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Appeals court upholds 50 year sentence for Cedar Rapids man convicted of killing 22-year-old
Asserted he wasn’t allowed to make statement at sentencing but judge asked
Sep. 4, 2025 4:13 pm, Updated: Sep. 5, 2025 7:56 am
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CEDAR RAPIDS — The Iowa Court of Appeals on Thursday upheld a second-degree murder sentence for Kazius Childress, who fatally shot 22-year-old Kavon Johnson Jan. 28, 2022 because Johnson witnessed him kill another man the day before.
Childress, 23, of Cedar Rapids, appealed his 50-year sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in August 2024, asserting the district court judge deprived him of making a statement — or allocution — during his sentencing in October 2024.
In a short opinion, the court affirmed his sentencing, stating 6th Judicial District Judge Christopher Bruns asked Childress if he wanted to make a statement and his lawyer declined on his behalf.
Under Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure, a judge can directly ask a defendant to make a statement or allow the individual to present any information to mitigate sentence, according to the ruling. In this case, Judge Bruns asked if Childress wanted to make an allocution and one of his lawyers said no.
Earlier in the hearing, his lawyers made “extensive” argument on behalf of their client, in which they explained that Childress had been advised not to make any statements during the hearing, the ruling stated. The judge had been informed that Childress wouldn’t speak and he still offered Childress that opportunity.
His lawyers presented additional information to mitigate his sentence. They asked the court to run this 50 year sentence concurrently with the his other 50-year sentence for the second-degree murder of Cordal Lewis Jan. 27, 2022.
Sentencing for Johnson’s murder
During last year’s hearing, Maybanks recommended consecutive sentences because the murders were separate and distinct offenses. Childress killed Johnson because Johnson had witnessed Childress fatally shooting Lewis, Maybanks said. Trial testimony indicated Childress intended to rob Lewis.
Maybanks said Childress fired repeatedly at Johnson, with 10 bullets striking Johnson’s torso, chest, stomach, hip, thigh and back.
The shooting, he said, was “cold and malicious.”
Judge Bruns ran the sentences consecutively, and Childress must serve a mandatory minimum of 35 years on each conviction before being eligible for parole.
Bruns also ordered Childress to pay $150,000 in restitution to Johnson’s heirs or estate.
As the deputies led Childress from the courtroom, while his family and friends and Johnson’s and Lewis’ family and friends were still in the room, Childress cursed the victims and said he would desecrate their graves.
Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette
Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com
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