Judge denies prom furlough for Iowa City teen on house arrest for fatal crash

IOWA CITY — An Iowa City teen who is accused of drag racing and causing a fatal crash of a Waterloo woman last year, asked a judge Thursday for temporary furlough from house arrest so he can attend prom on Saturday.

But Johnson County Sheriff’s Deputy Rob Schuerer testified during a hearing that the principal at West High School told him that Kesean Lee Ford, 18, “wasn’t welcomed” at the school’s prom. Ford is not a student at West High.

Schuerer said West High also has a preregistration requirement for prom, which Ford did not submit, the principal told him.

Ford requested the temporary furlough as a modification to his pretrial release conditions, which include GPS monitoring and being on house arrest. The West High prom will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, but Ford’s request is from noon Saturday to noon Sunday, according to court documents.

During the hearing, Schuerer said Ford is allowed to go to work, medical appointments and court proceedings. Ford wasn’t attending school when he was initially put on the monitor, so that’s not part of GPS “zone” restrictions.

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The sheriff’s office supervises the GPS pretrial release program, but Ford didn’t ask the sheriff’s office or notify it about wanting to go to prom, Schuerer testified. Ford sent the deputy a text message with a screenshot showing Thursday’s court hearing.

Assistant Johnson County Attorney Jeff Brunelle asked if someone was wearing a GPS monitor, would it pinpoint their exact location if they were in a mall or hotel.

Schuerer said it wouldn’t because the concrete usually interferes with the signal. Once the person was outside, they could see their location.

Judge Elizabeth Dupuich asked if the GPS device monitors Ford for drug or alcohol use, and if they could monitor who he associated with while outside the house.

Schuerer said no.

Brunelle argued that Ford didn’t have approval to attend prom from the sheriff’s office or from the West High principal said he wouldn’t be allowed to attend. He said Ford is asking for a furlough from house arrest to “hang out at a hotel” because he won’t be allowed to go into the prom event.

Brunelle also pointed out that Ford was on probation from juvenile court adjudication — conviction — when he was arrested in the fatal crash on May 27, 2023.

Jeffrey Powell, Ford’s lawyer, argued that Ford didn’t request approval from the sheriff’s office because he didn’t know it was required. He thought it was up to the court to modify his pretrial release conditions.

Powell also said his client does attend school. He is taking online classes at Tate High School in Iowa City.

Powell asked the judge to grant the temporary furlough for 6 to 11 p.m. on Saturday.

Judge: Ford’s lack of planning doesn’t ‘inspire confidence’

Dupuich, who ruled a few hours after the hearing, said based on the evidence presented she will not modify his conditions of release. The court is concerned for the safety of the public and Ford. He is facing “extremely serious charges which have resulted in the death of a woman.

“Here, the court is concerned that the activity in which defendant requests to participate in is a celebration, fraught with unique perils including opportunities for defendant to violate his release conditions, or place the public in danger,” Dupuich said in the ruling.

She also said that Ford’s lack of preparation and planning doesn’t “inspire confidence” in his request.

The fact that Ford initially requested a 24-hour period to be on furlough is also “slightly concerning,” Dupuich noted in the ruling.

Lawsuit filed by victim’s parents dismissed, but could be refiled

Ford, along with Elijah Seals, now 18, of Iowa City, are charged with joint criminal conduct of involuntary manslaughter — aiding and abetting — and homicide by vehicle — aiding and abetting — reckless driving in excess speed over 25 mph, or operating a vehicle by drag racing in the fatal crash of Jennifer Russell, 22, of Waterloo, according to amended trial information.

A criminal complaint stated Ford, driving a 2008 Saturn VUE, was speeding on E. Court Street at 10:45 p.m. on May 27. He was driving next to a white 2012 GMC Acadia being driven by Elijah Seals, 18, who also was speeding.

The VUE crashed into a gray 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Russell, at the intersection of E. Court Street and S. Seventh Avenue. The Malibu was then pushed into the Acadia, and Russell was killed in the crash.

Both teens were driving more than 25 miles per hour over the speed limit, which is 25 mph, and both failed to stop at a stop sign, resulting in the crash with Russell, according to the complaint.

Russell’s parents filed a wrongful-death lawsuit last year, which was dismissed without prejudice in February by a judge because of a legal technicality. The petition was served to Seals, who is a minor, and not his parent or guardian, which is required by law.

Because it was dismissed without prejudice, the Russells can refile the lawsuit if they choose.

Both teens were initially charged in juvenile court but both were moved to district-adult court last year.

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