Guilty plea to lascivious acts with a child

Today, June 24, 2016, in Muscatine County District Court:

QUINN THOMAS MAHR, 24, of Muscatine, pleaded guilty to lascivious acts with a child and indecent contact with a child. The arrest of MAHR was the result of an investigation by the Muscatine Police Department. He will be sentenced August 5, 2016, at 9:15 a.m.

MAHR's mugshot:

In other cases:

STEVEN GRANT BATTEAU, 49, of Muscatine, was sentenced after pleading guilty to theft in the second degree. He received a sentence of imprisonment for a term not to exceed five years. Investigation by the Muscatine Police Department showed that he stole money from a Muscatine business by transacting a fraudulent check there.

BATTEAU's mugshot:

MARGARET HEATHER ACOSTA, 36, of Muscatine, was sentenced after pleading guilty to four counts of forgery and one count of theft in the third degree. She also admitted that she was a habitual offender due to her prior felony convictions. The Court imposed concurrent prison sentences for a total term of not to exceed 15 years. Her arrest was the result of an investigation by the Muscatine Police Department which revealed that she had forged checks which had been stolen from another individual. ACOSTA transacted the checks at a Muscatine business.

ACOSTA's mugshot:

ANGELA MARIE MATHIS, 37, of Muscatine, received a deferred judgment after pleading guilty to obtaining a prescription drug by fraud and tampering with records. An investigation by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals and the Muscatine County Sheriff's Office showed that MATHIS, a nurse at a Muscatine nursing facility falsified records to obtain prescription medication for her own use. The Court placed her on supervised probation.

MATHIS's mugshot:

Muscatine County District Court June 3, 2016

Today, June 3, 2016, in Muscatine County District Court:

Matthew NORWOOD, 26, of Muscatine, was sentenced for delivery of a controlled substance, to wit: simulated methamphetamine. The Court imposed a prison sentence for a term not to exceed ten years and a fine of $1,000. NORWOOD had an extensive criminal history in the State of Indiana. The arrest and prosecution of NORWOOD was the result of an investigation by the Muscatine County Drug Task Force.

NORWOOD's mugshot:

Tiffany Michelle WILLIAMS, 39, of Muscatine, was sentenced for conspiracy to commit a forcible felony. The Court imposed a suspended prison sentence for a term not to exceed ten years and placed her on supervised probation. WILLIAMS was arrested following an investigation by the Muscatine Police Department into the robbery of the clerk at the Hotel Muscatine on November 22, 2015. As part of the investigation she agreed to testify against her codefendant in the case.

WILLIAMS's mugshot:

20-year prison sentence in death of Muscatine woman

Today, April 21, 2016, Muscatine County District Judge Nancy Tabor imposed a prison sentence of not to exceed 20 years against HIRAM SERRANO, SR. for the offenses of voluntary manslaughter and burglary in the second degree. He will be transported to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center at Oakdale, Iowa to begin serving his prison sentence.

Additional details about the case may be found here.

SERRANO's mugshot:

Muscatine man found guilty after jury trial

Roberto Murillo, Jr., 25, of Muscatine, Iowa was found guilty yesterday by a Muscatine County jury of the offense of failure to appear. Murillow had been released on bond in a felony drug case. Evidence at trial showed that he failed to appear in court for a pretrial conference on March 20, 2015.

The court later determined that Murillo is a habitual offender under Iowa law. He has prior felony convictions for willful injury, criminal gang participation, and drug trafficking. As a habitual offender he faces a prison sentence of not to exceed 15 years. He will be sentenced June 10, 2016, at 9:45 a.m. He remains in the Muscatine County Jail pending sentencing.

Murillo's mugshot:

Guilty plea in death of Muscatine woman

Today, March 1, 2016, in Muscatine County District Court:

HIRAM ANTONIO SERRANO, SR., 51, pleaded guilty today to voluntary manslaughter and burglary in the second degree. The plea agreement calls for him to serve a 20-year prison sentence.

Serrano had been charged with murder in the first degree in connection with the death of Theresa Jackson. Serrano attacked Jackson on November 14, 1990, causing serious injuries including paralysis. Serrano was arrested and charged with attempt to commit murder and willful injury. He was convicted following a jury trial and sentenced to serve an indeterminate term of not to exceed 35 years.

Jackson lived as a quadriplegic after the attack. She had a variety of medical complications due to her condition. She died October 5, 2012, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The medical examiner later determined that because she died of complications of her original injuries that her death was a homicide.

Serrano was charged with Jackson's murder in February, 2013.

Muscatine County Attorney Alan R. Ostergren had the following statement:

"This was a very unusual case from the very beginning. It is uncommon for the victim of an assault to die from the injuries almost 22 years later. Evidence and court records had been lost and witness memories had faded. Thankfully the Iowa Attorney General's office was able to locate their copy of the original trial transcript. This allowed us to start the process to build the case to charge Mr. Serrano again.

"It was important to me to achieve a result which held him accountable for Theresa's death but also took into account that Mr. Serrano has lived a crime-free life since his release from prison. This case presents in a very unusual way the conflict between punishment and rehabilitation. It is my hope that this outcome achieves what we always want: justice for all concerned.

"I would like to thank the Muscatine Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation for their work on this case."

Serrano will be sentenced April 21, 2016, at 1:30 p.m. In accordance with Iowa law the Court revoked his bond after the guilty plea. He will remain in custody until sentencing.

Serrano's mugshot:

Guilty plea in Muscatine bank robbery case

Today, February 19, 2016, in Muscatine County District Court:

STACY FINCHER, 35, of Westfield, Indiana, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, a class "C" felony. FINCHER admitted to conspiring with Thomas Alexander Davis to assist him in robbing the U.S. Bank in Muscatine, Iowa on November 28, 2012.

The arrest and prosecution of FINCHER was the result of an investigation by the Muscatine Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Davis was found guilty on February 11, 2016, after a jury trial in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. FINCHER provided testimony at Davis's trial.

"This case is an excellent example of cooperation between local and federal law enforcement authorities," said Muscatine County Attorney Alan R. Ostergren. "The FBI identified Davis and Fincher as suspects in our bank robbery. This development, combined with the excellent investigative work the Muscatine Police Department did, allowed for criminal charges to be filed," Ostergren continued. "I am very pleased that these individuals have been brought to justice," he added.

FINCHER will be sentenced April 8, 2016, at 9:00 a.m.

FINCHER'S mugshot:




Davis's mugshot:




In other matters:

STEVE POGGEMILLER, 57, of Sperry, Iowa, pleaded guilty to theft in the first degree. Investigation by the Muscatine Police Department showed that he took a motor vehicle from an individual in the vicinity of the 3500 block of Mulberry. POGGEMILLER was later arrested in Benton County, Iowa and faces criminal charges in that county as well.

POGGEMILLER will be sentenced April 15, 2015, at 9:00 a.m.

POGGEMILLER's mugshot:

Guilty plea in hotel robbery

Today, February 8, 2016, in Muscatine County District Court TIMOTHY LEE WADDEN, 36, of Muscatine, pleaded guilty to the following offenses:

• Robbery in the second degree, a class "C" felony;
• Felon in possession of a firearm, a class "D" felony; and
• Theft in the third degree, an aggravated misdemeanor.

These offenses were related to a robbery on November 22, 2015, at Hotel Muscatine on Highway 61 in Muscatine. In addition, WADDEN pleaded guilty to the following other offenses:

Harassment in the first degree, an aggravated misdemeanor;
Interference with official acts, a simple misdemeanor;
Possession of a controlled substance (third offense), a class "D" felony; and
Theft in the third degree.

The plea agreement calls for sentences on all counts to be run consecutively for a total term of incarceration of not to exceed 26 years and one month. WADDEN will not be eligible for parole until he has served a mandatory minimum term of seven years.

The arrest of WADDEN was the result of investigations by the Muscatine Police Department.

WADDEN will be sentenced March 25, 2016, at 9:45 a.m. He will be held in custody without bond pending sentencing.