CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Mason City woman accused of stealing prescription drugs and violating patient confidentiality laws has pleaded guilty. Mason City station KIMT reports that Samantha Rogers also pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids to making false statements related to health care matters. Prosecutors dropped other charges in return for her pleas. A criminal complaint says Rogers is a registered nurse and occupational therapist and that the incidents occurred in Cerro Gordo County.

Authorities say Rogers stole medications from co-workers. Authorities also say Rogers accessed medical records to find patient addresses and then would show up at their homes, posing as a public health worker who was recovering unused medications.

Creston Police say three people were arrested, Monday. At around 8:50-p.m., Mathew Lucas Auten, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Barred. He posted a $300 cash bond, and was released. And, at around 7:10-a.m. Monday, Boone Daniel Hayes, of Creston, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault by strangulation, and Violation of a No Contact Order. His cash/surety bond was set at $2,000. At the same time, Leah Rose Hayes, of Creston, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. She was being held without bond.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa House has passed a bill that would prohibit a judge from overriding a parent’s wishes and ordering the withdrawal of life support from a child under the age of 18. Courts could only intervene if there’s conclusive medical evidence the child’s brain, heart and lungs are only functioning because of mechanical support. Representative Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says parents, not the courts, should make these decisions. “Children are not supposed to die…but that end-of-life care for children is something that parents must handle,” Hinson says. “This bill…clarifies that the court shall not override a parent’s or guardian’s interest when it comes to removing life support for their child unless it is proven that child is essentially dead.”

The bill had the support of 51 Republicans and seven Democrats in the House. Representative Mark Smith, a Democrat from Marshalltown, voted no. He says the legislation sets up a scenario where a court couldn’t intervene if a child’s parents disagree. “This is a terrible piece of legislation. It is too bad that we are debating it tonight when we are close on the philosophical issues and could have drafted a bill that would have had…the vast majority of representatives supporting it,” Smith said.

The legislation was drafted in response to a high-profile case in Britain. Last April a British court ordered 23-month-old Alfie Evans — who had a degenerative brain condition — taken off life support over the objections of his parents.

Audubon County Attorney Sarah Jennings said Monday, 30-year old Jay Pedrin, of Audubon, pled guilty Monday (March 11th), to charges that include Felony Burglary in the 2nd degree, and Felony Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury. He had been arrested in September in connection with the assault of a Perry man during an incident that took place Audubon, and again in December for a Burglary in Audubon County.

Jay Pedrin

Pedrin was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison, the maximum sentence possible for the two offenses. In her statement, Jennings said “Law Enforcement and I are very pleased with this result. Both Mr. Pedrin’s offenses were victim crimes- crimes that have serious and lasting impacts on real people. One was a heinously violent and unprovoked attack that left the victim with permanent physical effects, including partial vision loss. The other was a greed-driven crime has made an upstanding member of our community feel unsafe in his own home, a place that was once his safe haven.”

Pedrin had faced a 10-year sentence on the Burglary 2nd charge and a five-year sentence on the Willful Injury Class D charge. He and his attorney argued for the prison sentences to be suspended and for him to be placed on probation. Jennings argued not only for the prison sentences to be imposed, but that they also are run consecutively to each other for a total sentence of 15 years. The court went along with the County Attorney’s recommendation, sentencing Pedrin to Oakdale Prison on consecutive sentences for a total indeterminate term not to exceed 15 years. The court also ordered Pedrin to pay restitution to the victim as substantiated by the State.

Mittimus was issued immediately after sentencing, but Pedrin was taking into custody and transported to Carroll County first, to address pending matters there. He also has matters pending in Cass County as of this date. His appeal bonds were set at $20,000 on Burglary 2nd charge and $10,000 on the Willful Injury charge.

Red Oak Police responding to a possible domestic violence incident early this (Tuesday) morning, arrested a man and woman on separate charges. Officers were called to the 1000 block of E. Reed Street at around 3:18-a.m.  Upon further investigation, 25-year old Jayme Marie Parker, of Red Oak, was arrested for Domestic Assault/1st offense, and, 25-year old Joshua Michael Parker, of Red Oak,  was arrested for Public Intoxication/2nd offense. Both were transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where Jayme Parker was being held without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate, and Joshua Parker was being held on a $1,000 bond.