS, DOB: 9/16/1988, formerly of 312½ E. 9^th Street, Muscatine, was sentenced for two counts of Child Endangerment Causing Injury and one count of Domestic Abuse Assault. The Hon. Thomas G. Reidel imposed consecutive sentences for a total term of incarceration of not to exceed 21 years imprisonment.

Investigation by the Muscatine Police Department showed that TITUS had been living with a woman and her two children ages three years and eighteen months. TITUS engaged in a pattern of abusive conduct towards the children and deprived them of food and medical care. TITUS also assaulted the mother of the children.

“This case was a classic example of abusive behavior inflicted on this woman and her children. I am pleased that the Court imposed the sentence we requested and believe that justice was done,” said Muscatine County Attorney Alan Ostergren.

Also occurring today:

LYLE ALLEN KELLNER, DOB: DOB: 10/11/1976, of 5 Jacqueline Drive, Muscatine, was sentenced for five offenses: two counts of Trafficking in Stolen Weapons, Theft in the Second Degree, Forgery, and Burglary in the Third Degree. The charges were investigated by the Muscatine Police Department and involved a complex series of theft related offenses committed by KELLNER between December of 2010 and the summer of 2011. KELLNER was sentenced by the Hon. Thomas G. Reidel for a total term of imprisonment for a term not to exceed twenty years.

KEITH LANGFITT, DOB: 4/2/1959, formerly of 405 E. 5^th Street, Muscatine pled guilty to two counts of Lascivious Acts with a Child. Investigation by the Muscatine Police Department showed that the defendant had fondled the genitals of a child under the age of twelve on two separate occasions. LANGFITT will be sentenced September 28, 2012, at 9:30 a.m.

LARRY’SHA LAWRENCE, DOB: 11/1/1991, of Burlington, Iowa, pled guilty to Theft in the First Degree and three counts of Forgery. Investigation by the Muscatine Police Department showed that LAWRENCE had been involved in a scheme to pass fictitious payroll checks at Muscatine area businesses. The scam netted approximately $40,000 in proceeds. LAWRENCE will be sentenced August 24, 2012, at 9:00 a.m.

Muscatine County District Court 8/10/2012

Today, August 10, 2012, in Muscatine County District Court:

PATRICK SANDERS, DOB: 11/12/1991, of Burlington, Iowa, was sentenced for the offense of Theft in the Second Degree. The Court imposed a suspended sentence of incarceration for a term not to exceed five years and ordered the defendant to successfully complete the Residential Correctional Facility program as a condition of probation. Investigation by the Muscatine Police Department showed that SANDERS stole video game equipment from a residence.

DEVIN BURNS-SHIPP, DOB: 2/28/1993, of 312 Iowa Avenue, Muscatine, pled guilty to the offense of Theft in the Second Degree. Investigation by the Muscatine County Sheriff's Office showed that BURNS-SHIPP stole a motor vehicle which he then crashed in the 2400 block of Stewart Road. BURNS-SHIPP will be sentenced at a future date to be scheduled by the Court.

Burlington woman pleads guilty and sentenced for theft

Today, August 9, 2012, in Muscatine County District Court, BARBARA MEADERDS, DOB: 3/30/1985, of Burlington, Iowa pled guilty to Theft in the First Degree, a class "C" felony. Investigation by the Muscatine Police Department showed that MEADERDS had been involved in the passing of forged checks in Muscatine. She waived time for sentencing and was sentenced to serve an indeterminate term not to exceed ten years. The court ordered her transported to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center at Oakdale to serve her sentence.