Judge lowers bail for Cedar Rapids woman accused of fatally stabbing boyfriend

CEDAR RAPIDS — A judge Tuesday lowered the bail for a Cedar Rapids woman accused of fatally stabbing in January the father of two of her children — but the judge didn’t go as low as the defense wanted.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Valerie Clay lowered bail from $500,000 cash-only to $100,000 cash/surety bond for Charmisha Pirtle, 30. Pirtle admitted to stabbing Anthony Fitts, 29, during a Jan. 24 fight, records show, after she initially said someone else stabbed him.

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Pirtle is charged with second-degree murder, a felony, and domestic abuse assault-first offense with dangerous weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor. She has remained in jail since her arrest in February.

Lindsay Garner, Pirtle’s lawyer, asked the judge to lower the bail to $25,000, which is the uniform bond schedule amount for a Class B felony, and allow Pirtle to post 10 percent of that amount with the clerk of court and be on electronic monitoring pending her trial set for Dec. 10 in Linn County District Court.

During the bail hearing, Pirtle’s sister, Dawn Rocarek, 42, of Waterloo, testified that Pirtle could stay with her in Waterloo after posting the lower bail pending her trial. She said there was a safety concern staying in Cedar Rapids because Pirtle and her family have been threatened by “gang members.” She also said there was a history of domestic violence between Pirtle and Fitts.

Rocarek said she would make sure her sister follows any conditions set by the court and be at all court proceedings.

Garner initially filed a motion stating that Pirtle could stay with her mother in Cedar Rapids. But the prosecution had concerns about those living arrangements because Pirtle’s mother has temporary custody of Pirtle’s five children.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Andrew Powers said two of Pirtle’s children are also witnesses who would testify at her trial and he would be concerned whether Pirtle was trying to influence their testimony.

Powers also pointed out that although the defense is arguing the stabbing was in self-defense or in the defense of others, a judge found probable cause for the charges — a crime of violence — to be filed.

Pirtle also would be a flight risk, Powers said, because if convicted, she faces up to 50 years on the murder charge and has a “history of violent offenses” including assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.

Judge Clay said Pirtle had not failed to appear in court, has strong ties to the community and had little criminal history. But she was concerned about lowering bail because this charge is for a serious offense. Risk of flight also was a concern because of the possible sentence, Clay said.

If released on the $100,000 cash bail or surety bond, Pirtle would have to wear an electronic monitor and be under the supervision of the 6th Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, the judge ruled.

Video captures part of incident

Pirtle, who was pregnant at the time with Fitts’ second child, first told police she heard him calling for help Jan. 24, opened the back door and found him with a stab wound at 1258 15th St. SE in Cedar Rapids.

A witness who lived nearby told an investigator she heard a male voice calling for “help” and a female voice saying, “You’re not leaving me” at the time of the stabbing.

Surveillance video showed a person, later identified as Fitts, stumbling out the back door and falling backward into a pile of snow that was found “saturated” in blood. Pirtle then came out the back door following Fitts.

Fitts got up and continued walking along the back of the townhomes there, around to the front of the building where he collapsed, a criminal complaint stated.

Officers found a kitchen knife in the sink, which tested positive for blood on its wood handle.

According to a preliminary autopsy report, the fatal stab wound to Fitts was in the upper left side of his chest, the complaint stated. He also had stab wounds to his left pelvic area, his left hand and right knee. Fitts died at the hospital shortly after the incident, according to the complaint.

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