Marshalltown man convicted for part in Iowa City burglary

Johnson County Judge Paul Miller convicted a Marshalltown man to 180 days in Johnson County jail for his part in a five-person home invasion on Thursday afternoon.

Miller also granted Randon Hill, 20, a deferred judgment on a count of conspiracy to commit second-degree burglary, a Class D felony.

On April 12, Iowa City police were called to a residence in the 200 block of Haywood Drive at 3:02 a.m. Officers said the people in the home were sleeping when their sliding glass door was smashed open and three men and one woman entered wielding sticks. The robbers made the residents lie face down on the floor as they stole several items and threatened the victims with violence.

It was later confirmed one of the victims was a former roommate of Hill. Hill had lived with the victim in Cedar Rapids and had been evicted. According to the victim, Hill never claimed his property so he took all of it to his new Iowa City residence.

Police say Hill then gathered four others to to go to the Haywood Dr. residence and threaten or intimidate the victims into giving Hill's property back.

Miller granted a deferred judgment on the second-degree burglary count due to Hill's young age, lack of previous record, and because no one was hurt during the incident.

“With my experience, I have seen it is very difficult for a person your age to get a decent job with a felony conviction,” Miller told Hill.

Under the deferred judgment, Hill will be under supervised probation for three years, will have to serve 100 hours of community service, and pay $1,400 in fines. Hill will also have to pay for any punitive damages as a result of the burglary and any court fees assessed to the state.