A Jefferson man charged in Carroll County District Court with homicide by vehicle has been scheduled for trial in September. According to court records, 21-year-old Jacob Allen Hubbs filed a not guilty plea on Wednesday to one count of homicide by vehicle, operating while intoxicated, a class B felony, and homicide by vehicle, reckless driving, a class C felony. The charges stem from a Sept. 4, 2020 accident near Lidderdale that killed 76-year-old Kenneth Lee Johnston of Lanesboro. Authorities say Hubbs was traveling northbound on Robin Avenue and failed to stop for a posted sign at the intersection with 130
th street, colliding with the driver’s side of Johnston’s 2007 Toyota Corolla. The jury trial is set to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 14 with a pretrial conference slated for Monday, Aug. 23.
A Des Moines man originally charged in Carroll County District Court with drug trafficking was sentenced to three years in prison last week. According to trial information filed in April, 25-year-old Taylor John Kramer, formerly of Carroll, initially faced one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, a class B felony, and one count of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, a class D felony. As part of an agreement with prosecutors, Kramer pled guilty to reduced misdemeanor charges. He was sentenced to two years in prison on the methamphetamine charge and one year for the marijuana charge with the sentences to be served consecutively. The charges stemmed from a Feb. 26 traffic stop by the Carroll Police Department. Authorities say Kramer was found with approximately 20 grams of methamphetamine, seven grams of marijuana, baggies, a scale and cash.
A Carroll man arrested last month following a high-speed pursuit with law enforcement was sentenced Thursday as part of a multi-case plea agreement. According to Carroll County District Court records, 39-year-old Nicholas John Downs pled guilty to eluding, an aggravated misdemeanor, stemming from the June 11 chase, and was sentenced to two years in the custody of the Iowa Department of Correctional Services. His sentence is to be served consecutively to a five-year term handed down in connection to a Dec. 10 arrest for third-offense domestic abuse assault, a class D felony, and a one-year sentence for possession of a controlled substance, a serious misdemeanor. He will receive credit for time served in connection to each of the arrests. Downs will be eligible for parole after serving at least one year of the combined sentence.
A Carroll man accused of purposefully igniting a residential garage on fire last year is scheduled for sentencing in August. According to Carroll County District Court records, 55-year-old Kelly Dean Warnke is charged with first-degree arson, a class B felony, for an Aug. 26, 2020 fire in the 1100 block of N. Clark Street. Authorities say Warnke poured gasoline onto the floor of the attached garage and lit it, resulting in severe damage to the home as well as a nearby residence. Documents filed in March state Warnke has agreed to plead guilty to a lesser offense, second-degree arson, a class C felony, and his plea was accepted by the court on Monday. A pre-sentencing investigation has been ordered with Warnke’s sentencing hearing scheduled for Monday, Aug. 9. A class C felony carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
The trial start date for an Arcadia man charged with felony child endangerment has been rescheduled for September. According to Carroll County District Court