Muscatine County District Court, 5/30/2014

MELISSA VOGT, DOB: 2/8/1981, of Muscatine was sentenced for Identity Theft and Credit Card Fraud. Investigation by the Muscatine Police Department showed that she used another's identity to obtain a credit card which she used to purchase items with no intention of paying for them. She received a suspended prison sentence of not to exceed five years and was ordered to successfully complete the Residential Correctional Facility program as a condition of probation.

CORY FERKEL, DOB: 12/14/1990, of Blue Grass, was sentenced for Delivery of a Controlled Substance. FERKEL sold the prescription drug Xanax during an investigation by the Muscatine County Drug Task Force. FERKEL was sentenced to a suspended term not to exceed ten years and was ordered to successfully complete the Residential Correctional Facility program as a condition of probation.

RUSTY WADDEN, DOB: 8/22/1988, of Muscatine was sentenced for Burglary in the Third Degree and Theft in the Second Degree. Investigation by the Muscatine County Sheriff's Office showed that he broke into a scrap metal business and took metal. He was sentenced to a suspended term not to exceed ten years and was ordered to successfully complete the Residential Correctional Facility program as a condition of probation.

JUAN LIENDO, DOB: 9/30/1995, of Muscatine, was sentenced for Attempted Burglary in the Second Degree, Child Endangerment, Domestic Abuse Assault, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. The charges related to an investigation by the Muscatine Police Department. LIENDO received a suspended term not to exceed five years and was ordered to successfully complete the Residential Correctional Facility program as a condition of probation.

Muscatine Man Convicted of Sexual Abuse

Today, May 29, 2014, in Muscatine County District Court a jury found DAVID ROY RICKEY, SR., DOB: 3/27/1951, of Muscatine, guilty of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree after a three day trial. Trial testimony established that RICKEY had sexually abused a six-year-old child in the year 2003.

"I would like to thank the jury for their verdict. I know that they worked very hard and considered all of the evidence," said Muscatine County Attorney Alan R. Ostergren. "I would also like to thank Det. Joe Roseman of the Muscatine Police Deparment for his investigation. Most importantly, I want to thank the victim. She was very brave. I am pleased with this result for her especially," Ostergren added.

RICKEY will be held without bond in the Muscatine County Jail pending sentencing on July 3, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. He faces a mandatory sentence of incarceration for a term not to exceed 25 years. He will not be eligible for parole until he serves 17 years and six months of the sentence.

RICKEY's mugshot:

Muscatine Man Charged with Murder

May 27, 2014:

Today Muscatine Police Department detectives arrested without incident CODY RYAN CURTIS, DOB: 12/19/1983, of Muscatine for the offense of Murder in the Second Degree. The charge relates to the death of TIMOTHY DEAN LANE on May 25, 2014.

Muscatine police responded to a residence at 3005 Grandview Avenue, Muscatine, shortly after 7:00 p.m. on May 25 for a report of a male subject who had been injured. Officers discovered LANE at that location. LANE was transported to Trinity Muscatine where he was pronounced dead.

An autopsy was performed at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and was completed today. The preliminary information from the medical examiner is that the cause of death was a stab wound to the chest. The criminal complaint further alleges that there were four other knife injuries to LANE.

Murder in the Second Degree is a class "B" felony punishable by imprisonment for a term not to exceed 50 years. CURTIS is being held in the Muscatine County Jail without bond pending an initial appearance tomorrow at the Muscatine County Courthouse. The appearance is anticipated to occur at 9:00 a.m.

The criminal charge against CURTIS is merely an accusation. He is presumed to be innocent.

Muscatine County District Court 5/22 and 5/23/2014

On May 22, 2014:

JOSEPH VILLALPANDO, DOB: 10/28/1991, of Muscatine, pleaded guilty to Eluding and Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Owner's Consent. On March 23, 2014, a Muscatine County Sheriff's Deputy attempted to pull VILLALPANDO over after observing him committing a traffic violation. He attempted to flee from the deputy and crashed his car on railroad tracks in the vicinity of Oregon Street and Grandview Avenue in Muscatine. VILLALPANDO did not have permission of the vehicle's owner to have the car.

The Court sentenced VILLALPANDO to a total term of imprisonment for a term not to exceed five years. The Court also revoked his probation from a previous cases and imposed prison sentences for Theft in the Second Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, and Trafficking in Stolen Weapons. The Court imposed the sentence in his probation case consecutively for a total term of incarceration of not to exceed ten years.

VILLALPANDO's mugshot:

On May 23, 2014:

DAVID THORNDYKE, JR., DOB: 10/7/1987, of Muscatine, pleaded guilty to two counts of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree and one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Investigation by the Muscatine Police Department showed that THORNDYKE had sex acts with a fourteen year old girl on two occasions in February, 2014. He also was in possession of a sexually explicit photograph of the victim. THORNDYKE will be sentenced July 11, 2014, at 9:00 a.m.

THORNDYKE's mugshot:

ROGER WADDEN, DOB: 3/8/1984, of Muscatine, pleaded guilty to Assault Causing Bodily Injury and Assault Causing Serious Injury. Investigation by the Wilton Police Department showed that WADDEN had assaulted two subjects at a Wilton tavern on March 9, 2014. One of the victims suffered a fractured jaw as a result. The Court sentenced WADDEN to a total prison term of not to exceed five years. The term will be served consecutively to a parole violation for a felony drug offense.

WADDEN's mugshot:

Court grants injunction against motorcycle rally

Today, May 22, 2014, in Muscatine County District Court a hearing was held on the application by Muscatine County to enjoin the use of certain property in a manner contrary to the requirements of Muscatine County zoning laws.

"This zoning action is not about whether motorcycles are good or bad. It is about whether the county's zoning laws were properly followed in this case. If the Sons of Silence want to ask to have their property rezoned or get a special use permit they are free to do so. It is important to remember that zoning laws are designed to balance the ability of everyone to enjoy their own property without unreasonably interfering with their neighbor's use of their property," said Muscatine County Attorney Alan Ostergren.

The Court granted the application in the ruling below:

Guilty pleas in three cases

On April 30, 2014:

ERIC MONTELONGO, DOB: 10/6/1982, of West Liberty, pleaded guilty to two counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance, cocaine. Investigation by the Muscatine County Drug Task Force showed that on two occasions in May, 2012, MONTELONGO sold cocaine to a confidential informant. He will be sentenced June 13, 2014, at 9:45 a.m.

MONTELONGO's mugshot:

On May 1, 2014:

GABINO JUAREZ TOMAS, DOB: 11/19/1987, of Muscatine, pleaded guilty to Identity Theft and Forgery. Investigation by the Iowa Department of Transportation, Office of Motor Vehicle Enforcement showed that JUAREZ TOMAS obtained an Iowa driver's license in the name of another person so that he could work illegally in the United States. He will be sentenced June 27, 2014.

JUAREZ TOMAS' mugshot:

LASHIEKA MARIE HOLLIS, DOB: 5/4/1985, of New Holland, Illinois, pleaded guilty to four counts of Fraudulent Practices in the First Degree. Investigation by the Iowa Department of Transportation, Office of Motor Vehicle Enforcement showed that HOLLIS had attempted to obtain Iowa motor vehicle titles to four vehicles which had been stolen. The titles were to be in the name of a fictitious corporation and, if issued, would have allowed for the vehicles to be later sold. HOLLIS will be sentenced June 27, 2014.

HOLLIS' mugshot: