Tama County man pleads guilty to killing a 17-year-old on Meskwaki Settlement

A 21-year-old Tama County man pleaded guilty to a lesser charge Wednesday in the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old last February on the Meskwaki Settlement.

Jonathan Curtis Youngbear, originally charged with first-degree murder, pleaded to second-degree murder within Indian County in U.S. District Court. Youngbear is a member of the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi.

During the hearing, Youngbear admitted to stabbing Severn D. Jefferson in his home with a knife he retrieved from his kitchen Feb. 24, 2014.

According to previous hearings, Youngbear and Jefferson had an argument and Youngbear's cousin, Joseph Youngbear, told police Jonathan came up behind Jefferson while he was sitting on the couch, motioned to him to be quiet, and then stabbed Jefferson in the chest.

Youngbear stabbed Jefferson twice in the left side of lower neck and upper chest, according to the plea agreement. The upper stab wound cut Jefferson's jugular vein and the lower stab wound cut his subclavian artery, which caused a large hemorrhage and resulted in his death.

Assistant U.S. Attorney C.J. Williams confirmed in court the government will recommend 25 to 35 years in federal prison, which is part of the plea agreement.

The charge of second-degree murder carries a penalty of up to life in prison and the judge has discretion under the sentencing guidelines. In this agreement, the prosecutor and defense state if the judge doesn't go along with the recommended prison term, then neither party is bound to it and Youngbear could withdraw his plea.

U.S. Magistrate Jon Scoles, who presided over the plea, said Reade tentatively agreed to the sentencing agreement but it is contingent upon review of the pretrial sentencing report. Scoles said if she doesn't agree at that time, Youngbear can still withdraw his plea.

Youngbear may also have to pay a fine up to $250,000 and restitution to the victim's estate or family.

During a hearing in November, Tama Police officers testified when they arrived at Jefferson's home, Youngbear came out with bloody hands and left bloody footprints in the snow. When officers entered the house, they saw Jefferson lying in the hallway and allowed medical personnel inside but he was already dead.

According to plea agreement, Youngbear had been drinking alcohol all day and also tested positive for methamphetamine.

During the hearing in November, Roman Karas, an FBI crime lab forensic chemist in Quantico, Vir., testified by video conference that Youngbear's blood alcohol level was .037 about four hours after he was interviewed by investigators. He extrapolated the BAC based on four hours earlier, at the time of the interview, and it would be between .109 and .137. The legal driving limit is .08.

Karas said at the high end, someone's motor skills and their decision-making skills could be impacted.

Karas also confirmed Youngbear tested positive for marijuana and methamphetamine but the THC metabolite was inactive, which wouldn't impair someone and the methamphetamine wasn't an 'abusive” amount.

The defense asked the court to suppress the police interview, claiming Youngbear was intoxicated from drugs and alcohol, but U.S. Magistrate Jon Scoles denied the motion after the November hearing and ruled to allow the interview at trial. U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade affirmed Scoles ruling earlier this month.

During that same hearing in November, two Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agents also testified that Youngbear understood his rights and agreed to talk with them about six hours after his arrest. They said Youngbear showed no signs of intoxication.