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Special prosecutors appointed in Pottawattamie County case

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June 14th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Mills and Harrison County Attorney’s Offices will be called upon to handle cases against a Crescent man who allegedly threatened the Assistant Pottawattamie County Attorney. The Daily NonPareil reports the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Thursday to approve the appointment of special prosecutors to handle cases against 56-year old Paul  Grindstaff, who’s accused of threatening an assistant county attorney.

Assistant county attorney Maggie Reyes asked the board Thursday to allow the Mills County Attorney’s Office to prosecute Grindstaff, who is charged with first-degree harassment and terroristic threats after allegedly sending threatening emails to the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office. The paper says a second case involving a theft by Grindstaff will be handled by the Harrison County Attorney’s Office.

Grindstaff was arrested in Omaha in May. According to court documents, a grandchild was removed from his care in Douglas County (Neb.) in February. In April, his guardianship was dissolved. The affidavit in support of Grindstaff’s arrest alleges after the guardianship was dissolved, he continually emailed assistant county attorney Dawn Landon, who was involved in the case because the office represents the Department of Human Services by Iowa Code.

The state alleges the communications threatened bodily harm and intended to intimidate, annoy or alarm the recipient. Grindstaff was released on a $50,000 bond. A preliminary hearing in the case is set for July 10th.Reyes said there is an unwritten agreement between county attorney offices to cover each other in the event of a conflict of interest. She said Pottawattamie County would pay for any costs associated with prosecuting the cases, but they will not pay the other county attorney offices for their work.