Trish MehaffeyTrish Mehaffey covers state and federal criminal and civil courts in Eastern Iowa. Mehaffey has been with the company for three years but has been a journalist for 16 years, mainly focusing on education, crime and courts reporting. Mehaffey live blogs criminal court trials in real time from the courtroom while interacting with the viewers. Trish has received several writing awards for her work with various publications in Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri and Iowa. She recently completed the Journalist Law School through Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. |
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Flood: Vinton rebuilds homes, downtown area
Angie Moore said she didn’t believe the Cedar River would flood her home and antiques business in Vinton, but her husband had a different feeling. “We started sandbagging the week before but then it came up so fast and higher than we thought,” Angie Moore said while standing in their new store, Red Cedar Antiques [...]
Ex-wife claims Klunder was physically abusive, according to court documents
The ex-wife of Michael Klunder, who kidnapped Kathlynn Shepard, asked the court for a permanent order to protect her and her family from Klunder about two months after he was released from prison, according to documents filed in 2011. Klunder, 42, of Stratford, a registered sex offender who had a criminal history of kidnapping a [...]
Dayton abduction suspect’s 1991 victim speaks out
Lori Rattay said she was “devastated” when she heard who the suspect was in the kidnapping of 15-year-old Kathlynn Shepard and another 12-year-old girl Monday. Rattay is well acquainted with suspect Michael James Klunder, 42, because he kidnapped her when she was 21-years old in 1991. “I was so distraught (when she heard) I had [...]
Suspect in Dayton abduction could have been monitored if current law existed in 1992
If a current law had existed in 1992, law enforcement may have been able to track the activities of a Dayton kidnapping suspect who had been previously convicted of kidnapping a woman and two 3-year old children. Offenders convicted of misdemeanors and felonies as of 2005 can be sentenced to a special parole which can [...]
Update: Authorities find backpacks, purse in Dayton abduction case
Investigators and K9s found backpacks and a purse Tuesday in connection with the abduction of Kathlynn Shepard in Dayton, according to an Iowa Department of Safety news release. Read also: Suspect in Dayton abduction could have been monitored if current law existed in 1992 Investigators also obtained an image of Shepard from the day of [...]
Assistant U.S. Attorney takes command of coalition to support Afghan courts
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Reinert left Cedar Rapids this week to take over the command of a coalition which helps reinforce the Afghan criminal justice system and promote the legitimacy of its government. “Having a court system work – ties people to the government,” said Reinert, who is a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army [...]
Cedar Rapids man convicted on 9th burglary
A 52-year-old Cedar Rapids man was convicted Tuesday for his ninth residential burglary and 15th overall criminal conviction. Darrell Bolden, originally charged with second-degree burglary, was convicted on a lesser charge of second-degree attempted burglary by a Linn County jury following a one and half day trial . The jury deliberated about two hours. The [...]
State drops charges against 16-year-old in Cedar Rapids robbery case
Attempted murder and other charges filed against a 16-year-old in connection with a Cedar Rapids drug robbery were dismissed Wednesday by the state. Kevin Maurice Jones was charged in April with attempted murder, first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary, but those charges are now dismissed without prejudice, which allows the state to refile charges if warranted, [...]
Loud noise in Marion due to air, sand
Marion residents shouldn’t be alarmed by the loud, roaring noise coming from the north side but maybe, resonating all over. It’s not a jet landing in the yard. It’s pressurized air being released as sand is removed from the new well on Echo Hill Road. Todd Stiegerwaldt, general manager of the Marion Water Department, said [...]
Cedar Rapids man accused of sexually assaulting 14-year-old dance student
A 62-year-old man was charged last week with sexually assaulting one of his 14-year-old dance students. Marcelino Hivento was charged with third-degree sexual abuse. He is accused of abusing the teenaged girl May 1, through Oct. 31, 2012 in his home at 421 15th St. SE. The girl, now 15, told police Hivento forced several [...]
