 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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Cedar Rapids shooting suspects will be tried July 16
CEDAR RAPIDS — Two people charged with attempted murder in a shooting at Kirkwood Court Apartments last month will stand trial July 16 in Linn County District Court. Shantres Johnson, 21, of Cedar Rapids, and Raymond Sellers, 24, of Chicago, have each pleaded not guilty to first-degree robbery, two counts of attempted murder, two counts [...]
Police called 18 times regarding Isaiah Sweet’s behavior towards grandparents, records show
Police were called to the home of Richard and Janet Sweet numerous times in the last year for problems, including some violent encounters with their grandson, Isaiah Sweet, who is accused of killing them over Mother’s Day weekend, according to service call records from the Manchester Police Department. Either Richard Sweet, 55, or his wife [...]
Search warrant reveals Manchester victims were each shot in the head
A teenager charged with first-degree murder told investigators he first considered hitting his grandfather with a baseball bat before deciding to shoot him and his wife instead, according to search warrants filed Friday in Delaware County District Court. Isaiah Sweet, 17, of Manchester, is accused of killing Richard Sweet, 55, and Janet Sweet, 62, earlier [...]
Why do kids kill? Experts say many are disturbed or have been abused
It’s rare for a teenager to be accused of killing a parent or guardian, but it happens, and when it does, experts say it often stems from disturbing circumstances. Isaiah Sweet, 17, was charged last week in the fatal shootings of his grandparents, Richard and Janet Sweet of Manchester. Police haven’t offered a motive or [...]
Manchester teen accused of killing grandparents was carrying drugs, hunting knife Saturday
The Manchester teen accused of killing his grandparents over the weekend had a hunting knife, marijuana and bottles of prescription pills with him when he took his ex-girlfriend and her friends to a party in Iowa City Saturday, according to one of the girls who saw him over the weekend. Kelli Fisher, 19, of Cedar [...]
Inmate to be charged with abusing second girl
CEDAR RAPIDS — A 29-year-old man already serving prison time for sexually abusing a 4-year-old girl will be charged Friday with the sexual abuse of another child. Daryl Bentley will have his initial appearance at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Linn County District Court on a charge of second-degree sexual abuse. He’s accused of sexually abusing [...]
Cedar Rapids sex offender pleads guilty to failure to register in federal court
A sex offender who failed to register pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court. Antoine Hendricks, 35, of Cedar Rapids, pleaded guilty to one count of failure to register as a sex offender. During the plea hearing, Hendricks admitted he knowingly failed to register, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, between [...]
Des Moines man pleads not guilty in shootings
CEDAR RAPIDS — A Des Moines man accused of attempting to kill two people during a robbery at the Kirkwood Court Apartments last month made a written plea of not guilty Tuesday and had his trial scheduled for July 16 in Linn County District Court. Teran Huff pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempted [...]
Repaired first floor of the Linn County Courthouse to reopen
CEDAR RAPIDS — After four long years, the first floor of the Linn County Courthouse, which was flooded in 2008, will be open for court proceedings Monday. The eight new courtrooms, conference rooms and judges’ chambers were getting their final cleanups Friday before the first phase of the $6.3 million renovation project opens to the [...]
Effects linger long after kids suffer sexual abuse
Adam struggles every day with anger and aggressive behavior. He has flashbacks of events that are unimaginable for most people, and his sleepless nights are ruled by nightmares in which a monster harms him over and over again. Adam has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. He’s not a soldier who was in combat, but [...]
