Cedar Rapids man sentenced to probation for fatal shooting in 2022

A previous version of this article included an incorrect sentence.

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man, convicted by a jury in February on lesser charges in fatally shooting a man in April 2022, was sentenced last week to probation for five years.

A Linn County jury found Marlon Jackson, 43, guilty of reckless use of a firearm resulting in bodily injury, a felony, and use of a dangerous weapon in the commission of a crime, an aggravated misdemeanor. The jurors acquitted him of involuntary manslaughter.

According to a criminal complaint, Jackson, who claimed self-defense at trial, told police he left his apartment at 3610 12th Ave. SW about 3 a.m. to investigate a potential burglary of his car in the parking lot. After looking at his vehicle, he saw Dustin Frondle, 36, walking in his direction.

Jackson said Frondle saw him carrying a firearm and there was a “confrontation” between the two, the complaint stated. He then fired several “warning shots” into the ground near Frondle, who was unarmed. Frondle continued to come at him and Jackson fired at his legs, not attempting to kill him but wanting Frondle to stop.

Jackson shot Frondle three times — wounding him in the left thigh, right leg and left shoulder, according to the complaint. The shot to Frondle’s shoulder passed through is lung and heart, killing him.

The jury deliberated about three hours following a four-day trial.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Fae Hoover ran the two sentences consecutively for a total of seven years but then suspended it and gave him probation for five years.

During the investigation, authorities found out Jackson previously had been convicted of a felony in Michigan and had lied on his gun permit application to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, stating he had no felony convictions. He also was charged with possession of a firearm as a felon, giving false information when applying for a permit to acquire a firearm and giving false information when acquiring a firearm.

Those charges were then severed from the others as to remove any possible prejudice against Jackson. The defense argued those charges were not related to the shooting itself and should be severed.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Jordan Schier said the information from Michigan was unclear and they didn’t have enough to go forward with those remaining charges. A judge then dismissed those.

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