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 and Courts Apr. 5, 2023 6:41 pm52d ago
A former bookkeeper for a Traer trucking company is accused of embezzling over $400,000 from 2015 to 2020. She issued unauthorized checks for her personal use over that period.
Crime and Courts Apr. 5, 2023 4:29 pm52d ago
A former Boone Co. Sheriff’s K-9 officer who left his canine partner in his patrol truck for 22 hours in 91 degree heat in September 2022 was charged for causing dog’s death.
Crime and Courts Apr. 5, 2023 8:14 pm52d ago
Jacovan Bush, formerly of Fairfax, was convicted of lesser charges in the 2008 fatal shooting of a 19-year-old in Cedar Rapids during a fight between rival groups. He was convicted and sentenced last week for a fatal home invasion in Arkansas.
Crime and Courts Apr. 3, 2023 5:09 pm54d ago
A former Tama County jailer was sentenced to two years probation for having sex with an inmate over a period of months in 2020 and in April of 2021. The former inmate, a Cedar Rapids man, is suing the county, sheriff and former jailer over the incidents.
Community Apr. 3, 2023 6:00 am55d ago
The first phase of a multiyear building project for Cedar Valley Humane Society will open next month. The ribbon cutting ceremony will likely be in early May.
Crime and Courts Apr. 2, 2023 5:00 am56d ago
Leo Kelly, who was charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, says he didn’t intend to disrupt vote that day, but felt invited by Trump to go into the building. His trial is scheduled to begin May 1 in U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia.
Crime and Courts Mar. 31, 2023 1:23 pm58d ago
The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed a Manchester man’s murder conviction of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko, who was fatally stabbed in her car parked outside Westdale Mall in 1979. The court ruled Jerry Burns voluntarily left his DNA on a drinking straw police found in the trash of a restaurant. No warrant was needed.
Crime and Courts Mar. 30, 2023 6:11 pm58d ago
A former Iowa City oral surgeon who extracted fentanyl from office vials in 2019 was sentenced this week to two years in federal prison. His license was indefinitely suspended in 2019.
Crime and Courts Mar. 29, 2023 6:18 pm59d ago
An Illinois man, who is accused of fatal crash in 2021, wants to court to toss out his blood tests that show he was intoxicated and had illegal drugs in his system at the time of crash. Accused is also charged with murder in Illinois.
Crime and Courts Mar. 24, 2023 2:46 pm64d ago
A Cedar Rapids doctor being sued for sex exploitation of a former patient is now being charged for having sex with a former patient. If convicted, he faces two years in prison.
Crime and Courts Mar. 27, 2023 10:57 am62d ago
Four individuals conspired to set up meet with 16-year-old Michael McCune to kill him, according to a criminal complaint. Only two two people have been charged at this time.
Crime and Courts Mar. 23, 2023 4:08 pm65d ago
A former Elgin city clerk was charged Wednesday for stealing over $131,000 from Oct. 1, 2017, through June 20, 2021, including giving herself an additional $104,000 in pay, according to a special investigation report released earlier this month.
Crime and Courts Mar. 23, 2023 11:37 am66d ago
An Oelwein drug informant who was beaten by two Linn County Jail inmates last year is suing the Linn sheriff and others. His civil trial is set for August 2024.
Crime and Courts Mar. 22, 2023 6:38 pm66d ago
A Cedar Rapids man pleaded to lesser charges for fatally shooting his girlfriend and another man last April in the Taboo Nightclub and Lounge. He faced up to 100 years on murder charges if convicted, but now only faces up to 30 years in prison.
Crime and Courts Mar. 22, 2023 4:37 pm66d ago
A Linn County woman is suing her former Cedar Rapids doctor for sex exploitation and negligence. According to court records, he regularly prescribed her medications for mental health issues for about two years.