Trial delayed again for Cedar Rapids man accused of fatally beating his mother

CEDAR RAPIDS — Trial for a Cedar Rapids man accused of fatally assaulting and robbing his 71-year-old mother in 2020 has been reset again to Nov. 7.

George Deason, 52, is charged with first-degree murder, assault on a peace officer with a dangerous weapon and interference with official acts with a dangerous weapon. He is accused of fatally beating his mother, Elsie Mae Deason, in an attempt to steal about $50 from her in her home, where he also lived, on June 30, 2020.

The murder charge was added after Elsie Deason died from her injuries about a month later, on July 23, 2020. She had severe head injuries and also facial injuries, according to court documents.

The trial has been delayed many times because both the prosecution and defense needed more time to prepare for trial and to go through all the evidence, including police body camera and squad vehicle camera recordings, and take depositions.

Some of the delays resulted because Deason asked the court to replace at least two previous court-appointed lawyers.

The trial is expected to last nine days, according to court documents.

According to a criminal complaint, when police responded to a call that Deason had assaulted his mother in her home at 808 18th Ave. SW, they found her with severe injuries to her head and face and she was taken to a hospital. Deason wasn’t at the house when police arrived.

He was found by police a short time later near the Playtime Tap, 802 15th Ave. SW, a complaint stated. He had several warrants for his arrest, in separate offenses of theft and forgery, and refused to surrender, claiming he had a gun as he began to swing a “slapjack” — a leather strap that contains lead — at officers.

Officers subdued Deason, and then he kicked an officer while armed with the slapjack.

According to court documents, Deason’s sister, Deborah Deason, filed two protective order petitions for her mother against her brother, but both were dismissed shortly after they were filed.

One petition filed July 5, 2019, by Deborah Deason for her mother, said her brother wasn’t feeding his mother, had thrown away all the food, pushed his mother down and threatened to put her in a home.

A judge granted the temporary order, but Deborah Deason didn’t show up for the hearing to make the protective order permanent, so it was canceled July 23, 2019.

Another petition was filed by Deborah Deason for her mother shortly after the first was canceled, asserting George Deason pushed her mother again, didn’t feed her for two days and busted up things in the home, including all the phones, so her mother couldn’t get help.

Deborah Deason requested that petition be dismissed Aug. 26, 2019, and a judge granted it. There’s no information in the files that explains why she asked for the dismissals.

George Deason has previous convictions for assaulting police officers — kicking and spitting on deputies and resisting officers.

He remains in the Linn County Jail pending trial.

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