COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on March 7, 2019, Andrew Joseph Nielsen, age 30, was sentenced by United States Senior District Court Judge Robert W. Pratt for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime. Nielsen was sentenced to 180 months in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release for five years.

In April 2018, Nielsen was stopped by a Shelby County Deputy for speeding after trying to elude the deputy. In a search subsequent to the stop, methamphetamine and marijuana were found on Nielsen, along with baggies and scale in the vehicle. After further investigation, Shelby County Deputies and the fire department executed a controlled burn in the area of the stop and located a Phoenix Arms HP22 and a magazine with four rounds in it.

The case was investigated by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on March 7TH, 2019, that a Page County man, 26-year old Alexander Sterling Potter Milledge, was sentenced by United States Senior District Court Judge Robert W. Pratt for Counterfeiting Federal Reserve Notes. Milledge was sentenced six months in prison, to be followed by a term of supervised release for two years.

In March 2018, Clarinda Police were called to Casey’s General Store regarding a patron that passed a counterfeit bill. Upon review of the surveillance tape, officers identified Alexander Milledge as the person who passed the counterfeit money. A search warrant was obtained for his residence and officers recovered numerous computers, printers, printer paper and approximately $35,000 in counterfeit Federal Reserve notes in different stages of manufacturing.

The case was investigated by Clarinda Police Department and the United States Secret Service. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has simplified the process by which convicted felons can seek restoration of their voting rights. Reynolds’ action comes as lawmakers consider her proposed constitutional amendment, which would automatically restore voting rights to most felons who have completed their sentences. Reynolds said Tuesday the process she’s created reduces an application from three pages to one.

It removes the requirement to submit a criminal background check and a related $15 fee, and it doesn’t require the collection of financial documentation that can be verified online. Reynolds says her goal is to grant or deny applications within a month of receipt. Reynolds has restored voting rights for 122 offenders. Her proposed constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to felons passed the House Judiciary Committee last week. Iowa and Kentucky are the only states with broad permanent bans on felons voting.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Sen. Bernie Sanders has hired four key Iowa staffers, building out a team of old and new staff as he makes his second bid for president. Leading the team is Misty Rebik, who previously worked on LGBTQ rights and education advocacy for One Iowa, an LGBTQ advocacy organization. She’ll serve as Sanders’ state director.

Another new addition is Jess Mazour, who will serve as his political director. Mazour was most recently lead organizer on the farm and environment team at Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, a progressive advocacy group, and was a Sanders delegate in 2016.

Sanders has also brought back Evan Burger to serve as his Iowa caucus director, and Pete D’Alessandro to serve as a senior adviser to his team. Both worked on Sanders’ 2016 campaign.

(Updated 1-p.m.) Police in Glenwood report a Nebraska man was arrested on numerous charges early this (Tuesday) morning, following a pursuit and accident. 18-year old Nicolas Johnson, of Plattsmouth, NE., was taken into custody on two counts of Theft in the 4th degree, Felony Eluding, Child Endangerment and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His cash or surety bond was set at $13,300.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says Johnson was traveling north on 221st Street at around 11;05-p.m. Monday, eluding law enforcement, when he tried to negotiate a curve. The vehicle he was driving, a 1992 Dodge, went out of control and entered the north ditch. It crashed through a fence and came to rest in a field. No injuries were reported.

Separately, the Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 43-year old Chad Howard Clark, of Glenwood, was arrested Monday late Monday morning, for Driving While Revoked. His bond was set at $1,000.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The city of Waterloo won’t fine itself when city vehicles are caught by automated red light and speed cameras. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the issue came up Monday before the City Council voted on enhancing penalties for private vehicles and drivers frequently caught by the cameras. Police Chief Dan Trelka says his department won’t issue citations for violations by city-owned vehicles. Officers review footage of violations before authorizing citations to be mailed to the registered owners of the vehicles. The actual drivers are not identified. Councilwoman Sharon Juon says it doesn’t make sense for the city to fine itself.

Trelka says if there’s a problem with a city vehicle driver, it’s referred to the driver’s department head for discipline. Trelka has previously indicated a car owner can assign the citation to the person who was driving at the time, such as a friend who borrowed the vehicle. Council members did not discuss why the city couldn’t assign the citation to one of its employees using the same process.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa charges of murder, robbery and theft filed against a 16-year-old Nebraska boy have been dismissed. The Omaha boy had been charged in Pottawattamie County District Court in connection with the January death of a Council Bluffs man, 38-year-old Adam Angeroth. Iowa court records say prosecutors sought dismissal of the adult charges because it was determined the crimes alleged occurred when the boy was only 15. The prosecutors said in their motion to dismiss that juveniles charged with forcible felonies must be at least 16 when the crimes occurred for the charges to be directly filed under the jurisdiction of a district court. Consequently, the prosecutors said, the offenses should be charged in juvenile court.

The boy remains in custody, awaiting action in juvenile court. 21-year old Liam Stec, of Omaha, and 20-year old Nicholas Haner, of Harlan, also have been charged with Angeroth’s death.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), approved the Fiscal Year 2020 County and Secondary Roads Budgets. The budget was approved following a public hearing, during which there were no comments. Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman said the budget calls for a county-wide increase in the property tax asking over FY2019 of four-cents per thousand dollars valuation, or $5.13, as opposed to $5.09 in the current year. The Rural Basic Levy is $3.95/$1,000, which is a decrease from $4.25 FY 2019.

The sub-total of County-wide/All Rural Services amounts to $9.08, as compared to $9.34 in FY 2019. Supervisor Steve Green clarified an otherwise confusing budget.

(He said basically, “The County portion rate-wise is down, but money-wise is up.”  Sunderman said the rate went down, because of new construction, or added new construction is for the wind turbines. “This is probably this is the last year that you’ll see the ability to go down on your levy rate and [at the same time] raise more taxes.”)