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Tama Co. Court News

Tama County District Court


Before Judge Chad A. Kepros in Tama County District Court in Toledo:


Kevin Romain Banks, 48, Nevada, Iowa, pleaded guilty to 3rd degree harassment. He was fined and assessed court costs totaling $223. A no contact order of protection was issued for a five-year period. Banks was originally charged for 1st degree harassment on January 26. He was accused of sending text messages threatening to kill the recipient after the person allegedly stole money from his hotel room and he attempted to intimidate the victim to return his money. The charge was filed by Toledo Police Sgt. Daniel Quigley. Alexis Nadine Herrera, 21, Tama, pleaded guilty to1st offense drunken driving. She was sentenced to 90 days in jail with all but 88 days suspended and fined and assessed court costs totaling $1,828. Herrea was placed on probation to the 6th Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, directed to pay a $300 supervision fee and to complete a course for drinking drivers. Her drivers license was revoked for 180 days. Herrera was charge on May 5 on Business Highway 30 by Toledo Police Sgt. Daniel Quigley. Leland James Starits, 54, Toledo, pleaded guilty to 1st offense drunken driving. He was granted a deferred judgment and was placed on supervised probation to the Department of Correctional Services and is to pay 1 $300 supervisory fee. Starits also was assessed a civil penalty and court costs totaling $1,380 and to complete drinking driver’s school. Starits was charged on U.S. Highway 63 at 370th Street on May 8 by Iowa State Trooper Brian Meislahn. Kolbie Demetrius Lamar Bolden, 19, Tama, pleaded guilty to 1st offense drunken driving. He was granted a deferred judgement and was pleaded on supervised probation. Bolden was assessed a civil penalty and court costs totaling $1,350 and directed to pay a $300 probation supervisory fee. He was directe to complete a drinking drivers course. Bolden was charged in the 200 block of U.S. Highway 30 on April 23 by Toledo Police Officer Nathan Wunn. Jeremy Ryan Wegner, 42, Keystone, Iowa, pleaded guilty to 1st offense drunken driving. He was fined and assessed court costs totaling $1,798 and sentenced to two days in jail. The court may waive $625 of the fine amount if proof of installation of an ignition interlock device is received. Wegner was sentenced to 48 hours in jail but if he completes the OWI Weekend Program within 150 days the jail sentence will be waived. His driver’s license was suspended for 180 days. Wegner was charged on April 25 following a crash at U.S. Highway 63 and P Avenue, Traer, in which he was injured by Tama County Deputy Sheriff Brian Randall. Lauren Chapman, 28, Toledo, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine. She was sentenced to 90 days in jail with credit for any time served and the balance suspended and fined and assessed court costs totaling $813. Chapman was placed on self-supervised probation and directed to pay a $300 supervision fee. Chapman was charged on Sept. 20, 2017, when Toledo Police Officer Andrea Clark conducted a welfare check on the defendant at a Toledo City Park. Dasha Rochelle Reed 28, rural Tama, pleaded guilty to 2nd offense drunken driving. She was sentenced to a two year prison term to be served in a residential treatment program. Reed was fined and assessed court costs totaling $2,701 and placed on parole. Her driver’s license was revoked for two years. Reed was originally charged with 3rd offense drunken driving on April 13 in the 100 block of West Business Highway 30 by Toledo Police Officer Nathan Wunn. Marc Comegys, 49, Bondurant, Iowa,, entered a written guilty plea to 1st degree harassment. He was sentenced to two days in jail with credit for any time served and fined and assessed court costs totaling $1,696. Comegys was originally charged on Aug. 11, 2017, in the 1100 block of Lakeview Drive, Buckingham, during a verbal confrontation with another person. Comegys allegedly pulled a Glock pistol from his waistband and raised it according to the investigating officer’s report. The person he was confronting asked him if he (Conegys) “was Comegys to shoot him?” The reporting person charged Comegys said “I’ll kill you if I have to.” Tama County Deputy Sheriff Casey Schmidt charged Comegys with boing armed with intent and 1st degree harassment. William Harold Purk II, 70, Tama, was sentenced to a suspended 10-year prison term and granted probation by Tama County District Court Judge Mitchell Turner on July 13 on a charge of lascivious acts with a child. Purk entered an Alford plea to the charge on April 12. Purk entered an Alford plea to the charge which is not ad admission of guilt but recognizes the prosecution likely has enough evidence to obtain a conviction. This newspaper does not identify victims or alleged victims of sexual abuse unless the victim requests this disclosure. Purk was placed on probation for five years to the 6th Judicial District Department of Correctional Services assessed a fine and court costs totaling $1,860 and directed to successfully complete a Sex Offender Treatment Program According to a news release from the office of Tama County Attorney Brent Heeren the prosecution argued for incarceration due to the age of the victim, complete lack of remorse by the defendant, the nature of the crime, and severity of the crime. The defendant asked for probation instead of incarceration- stating he has forgiven the victim. The Rev. Kenny Mervin of Tama Meskwaki Celebration Assembly of God Church, a relative of Purk and defendant William Purk disputed the allegations of the victim and urged the court to grant a sentence of probation to allow the defendant to attend to needs of the church and his family according to the news release. The court determined incarceration of the defendant was not necessary for protection of the community from further offenses by the defendant and others. The court reminded the defendant he was guilty of committing the offense of lascivious acts. The court added the acts of the defendant were despicable. Judge Turner found probation would provide the greatest benefit to the defendant and the community for various reasons. The charges were filed May 18, 2017, by Tama County Sheriff’s Detective Bruce Rhoads. Purk originally faced charges of incest, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, indecent exposure and lascivious acts with a child.


Tama County Magistrate Court


Before Magistrate Richard Vander Mey:


Guilty pleas, fine and court costs. Agency filing charge(s)-


Calvin Lee Cervantes, 27, Omaha, Neb., trespassing, disorderly conduct- loud or raucous noise, 10 days in jail, credit 30 hours served, balance suspended $603. Tama Police Daniel Lee Tuttle, 38, Tama, driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked, disorderly conduct- fighting or violent behavior $343. Tama Police Regina Gray, 44, Toledo, disorderly conduct- fighting or violent behavior $148. Tama Police 17-year-old minor, Tama, failure to maintain control of vehicle, vehicle insurance violation- accident $593. Toledo Police Minor, 17, Ames, amended charge speeding 65 mph in 55 zone $114. Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement


Before Magistrate Ann Kuhter:


Guilty pleas, fine and court costs. Agency filing charge(s)- Dakota Allen King, 19, Traer, driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked $398. Iowa State Patrol Louis Lugo, 20, El Paso, Texas, provide false identification $148. Tama County Sheriff’s Office