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Bluffs woman sentenced for her role in Rocha murder

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June 10th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A district court judge in Pottawattamie County Thursday, sentenced a Council Bluffs woman to 50-years in prison for her role in the stabbing death of another woman. Fourth District Court Judge James Heckerman handed down the sentence against 22-year old Lisa Reeves, who pled guilty to second-degree murder for the January 14th death of 39-year old Tammy Rocha. Reeves’ attorney, public defender Greg Jones, said his client pleaded guilty because of the possibility of spending the rest of her life in prison if convicted of first degree murder.

Reeves was originally charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery and conspiracy. She will be eligible for parole after 35 years. Prosecutors alleged that it was Lisa Reeves who stabbed Rocha seven times with a knife in front of the Reeves residence in Council Bluffs, after Rocha stole four rings and a cellphone from her the night before.

Reeves; her father, Brian Reeves; and two other men were arrested in the hours and days following Rocha’s death. Brian Reeves pleaded guilty to three lesser charges in the case and was sentenced to 30 years in prison in May. He’ll have to serve seven years before he’s eligible for parole.

A jury found Clarence Woolsoncroft guilty earlier this month of second-degree murder and two lesser crimes for his involvement in the fatal stabbing. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20th.

Eric Long — who is Lisa Reeves’ boyfriend — pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact and was sentenced to two years in prison.