Cedar Rapids man charged with murder pleads not guilty

CEDAR RAPIDS - A 23-year-old man charged in the fatal shooting of Clifton Sparks pleaded not guilty in a written arraignment Wednesday.

Robert Louis Nash IV of Cedar Rapids, is charged 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 p.m. that day. His body was found about 12:30 a.m. in the street.

He remains in jail on a$1 million bond. A trial date hasn't been set at this time.

Darlesha Flowers told The Gazette last month 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.

If Nash is convicted of first-degree murder, he faces life in prison and the first-degree robbery carries a 25-year prison term.