$1 million bond set for suspect in Cedar Rapids homicide

CEDAR RAPIDS - A judge set a $1 million bond Friday for a 23-year-old man accused of killing Clifton Sparks last February.

Robert Louis Nash IV of Cedar Rapids was formally charged Friday in Linn County District Court with first-degree murder and first-degree robbery. He is accused of shooting and killing Sparks, 31, of Cedar Rapids, during a robbery in the 1800 block of B Ave. NE, Feb. 3, according to a criminal complaint. Nash arranged to meet Sparks and brought a loaded firearm with the intent to steal property and/or money from him, according to the complaint.

According to police, Sparks was shot once in the chest about 11:40 a.m. that day. His body was found about 12:30 p.m. in the street.

Nash made his initial appearance by video from the Linn County Jail. Several family members or friends, including his mother, attended the hearing.

Sixth Judicial Associate Judge Jane Spande set the $1 million bond after the county attorney's office recommended it based on Nash prior criminal history including assault domestic abuse, a parole violation and the murder charge.

Darlesha Flowers told The Gazette Thursday that Nash and Sparks were friends and she didn't know of any conflict between the men. The three of them were friends and Sparks is the father of her 5-year-old daughter.

Flowers said she learned of Nash's arrest through a Sparks family member. She knew Nash for years and talked to him after Sparks died.

'He (Nash) hugged me and my daughter and told me he was sorry this happened,” Flowers said.

Flowers said she didn't know Nash was a suspect in the case. She thought police were searching Nash's home because he was one of the last people Sparks spoke with before his death.

A trial date hasn't been set yet. If Nash is convicted of first-degree murder, he faces life in prison and the first-degree robbery carries a 25-year prison term.

l Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com