Muscatine teenager charged with attempt to commit murder

February 27, 2020 - Muscatine County Attorney Alan R. Ostergren announced today that JATTATHIAS JALEE HODGES, 16, of Muscatine was arrested yesterday by the Muscatine Police Department for the offense of attempt to commit murder. The charge is a class "B" forcible felony punishable by imprisonment for a term not to exceed 25 years. Because the defendant is 16 and the offense is a forcible felony he is being charged as an adult.

The criminal complaint alleges that on February 21, 2020, at approximately 10:24 p.m. HODGES did fire several rounds from a firearm at a 16-year-old male subject while at a residence in the 600 block of East 6th Street in Muscatine. The victim was struck a single time in the shoulder. The victim's injuries required emergency medical treatment but are not life threatening.

HODGES had an initial appearance before a judge this morning. The court set bond at $300,000 cash-only. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 9, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.

The charge against HODGES is merely an accusation, he is presumed to be innocent.

His mugshot:

Muscatine Man Found Guilty of First Degree Murder

Today, January 17, 2020, a Muscatine County jury found DARIAN LENSGRAF, 18, of Muscatine, guilty of murder in the first degree for the December 12, 2018, killing of his grandmother Diana Lensgraf.

Evidence at trial showed that DARIAN LENSGRAF entered the home of the victim and stabbed her multiple times in the chest and throat. At trial he claimed that he was not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury's verdict rejected this claim.

The case was investigated by the Muscatine Police Department.

DARIAN LENSGRAF will be held in the Muscatine County Jail without bond pending his March 6, 2020, sentencing hearing at 9:00 a.m. He faces a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

His mugshot: