(Des Moines, Iowa) – On February 22, David Marken Aikoriegie, of Des Moines, appeared in federal court and pleaded guilty to charges related to a series of gun store burglaries in the Des Moines area, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum.
Aikoriegie pleaded guilty to three counts of stealing a firearm from a federal firearm licensee and one count of unlawful possession, receipt, and sale of a stolen firearm. Aikoriegie admitted he stole three firearms from JLM Gun Shoppe in Urbandale on November 16, 2017; ten firearms from Rangemasters in Clive on December 2, 2017; and eleven firearms from Rangemasters on December 14, 2017. He also admitted to selling one of those stolen firearms to another person on December 16, 2017. A sentencing date has not been scheduled at this time.
This investigation was conducted by the Clive Police Department; United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Des Moines Police Department; and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
(Des Moines, Iowa) – Cora Lea Harrington, age 42, of Pleasant Hill was charged with Fraudulent Submissions (Class D Felony) and Theft in the 2nd Degree (Class D Felony) following an insurance fraud investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau.
The charges against Harrington, a former insurance claims representative, stem from an investigation that began in March 2017. It is alleged that Harrington engaged in altering financial documents related to insurance claims in order to redirect insurance claim proceeds to herself for personal use.
On January 30, 2018, a State of Iowa warrant was issued for the arrest of Harrington. On February 9th, 2018, Harrington was arrested by the Pleasant Hill Police Department and booked into the Polk County Jail.
Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-242-5304. No additional information has been provided at this time.
Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Booking photo courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Update: This article has been updated to reflect information provided during a news conference with the Oskaloosa Police Department at 11:30 AM on Friday, March 2.
(OSKALOOSA, Iowa) – An investigation is underway after a man died last night following a stabbing incident in Oskaloosa. Oskaloosa Police Chief Jake McGee, along with Iowa DCI investigator Mike Motsinger, have confirmed the death of William Penn University student Marquis Todd. Officials said during a news conference that Todd was stabbed after a minor vehicular accident on North 3rd Street in Oskaloosa on Thursday night. Todd’s friends then took him to the Jiffy gas station in Oskaloosa. No one has been taken into custody yet and the investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement did not provide any names of persons of interest during the time of the news conference.
University officials confirmed the death of Todd via a letter signed by University President John Ottosson, which was published by KCCI:
Dear Penn Family,
I write this note with a heavy heart. Last night, there was an incident in town that led to the death of a member of one of our family, student Marquis Todd. Details of the incident are still unfolding and under investigation. It is known that the other individuals in this incident were not affiliated with the University.
The University is cooperating fully with the Oskaloosa Police Department with their investigation and in turn, the OPD is keeping the University apprised of the situation as details unfold.
William Penn University Counseling Services, Campus Ministry, and Crisis Intervention Services will be on campus today and will be available to students, faculty, and staff. For more information regarding these resources, please contact Tyne Smith at smitht@wmpenn.edu or 641-673-1703. Her office of located on the main floor of the Dana M. Atkins Memorial Union. To contact Campus Ministry for support, please call Ron Bryan at 641-660-9717.
Sincerely, John Ottosson President William Penn University
The Iowa DCI is assisting the Oskaloosa Police Department in the investigation.
(MAHASKA COUNTY, Iowa) – Last Friday, the Mahaska County Magistrate Appointing Commission met and appointed Diane Crookham-Johnson to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Magistrate Amber Thompson. According to a news release sent by the 8th Judicial District Court Administration, this appointment goes into effect March 9.
Crookham-Johnson will continue to maintain a law practice in Oskaloosa focused on family and juvenile law. However, the news release does not disclose information about Magistrate Thompson’s resignation.
A fourth-generation attorney in Mahaska County, Crookham-Johnson is quoted in the news release saying, “I look forward to serving the community in this new role.”
Crookham-Johnson graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1988. After a twenty-year career in manufacturing, she returned to school and earned her law degree from Drake University School of Law in 2010.
This information was provided in a news release sent by Cathy Reck, Administrative Secretary of the 8th Judicial District Court Administration.
(OTTUMWA, Iowa) – Two people are dead after an armed robbery and car crash last night in Ottumwa, according to authorities.
On Monday, February 26, at about 8:00 PM, the Ottumwa Police Department responded to the 1800 Block of Greenwood on a report that a pizza delivery driver had been robbed.
Upon their arrival, the victim was identified as Christian Garrett, 21, of Ottumwa. Garrett reported that after delivering a pizza in the area, he was assaulted by a man who stole the vehicle that Garrett was driving at the time of the assault. Garrett also had his face cut with a sharp instrument by the assailant during the robbery. Due to the nature of the event, Garrett was transported to Ottumwa Regional Health Center with non-life threatening injuries.
Shortly after the robbery was reported, a motor vehicle accident involving two vehicles was also reported near the intersection of HWY 34 and County Road T 61. According to the OPD news release, it was determined that the vehicle stolen from Garrett was involved. The suspect that was driving the stolen vehicle died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision. The other vehicle that was involved in the accident was occupied by one person and that person also died as a result of the incident.
The Iowa State Patrol in is charge of the motor vehicle accident investigation and the names of the suspect and the driver of the other motor vehicle involved in the accident will be released after next of kin has been notified.
(Ottumwa, Iowa) – Ottumwa police are looking for information after an armed robbery at the BP Service Station in Ottumwa. According to a news release sent by the Ottumwa Police Department, a clerk reported that the BP Service Station located at 1301 N. Court was robbed at gunpoint around 8:00 PM on Sunday, Feb. 18.
According to the release, a clerk reported that a male had entered the store displaying a handgun and demanded money. The clerk said the robber then stole money from the cash drawer. Unfortunately, the release stated that the thief wore clothing that would conceal his identity during the incident, therefore no details about his appearance have been released, aside from two photos taken from surveillance footage.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Ottumwa Police Department at 641-683-0661.
Readers should be advised that a criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
(Ottumwa, Iowa) – In the early hours of Tuesday, Feb. 13, the Ottumwa Police Department performed a traffic stop on a vehicle near the intersection of Ferry and Chester in Ottumwa.
According to a news release, officers seized controlled substances and a loaded handgun as a result of this stop. The following people were arrested and charged with the following crimes:
Ryan Lawrence Gillen, 22, of Ottumwa, was arrested for: Possession with the Intent to Deliver More Than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine, a Class “B” Felony; Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, a Class “D” Felony; Carrying Weapons, an Aggravated Misdemeanor; Driving While Barred, an Aggravated Misdemeanor.
Theresa Ann Lomax, 43, of Ottumwa, was arrested for: Possession with the Intent to Deliver More Than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine, a Class “B” Felony; Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, a Class “D” Felony; Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, a Class “D” Felony; Prohibited Acts, Possession of Marijuana, a Serious Misdemeanor; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Simple Misdemeanor.
Disclaimer: A charge is merely an accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
(Ottumwa, Iowa) – According to a news release sent by the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office and the Ottumwa Police Department executed a search warrant in Ottumwa at the beginning of January. As a result of the search warrant and investigation conducted at that time, Christopher Ray Cale, 41, was arrested. Cale is now charged with Violation of Protection Order a Simple Misdemeanor and Possession and Control of Firearms and Ammunition (Domestic/Protective Order) Class D Felony.
This investigation is ongoing and more information will be released as it becomes available. According to the news release, Cale bonded from the Wapello County Jail.
Disclaimer: A charge is merely an accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Christopher Ray Cale, 41, was arrested by the Wapello Co. Sheriff’s Dep’t & the Ottumwa Police Dep’t on Jan. 10. Photo provided by the Wapello Co. Sheriff’s Dep’t.
