Man charged in deadly Cedar Rapids city worker crash wants his trial moved

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids man charged with three counts of vehicular homicide in the death of a city water employee in April is asking the court to move his trial to another county based on extensive media coverage.

Lawson Chadwick, 47, claims the newspaper and Internet articles and television and radio coverage and publicity of his case has been extensive, and there has been so much speculation over his previous criminal history and treatment information that he cannot get a fair trial from an impartial jury.

The motion also contends there has been 'gossip, rumor and speculation” among residents in the county since the time of the crash to create prejudice among prospective jurors.

Chadwick is charged with homicide by vehicle while under the influence of methamphetamine and amphetamine as a habitual offender, homicide by vehicle while attempting to elude as a habitual offender and homicide by vehicle by reckless driving as a habitual offender.

Chadwick led police on a short high speed chase and crashed into the van driven by Stephen J. Cook, a City of Cedar Rapids Water Division worker, at the intersection of 16th Avenue and Ninth Street SW after Chadwick ran a stop sign on April 17.

Cook was thrown from the van and died the next day at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Chadwick also pleaded not guilty in writing on Friday in another case where he is charged with first-degree theft. He is accused of having stolen equipment which was found in his truck at the time of the deadly crash. The property was valued at over $10,000.

Chadwick had previously pleaded not guilty to the vehicular homicide charges and in another separate case of second-degree theft. He remains in jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond.