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 Jul. 16, 2022 6:00 am1280d ago
Two police officers who wrongly arrested a Coralville man for being an impaired driver without any evidence and locking him up in jail for nearly three months didn’t lose their jobs or face any consequences that were made public.
Crime & Courts Jul. 15, 2022 6:17 pm1281d ago
The second teen accused in the killing of a Fairfield High Spanish teacher with a baseball bat is asking the court to move his trial out of Jefferson County. A judge previously moved the other teen’s trial to Council Bluffs.
Crime & Courts Jul. 14, 2022 4:39 pm1282d ago
An Illinois man charged with sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl, who lived in two different counties during the assaults, asked a judge to dismiss the charges because her parents gave consent and they are the ones who violated the law.
Crime & Courts Jul. 12, 2022 2:44 pm1284d ago
The Black Hawk County Attorney’s Office is reviewing an investigation into the circumstances of how a pedestrian was injured as a truck drove forward as protesters crossed the street during a rally for abortion rights last month in Cedar Rapids. Linn County prosecutors didn’t review the case because at least one member of the office was at the scene and could possibly be a witness, Black Hawk County Attorney Brian Williams said.
Crime & Courts Jul. 11, 2022 6:43 pm1285d ago
A Cedar Rapids man, who is white, is suing the city and mayor over an ordinance he says discriminates against whites because it requires five Citizens Review Board members to be people of color.
Crime & Courts Jul. 11, 2022 6:00 am1285d ago
The settlement will be shared by the cities of Iowa City and Coralville. The man spent months in jail, which resulted in him losing his home and job, and delayed medical treatment for brain injury.
Crime & Courts Jul. 8, 2022 6:22 pm1288d ago
U.S. marshals have arrested 13 of the “most wanted” sex offenders in Iowa. The marshals said all had failed to comply with Iowa Sex Offender Registry requirements. Seven have previous convictions of crimes against children under age 13, the marshals said. Marshals are offering cash rewards leading to the arrest of 49 more offenders out of compliance with the registry.
Crime & Courts Jul. 8, 2022 6:04 pm1288d ago
The trial for Alexander Ken Jackson, 21, accused of killing his family, may be delayed because the defense and prosecution have a scheduling conflict.
Crime & Courts Jul. 8, 2022 5:39 pm1288d ago
Trial is reset for a 19-year-old Cedar Rapids accused of fatally shooting a 15-year-old girl a year ago. His trial will start Dec. 6 in Linn County District Court.
Crime & Courts Jul. 7, 2022 9:40 am1289d ago
A former Linn County sheriff’s reserve deputy and TSA officer has been indicted on federal child pornography charges. A federal judge ruled Wednesday the Marion man must remain in jail pending trial, saying he posed a danger to the community and was a flight risk.
Crime & Courts Jul. 5, 2022 3:55 pm1291d ago
A jury last week acquitted a former Cedar Rapids landlord who assaulted his tenant with a hammer. The landlord said the tenant, who had been given an eviction notice the day before attacked him and the landlord defended himself.
Crime & Courts Jul. 1, 2022 5:32 pm1295d ago
The Montana man swindled over $15,000 from a Cedar Rapids derecho victim but never did the work and used the money for gambling.
Crime & Courts Jul. 3, 2022 7:58 am1293d ago
A former Cedar Rapids school mental health therapist/social worker has been sent to federal prison for having sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student.
Crime & Courts Jul. 1, 2022 7:02 pm1295d ago
An Iowa City charged with murdering his wife in 2019 will not go to trial July 12. The trial will be reset for a sixth time since 2020. He also asked the court, in a motion, to keep out any possible motive and investigators’ theories regarding him concealing his high risk loans and financial state of banking accounts from his wife.
Crime & Courts Jun. 30, 2022 3:06 pm1296d ago
The suit claims the Raging River ride was poorly and improperly maintained, staff wasn’t properly trained and blames management for allowing the ride to open July 3, 2021.

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