Trish Mehaffey

A former Four Oaks counselor sentenced for sex abuse of 14-year-old boy will also be on the sex offender registry for 10 years and serve a lifetime sentence on parole.

Linn County Mental Health Access Center now offers a 24-hour sobering unit and takes direct referrals from law enforcement. Both will further alleviate unnecessary visits to emergency rooms and overcrowded jails.

Two animals, who underwent multiple surgeries for mammary cancer and a nose injury that required reconstructive surgery, are ready for adoption thanks to nonprofit Critter Crusaders who paid for their medical care.

There are 21 pending murder cases in Linn, Johnson counties, mainly due to the pandemic. Prosecutors estimate it will take several years to reduce the entire backlog created in 2020 and this year.

A 20-year-old Cedar Rapids man was linked to a shooting after investigators found shell casings and a scooter at the scene. His co-defendant hasn’t been arrested yet.

Two Fairfield teens charged with killing a Spanish teacher ask a judge to lower their $1million bail to $100,000. Prosecution asks to double it to $2 million. The judge will make ruling next week.

Willard Noble Chaiden Miller and Jeremy Everett Goodale, both 16 and charged with conspiracy to kill Nohema Graber, a Fairfield High School Spanish teacher, are in court Tuesday seeking to reduce their $1 million cash-only bail.

Marshawn Jeffries, 18, of Cedar Rapids, pleaded to obstruction of prosecution and intimidation with a dangerous weapon in the death of University of Iowa student Malik Sheets. He faces five years in prison.

Trial for the 21-year-old Cedar Rapids man charged with fatally shooting his parents and sister will not happen in January. Evidence reports are still outstanding and depositions haven’t started.

Former prison officer sentenced to 3 months in federal prison for lying to grand jury about wife’s health care fraud scheme. He falsely testified he didn’t live with her during the time she claimed benefits for food, housing and healthcare, and he provided no financial help to her.

Cedar Rapids liquor and tobacco outlet -- which wouldn’t allow customer with a service dog to enter -- settled ADA dispute for $1,000 to the customer and adopting policy changes for the store.

Former CVS pharmacist with a similar history in California was convicted for stealing drugs for his personal use. He admitted to shorting patients’ prescriptions to conceal the crime.

Solon man sentenced to four years for sexual abuse of a child and woman. He pleaded to amended charges. Also must comply with sex offender registry for life and serve special sentence of parole for 10 years.

An Iowa City man, who attempted to kill himself by crashing into another vehicle, but instead killed a Texas man, was sentenced Monday to 60 years in prison.

Marion man sentenced to 3 years in federal prison, $10,000 fine and must pay over $250,000 in restitution for forging and counterfeiting postage meter stamps for his eBay business.