Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food & Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

Iowa State Patrol trooper killed during standoff

Hari Michele Osofsky is first University of Iowa presidential finalist…

Despite their discomfort, some residents beginning to agree to COVID-19…

CANCELED: Operation Quickfind issued for Marion boy

Iowa OSHA: Anamosa prison didn’t have reliable radios

After border visit, Hinson calls for reinstating Trump policies

Visitor restrictions eased at Cedar Rapids hospitals

Joni Ernst says ‘zero’ chance she will run for president…

Home / News / Crime and Courts

Man linked to James Booher’s slaying pleads not guilty

Trish MehaffeyBy: Trish Mehaffey Jun. 11, 2019 12:56 pm Updated: Jun. 19, 2019 5:59 pm
Man linked to James Booher’s slaying pleads not guiltyMan linked to James Booher’s slaying pleads not guiltyMan linked to James Booher’s slaying pleads not guilty

CEDAR RAPIDS - A third defendant pleaded not guilty Tuesday in the 2014 robbery and fatal shooting of a 51-year-old Marion man - a case federal prosecutors say is eligible for the death penalty but that will be up to the U.S. Attorney General's office.

Prosecutors, at arraignments last month for two defendants, Danielle Busch and William L. Yancey, said they are waiting to see if the U.S. Justice Department decides to pursue the death penalty if the defendants are found guilty.

Matthew Robbins, 46, of Ely, Busch, 29, and Yancey, 43, both of Cedar Rapids, are charged with robbery affecting interstate commerce, conspiracy to commit robbery affecting interstate commerce and using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in murder, according to an indictment.

Marion police in 2015 considered James Booher, who went missing May 31, 2014, a homicide victim but no charges were filed in his death until last month.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Morfitt last month declined to comment when asked if Booher's body had been found.

Robbins and Yancey are in prison serving time for drug and firearm convictions. Robbins had been linked to Booher's disappearance but was previously only charged with firearms and drugs offenses.

All three defendants are accused of robbing Booher of methamphetamine and money by force on May 31, 2014, according to the indictment. They also are accused of having a firearm during the robbery and fatally shooting Booher.

The firearms charge is a 'death constituting murder” charge under federal law.

U.S. Magistrate Mark Roberts last week designated this case as 'complex,” which expands the deadline for pretrial motions, discovery and gives more time for both sides to prepare for trial. The prosecution advised the court of the 'voluminous” evidence in this case, including scientific and forensic evidence, according to Roberts' order.

'I find the case is so unusual and complex, that due to the number of defendants, the nature of prosecution and the existence of novel questions of fact or law, that it is unreasonable to expect adequate preparation for pretrial proceedings or for the trial itself with the time limits established by the speedy trial act,” Roberts said in the order.

Typically, a trial has to start within 70 days of arraignment, according to federal law, but since this has been deemed a complex case, Roberts set Feb. 24 as a trial date for Busch and Yancey.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Murphy asked the court to try Robbins with the two others.

Mike Lahammer, Robbins' lawyer, said he hasn't had a chance to discuss this with his client and wasn't waiving his client's right to a speedy trial at this point. Roberts set Robbins' trial for July 15.

If convicted, all three face a mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life, in prison.

Evidence from Robbins' first trial, which ended in a hung jury, showed Robbins knew Booher and had bought meth from him. 

Robbins and another man are accused of robbing Booher on June 1, 2014 - the day after police say Booher was last seen alive, according to court documents in the firearms case. Robbins and a friend identified as Danielle Busch bought meth from Booher on May 31, 2014.

Robbins and Busch used the meth and later contacted Booher to set up time to buy a larger quantity, according to court documents. Booher went to Robbins' home later that night and wasn't seen after that visit, according to court documents.

A person looking for Booher testified he went to Robbins' home, and Robbins answered the door holding a .45 caliber handgun.

Booher was reported missing by his sister June 3, and his truck was found abandoned June 9.

In May 2015, during the investigation into Robbins, a forensics team that specializes in identifying human remains set up a dig site at a rural Ely farmhouse where Robbins once lived to search for evidence in Booher's death.

Court documents showed Robbins later moved out of the farmhouse on Nederhiser Road and, before doing so, removed carpet, furnishings and fixtures - which he burned behind the house.

No human remains were found, but federal agents did recover a .45-caliber shell casing in the burn pile, according to court documents.

Robbins, who pleaded guilty in 2016 to being a felon and unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, is serving 10 years in prison.

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

James Booher Missing since 2014
Matthew Robbins
Danielle Busch
Daily Report, Marion
Trish Mehaffey

Trish Mehaffey

Reporter, The Gazette

Reporter covering state and federal courts, and whatever legal issues come my way. I also provide live coverage of criminal trials o and welcome comments and questions from readers.

Cedar Rapids man will plead to lesser charges in 2019…

Cedar Rapids man convicted in Chris Bagley’s death faces new…

Fayette County man sentenced to life in death of infant

Washington County man convicted of killing wife dies while serving…

CAMBUS driver becomes uneasy hero after stopping a suicide

All articles by Trish

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

Iowa adds 666 virus cases on Thursday

Iowa adds 666 virus cases on Thursday

Gage Miskimen Health Care and Medicine Apr. 8, 2021 4:39 pm

No one hurt in Cedar Rapids house fire

No one hurt in Cedar Rapids house fire

Gazette staff Crime and Courts Apr. 6, 2021 12:15 pm

Iowa state park camping fees increase for the first time…

Iowa state park camping fees increase for the first time…

Erin Jordan Government & Politics Apr. 5, 2021 9:51 pm

Crime & Courts

CANCELED: Operation Quickfind issued for Marion boy

CANCELED: Operation Quickfind issued for Marion boy

The Gazette

Crime and Courts Apr. 11, 2021 11:40 am

Iowa State Patrol trooper killed during standoff

Iowa State Patrol trooper killed during standoff

AP

Crime and Courts Apr. 11, 2021 8:13 am

Man arrested at protest in Des Moines acquitted of charge

Man arrested at protest in Des Moines acquitted of charge

AP

Crime and Courts Apr. 10, 2021 5:26 pm

Fire that destroyed UnityPoint office building was not intentionally set,…

Fire that destroyed UnityPoint office building was not intentionally set,…

Kat Russell

Crime and Courts Apr. 9, 2021 4:40 pm

News

Hari Michele Osofsky is first University of Iowa presidential finalist…

Hari Michele Osofsky is first University of Iowa presidential finalist…

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed 9m ago

Linn and Johnson outpace state in rate of adults completing…

Linn and Johnson outpace state in rate of adults completing…

John McGlothlen

News 13m ago

Despite their discomfort, some residents beginning to agree to COVID-19…

Despite their discomfort, some residents beginning to agree to COVID-19…

Michaela Ramm

Health Care and Medicine 4h ago

Week in Iowa: Recap of news from around the state…

Week in Iowa: Recap of news from around the state…

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

News Apr. 8, 2021 11:25 pm

Sports

Metro duo produce for fifth-ranked Louisville baseball

Metro duo produce for fifth-ranked Louisville baseball

K.J. Pilcher

Sports Apr. 11, 2021 1:26 am

UNI football hangs with, but can’t beat, No. 2 North…

UNI football hangs with, but can’t beat, No. 2 North…

UNI Panther Football Apr. 10, 2021 8:50 pm

Photos: UNI Panthers vs. NDSU Bison

Photos: UNI Panthers vs. NDSU Bison

Gazette Visuals

UNI Panther Football Apr. 10, 2021 8:34 pm

Kirkwood advances to NJCAA D-II women’s basketball tournament

Kirkwood advances to NJCAA D-II women’s basketball tournament

Justin Webster

Sports Apr. 10, 2021 7:25 pm

Opinion

Rethinking the rush toward electric vehicles

Rethinking the rush toward electric vehicles

Nicholas Johnson

Guest Columnists Apr. 9, 2021 1:16 pm

The only safe prison is an empty one

The only safe prison is an empty one

Adam Sullivan

Opinion Apr. 9, 2021 8:26 am

Property tax bill includes unwelcome surprises

Property tax bill includes unwelcome surprises

staff editorial

Staff Editorials Apr. 8, 2021 4:04 pm

A to-do list for the Iowa Legislature

A to-do list for the Iowa Legislature

Staff editorial

Opinion Apr. 8, 2021 8:15 am

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company