BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) — For years, the young man from Mexico presented himself as a legal U.S. resident and reliable worker at a family dairy farm in small town Iowa, his employer said.
But this week, the image of Cristhian Bahena Rivera transformed in a matter of hours. Now he’s a man accused of illegally living and working in the U.S. on fraudulent documents, of being a predator who kidnapped and killed a beloved young woman, and to some, the monstrous face of a lax immigration system. Rivera made his initial court appearance Wednesday in a rural Iowa courthouse on a first-degree murder charge in the death of 20-year-old college student Mollie Tibbetts. He sat stone-faced and handcuffed in a striped jail jumpsuit as he said through an interpreter that he understood he faced life in prison if convicted. He was ordered jailed on a $5 million cash-only bond after a prosecutor said he was a danger to the community who was accused of a “heinous crime.”

The turn of events stunned the prominent farm family that employed him for the last four years. They said the 24-year-old worked under a different name and was a good employee who helped take care of their cows and got along with co-workers. Even after Tibbetts disappeared on July 18 while out for an evening run in the small central Iowa town of Brooklyn, Rivera kept coming to work and “nobody saw a difference” in his demeanor, said Dane Lang, the manager of Yarrabee Farms. His colleagues were stunned Tuesday to learn that he was not only the suspect in Tibbetts’ death, but that he had a different real name than what he went by on the farm, Lang said. “Our employee is not who he said he was,” Lang said at a news conference at the farm. “This was shocking to us.”

When Rivera was hired in 2014, he presented an out-of-state government-issued photo identification and a matching Social Security card, Lang said. That information was run through the Social Security Administration’s employment-verification system and checked out, he said. Rivera’s defense attorney, Allan Richards, acknowledged Wednesday that his client received his paycheck under a different name and that he was uncertain of his immigration status. He said he was prepared to argue that his client was in the country legally, noting that he came to the U.S. as a minor and had worked and paid taxes for years.
“He showed up every day and he did his job. He was patted on his back. They turned a blind eye to the reality of documentation,” Richards said.

Rivera lived in a trailer owned by his employer, and is the father of a young girl. But little else is so far known about Rivera, who only came on to investigators’ radar this week. “A major part of the investigation now is: Who is he? Where did he come from, and what has he been doing?” Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation assistant director Mitch Mortvedt said Thursday. Investigators say they believe Rivera abducted Tibbetts as she went on an evening jog, killed her and dumped her body in a cornfield. A judge on Wednesday agreed to increase Rivera’s bond to $5 million from $1 million after prosecutor Scott Brown noted he was a potential flight risk who was charged with a “heinous crime.” His attorney, Richards, lashed out at President Donald Trump for publicly declaring his client guilty within hours of his arrest Tuesday. He said his client was a hard worker with the equivalent of an eighth-grade education, had no prior criminal record and deserved the presumption of innocence and a fair trial. “Sad and Sorry Trump has weighed in on this matter in national media which will poison the entire possible pool of jury members,” Richards wrote in a court filing.

Trump has claimed that people living in the U.S. illegally often commit crimes, and has prioritized cracking down on illegal immigration. But studies by social scientists and the libertarian Cato Institute reject that assertion, saying states with higher shares of people living in the country illegally have lower violent crime rates. In an interview that aired Thursday on “Fox & Friends,” Trump called Tibbetts a “beautiful young girl.”
“She was killed by a horrible person that came in from Mexico, illegally here,” Trump said. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged an immigration detainer for Rivera, which means the agency has probable cause to believe he is subject to deportation.

Yarrabee Farms is a small family farming operation that dates back to 1860 and has been owned for six generations by the Lang family, which is prominent in the community, farming circles and Republican politics. Dane Lang said the farm had received dozens of disturbing phone calls and messages since the employee’s arrest, including threats to kill his dog and burn down his buildings. “This is a scary situation,” he said.
His father and farm co-owner Craig Lang, a former president of the Iowa Farm Bureau who ran earlier this year for state agriculture secretary, said the farm was cooperating with investigators and had already turned over Rivera’s hiring records. He said now was not the time to debate immigration but to grieve the loss of Tibbetts, who was studying psychology at the University of Iowa.

Rivera led investigators Tuesday to a body believed to be Tibbetts in a cornfield about 12 miles (19 kilometers) southeast of Brooklyn, where she was last seen, police said. Rivera allegedly confessed to following her and then panicking when she threatened to call police. He told authorities that he blacked out and then dumped her bloody body in the secluded location. An autopsy began Wednesday seeking to confirm that the body found was that of Tibbetts and to determine the cause and manner of death.

Rivera’s Facebook page described him as being from Guayabillo, a community of less than 500 people in the Mexican state of Guerrero. It’s about a three-hour drive from the resort city of Acapulco.
Investigators said they zeroed in on Rivera after obtaining footage from surveillance cameras in Brooklyn. The footage showed a Chevy Malibu connected to Rivera that was driving back and forth as Tibbetts was running in the area. The farm where he worked was just a couple miles away from that location. A conviction on first-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole in Iowa, which does not have the death penalty.

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today (Thursday), that she is appointing her first Governor’s Teachers Cabinet to give teachers a more prominent voice in education policy decisions. The teachers will meet quarterly with Gov. Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg and Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise to offer their advice about how to better prepare all students for the knowledge economy, elevate the teaching profession and strengthen the direct line of communication between the governor’s office, schools and communities. Gov. Reynolds named seven members to the cabinet and is seeking nominations for up to eight additional teachers by Oct. 15. Cabinet members will discuss issues like personalizing learning for every student and exploring how to provide teachers more opportunities to blend real-world work-based projects into the curriculum. The first cabinet meeting will be held this fall.

Among the seven members named to her cabinet, was Vanesa Sanchez, Elementary Dual Language Teacher, Denison Elementary School, in the Denison Community School District. Reynolds said  “We are looking for ways to better support the critical work teachers are doing across the state,” Gov. Reynolds said. “We also want to hear from teachers about how to better connect the classroom to future careers. With the goal of 70 percent of our workforce with education or training beyond high school by the year 2025, teachers are the front line of Future Ready Iowa.” Lt. Governor Adam Gregg said “Conversations about issues like how to deliver high-quality computer science instruction statewide – including ensuring access for rural students as well as urban students – will help us make more informed policy decisions.”

You can submit nominations for the Governor’s Teachers Cabinet by Oct. 15 at govteacherscabinet@iowa.gov.  Be sure to include, in 250 words or less, why you are recommending your nominee. Anyone may nominate teachers, including school administrators, community leaders, parents and students. Self-nominations are welcome. Cabinet members will serve for one year.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a man was arrested for Fraudulent Practice in the 3rd Degree, Wednesday afternoon, following a traffic stop on a vehicle whose registered owner was wanted on a warrant. A Sheriff’s Deputy on patrol near the Underwood Fire Station, noticed a Chevy S10 pickup traveling southbound on Railroad Highway, and being driven by a male subject who appeared to be in 50’s. A check of the license plate indicated the owner, 56-year old Troy Little, of Council Bluffs, had a warrant for Fraud-False Application, an aggravated misdemeanor. Once the traffic stop was initiated and just south of Underwood, the deputy made contact with the driver and confirmed he was Troy Little. After the warrant was confirmed through the Pottawattamie County Communications Center, Little was taken into custody and booked into the Pott. County Jail, where his bond was set at $2,000.

And, a man from Henderson was arrested at around 2:30-a.m. today (Thursday), on a warrant for Failure to Appear in court on an original charge of Driving While Barred. 33-year old Nicholas John Horgdal was arrested in Henderson, and transported to the Pott. County Jail.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday, 33-year old Shawn Leroy Schmidt, of Kimballton, was arrested August 16th. Schmidt was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for Violation of Probation. Schmidt has since posted bond, and was released.

Sheriff’s officials in Ringgold County report a man and a woman from central Iowa were arrested over the weekend on 1st offense Trespassing and 2nd Degree Burglary charges. 39-year old Cody Carpenter Reynolds, of Des Moines, and 36-year old Tara Leanna Campfield, of Ankeny, were arrested last Saturday for their alleged crimes, in Kellerton. Reynolds and Campfield are being held in the Ringgold County Jail until seen by a magistrate. And, a Mt. Ayr couple, 31-year old Andrew James Cason and 29-year old Kara Danee Cason, were arrested Aug. 17th. Both were charged with Domestic Abuse Assault, a simple misdemeanor. They were being held without bond in the Ringgold County Jail until seen by a magistrate.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.4MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Auditor of State Mary Mosiman today (Thursday) released a report on a special investigation of the City of Kimballton for the period May 1st, 2014 through August 31st, 2017. The special investigation was requested by City officials as a result of concerns regarding certain financial transactions processed by the former City Clerk, Tammy Thompson. Mosiman reported the special investigation identified $89,939.12 of undeposited collections and improper and unsupported disbursements.

Mosiman also reported $37,137.63 of the undeposited utility collections was identified by comparing utility collections recorded in the City’s utility accounting system to amounts deposited to the City’s bank accounts between May 1, 2014 and August 31, 2017. The remaining undeposited utility collections identified are composed of $1,353.82 of improper adjustments recorded in the City’s utility accounting system. There were no explanations for the adjustments and they were not approved by the City Council.

The $42,431.08 of improper disbursements identified includes $24,375.15 of checks which were issued to or redeemed for cash, $12,223.80 of unauthorized payroll costs and reimbursement checks to Ms. Thompson, and $5,577.26 of improper purchases on the City’s credit card. The $8,936.59 of unsupported disbursements identified includes $3,333.55 of unsupported purchases on the City’s credit card at Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Amazon and $5,439.80 of checks issued from the City’s checking and Library accounts to individuals and vendors for which the City could not locate supporting documentation.

Mosiman also reported it was not possible to determine if additional amounts were improperly disbursed or if additional collections were not properly deposited because adequate documentation was not available. In addition, Mosiman reported City officials did not implement policies or procedures to address the recommendations included in the previously released “Agreed-upon Procedures Report” for the period July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014 and the “Report on the Status of Findings and Recommendations” for the period December 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016. Both reports included recommendations to segregate duties, perform utility reconciliations, perform an independent review of bank statements, and ensure all disbursements are properly supported and approved.

Mosiman again recommended City officials implement procedures to ensure the City’s internal controls are strengthened, including segregation of duties, performing utility reconciliations, performing independent review of bank statements, and ensuring all disbursements are properly supported, approved, and paid in a timely manner. Copies of the report have been filed with the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Audubon County Attorney’s Office, and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. A copy of the report is available for review in the Office of Auditor of State and on the Auditor of State’s web site at https://www.auditor.iowa.gov/reports/audit-reports/.

(7-a.m. News) — Two men from Creston were arrested on separate charges, Wednesday. According to the Creston Police Department, 19-year old Patrick Farlow was arrested at around 6:45-p.m. For Driving While Barred, on three-counts of Possession of a Concealed Weapon, and one count of Disarming a Peace Officer. His bond was set at $13,000.
And, at around 11:30-a.m. Wednesday, 23-year old Tyler White was arrested in Creston for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Interference with Official Acts. White was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1,600 bond.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Radio Iowa) — Republican Senator Chuck Grassley is asking officials in the Department of Homeland Security to explain how the man accused of murdering Mollie Tibbetts got from Mexico to Iowa — and was able to live here illegally for seven years. “We must prevent murders like this from occurring again,” Grassley says. “At a minimum, we must increase law enforcement presence at the border.”

Cristhian Rivera worked at a dairy farm near Brooklyn. Dane Lang of Yarrabee Farms says Rivera applied for work four years ago under a different name. Lang says his farming operation learned Wednesday it had NOT been using the federal E-Verify system, but rather a cross-check through Social Security to cross-check the identity of prospective employees. Senator Grassley says it’s time for congress to eliminate the potential for fraud and abuse in the E-Verify system.

“E-Verify ought to be mandatory instead of voluntary,” Grassley says, “but when you want to bring up an E-Verify mandatory policy the first stonewall you run into is the Chamber of Commerce and a lot of business groups don’t want to make it mandatory.” Grassley says migrant labor is desperately needed on ever-growing Iowa dairy farms, large-scale hog operations, meat processing facilities and in the state’s egg industry.

“If we did have these bills I’m talking about so people could have the papers to come to our country legally, go home when they want to (and) come back, that would basically solve our problem, right?” Grassley asks. But prospects for having the Senate pass any change in immigration policy are dim, according to Grassley. “If I could get a bill on the floor…without people on the right wanting to round up 11 million people and ship ’em out of the country…Now, I’m being a little facetious when I say that, but there is that feeling on the right,” Grassley says. “And then there’s a feeling on the left that we ought to, you know, legalize everybody yesterday.”

During a speech on the senate floor yesterday (Wednesday), Grassley said congress “has been dancing around the issue of securing our border and strengthening interior enforcement for far too long” and it’s time to fix the problem.