116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Trish Mehaffey
Reporter covering state and federal courts, and whatever legal issues come my way. I also provide live coverage of criminal trials on Twitter @tmehaffey and welcome comments and questions from readers during the trials. Outside of work I love movies, tennis and my Kansas State Wildcats! Go Cats! Stay informed with the Public Safety newsletter.
Latest Articles by Trish Mehaffey
Crime & Courts Dec. 27, 2023 3:16 pm750d ago
An Iowa City man, who had a cardiac arrest during the City High Homecoming Parade in September, said he was lucky to have an officer with a paramedic background to save him. He will “never forget him.”
Crime & Courts Dec. 25, 2023 7:43 am753d ago
This year’s annual sock drive at the Johnson County Courthouse was dedicated to the memory of Kim Kurth, a court reporter for 33 years who’d retired in May and died of cancer in November. A record number of socks have been collected for donation to Iowa City nonprofits.
Crime & Courts Dec. 22, 2023 2:04 pm755d ago
A Bremer women who declared bankruptcy concealed $147,000 inheritance from her creditors was sentenced to 2 months in federal prison. A trustee discovered she had received the inheritance and she was required to pay her creditors.
Crime & Courts Dec. 22, 2023 1:12 pm755d ago
Wilton man who solicited underage girls for sex online and sent them child porn was sentenced to over 17 years in federal prison. Two adult women posed as teens and were sent graphic photos by the man and admitted to soliciting them because he thought they were minors.
Crime & Courts Dec. 18, 2023 5:10 pm759d ago
Trial for Andrew Shaw, accused of hiring two men to kill Chris Bagley in 2018, has been bumped to Jan. 23. Shaw had demanded his speedy right to trial.
Crime & Courts Dec. 17, 2023 6:00 am761d ago
Judge Fae Hoover will take early retirement next month after serving 20 years on the bench and 34 years overall in the legal profession. She says 20 years is “long enough” on the bench and she is ready to step aside for the next generation.
Crime & Courts Dec. 15, 2023 8:00 pm762d ago
Two Missouri residents are charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Shawn William Michael Kiger, 31, of Cedar Rapids, whose body was found in rural southeast Missouri this week. Kiger’s hands were bound behind his back and a sock was stuffed in his mouth.
Crime & Courts Dec. 15, 2023 4:44 pm762d ago
A judge set a competency hearing for a 4-year-old child who a Coralville man is accused of sexually abusing. Jeffrey Dodds’ trial is set for March 19.
Crime & Courts Dec. 15, 2023 4:08 pm762d ago
A Marion man will go to trial next month, after several delays, for kidnapping and sexual assault of a woman in 2021. His other charges of assault in two separate cases have been resolved through plea agreements.
Community Dec. 13, 2023 10:58 am764d ago
Shelter House opens its winter emergency shelter with 40 beds, which were filled the first night it opened last week. Officials hope it’s because they have been spreading the word but are worried it may because the need is greater this year. .
Crime & Courts Dec. 12, 2023 11:55 am765d ago
A trespass charge was dropped Tuesday against a 92-year-old West Branch farmer accused of driving around barricades and through wet concrete on Herbert Hoover Highway. The highway damage was estimated at over $366,000.
Crime & Courts Dec. 8, 2023 4:28 pm769d ago
A Cedar Rapids man charged with fatally stabbing Devonna Walker will ask the court to move his trial out of Linn County. His trial is set to start March 24.
Crime & Courts Dec. 7, 2023 4:04 pm770d ago
A judge in Polk County moved a wrongful death trial to Scott over the Adventureland water raft ride that flipped over and killed 11-year-old Eastern Iowa boy in 2021. He said a fair and impartial jury couldn’t be selected in Polk because of pretrial publicity.
Crime & Courts Dec. 6, 2023 7:53 am772d ago
A Coralville man, originally charged with attempted murder, pleads to lesser charges in July 4 shooting in Iowa City. He faces 25 years in prison.
Crime & Courts Dec. 6, 2023 7:55 am772d ago
An Iowa City man was sentenced to 35 years in prison for a several burglaries and thefts at local businesses. Police say he was selling the stolen items to support himself. The stolen items totaled over $100,000.

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