Youngbear to be sentenced next week in federal court

CEDAR RAPIDS - A 21-year-old Tama County man convicted of killing his 17-year-old friend last year on the Meskwaki Settlement will be sentenced next week in federal court. U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade on Tuesday set sentencing for Jonathan C. Youngbear at 2 p.m. May 13. Youngbear pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree murder within Indian County in January.

Youngbear, a member of the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi, admitted during the January hearing that he stabbed and killed Severn D. Jefferson with a kitchen knife Feb. 24, 2014 in his home.

Youngbear and Jefferson had an argument and Youngbear's cousin, Joseph Youngbear, told police Jonathan came up behind Jefferson while he was sitting on the couch, motioned to him to be quiet, and then stabbed Jefferson in the chest, according to testimony during hearings.

Jefferson was stabbed twice in the left side of lower neck and upper chest, according to the plea agreement. The upper stab wound cut Jefferson's jugular vein and the lower stab wound cut his subclavian artery, which resulted in his death.

According to sentencing documents, a prosecutor will ask the court to sentence Youngbear within the sentencing range of 25 to 35 years in federal prison. The range is part of the plea agreement. A sentencing term within those years is left to the discretion of the court.

The charge of second-degree murder carries a penalty of up to life in prison and normally the judge has discretion within the sentencing guidelines, but this plea agreement included a sentencing range. If the judge doesn't agree to the range, then the plea deal can be broken.

U.S. Chief Magistrate Jon Scoles, who presided over the plea, said Reade tentatively agreed to the range but it was contingent upon review of the pretrial sentencing report.

Youngbear may also have to pay a fine up to $250,000 and restitution to the victim's estate or family.

According to plea agreement, Youngbear had been drinking alcohol all day and also tested positive for methamphetamine.

During the hearing last November, an FBI crime lab forensic chemist testified Youngbear's blood alcohol level was .037 about four hours after he was interviewed by investigators. He extrapolated the BAC based on four hours earlier, at the time of the interview, would be between .109 and .137. The legal driving limit is .08.

The chemist also said Youngbear tested positive for marijuana and methamphetamine but the THC metabolite was inactive, which wouldn't impair someone and the methamphetamine wasn't an 'abusive” amount.