Cedar Rapids teen gets suspended sentence for mall kiosk theft

A Cedar Rapids teenager was given a suspended prison term Friday for stealing jewelry from a mall kiosk and displaying a knife when employees chased him in a May incident at Coral Ridge Mall.

Iviontae C. Jackson, 17, pleaded guilty July 26 to second-degree theft and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Johnson County Judge Marsha Bergan sentenced him Friday to five years in prison for the theft and 180 days for the assault. She suspended the prison terms, placing Jackson on three years' probation.

Bergan fined Jackson $1,375 and ordered restitution, however she will allow the teen to pay off his debts by performing community service at a rate of $7.25 per hour.

The state dismissed a charge of first-degree robbery, which is a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison.

Jackson took jewelry from J & A Gold and Silver at the Coral Ridge Mall around 3:30 p.m. May 21. When kiosk employees tried to chase him, police said, Jackson confronted them with a knife in the parking lot. When police caught Jackson, they said, they recovered both the knife and stolen jewelry.