DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa district officials say they’re not allowed to inform parents about the criminal records of felons volunteering in schools under state law. The Des Moines Register found through open records requests that convicted felons are volunteering in at least three of the state’s largest school districts in Des Moines, Dubuque and Davenport.

A criminal conviction doesn’t automatically disqualify someone from volunteering in Iowa’s K-12 schools. But school officials say Iowa Code bars districts from disclosing volunteers’ criminal histories.
Many Iowa districts screen school volunteers despite state law not requiring background checks.

Des Moines officials review the details of the conviction before making a decision. The Mid-Prairie school district consults the state Board of Educational Examiners’ list of crimes that disqualify someone from becoming a teacher.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa State Patrol has released some numbers showing it was a busy holiday weekend on the state’s roads. A year ago, 10 people died in traffic crashes in Iowa over the Labor Day weekend. This year, at least five were killed. That included a triple-fatality crash Sunday on Interstate 29 near the town of Little Sioux. The State Patrol reports troopers investigated a total of 82 crashes, assisted 65 motorists, and arrested 16 drivers for OWI.

Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Nate Ludwig says several crashes over the holiday weekend were caused by drivers traveling too fast in rainy conditions. With more rain in the forecast, Ludwig is urging motorists to slow down.

Three people suffered suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries during an accident Monday afternoon, in Shelby County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 47-year old Bryan C. Watkins, of Blair, NE., was traveling west on Highway 44 at around 3:35-p.m., and approaching the intersection with Shelby County Road M-47, when a car traveling east on Highway 44 began to make a left turn to travel north on M-47. In doing so, the other vehicle pulled in front of Watkins’ 2013 Dodge pickup.

When Watkins took evasive action to the right, his vehicle left the road and entered a ditch/embankment. Watkins, and his passengers, 48-year old Pamela S. Watkins and 6-year old Brennan Watkins, also from Blair, were transported by EMS to Myrtue Memorial Hospital, in Harlan. Irwin Rescue and Medivac assisted in the victims’ transport. No citations were issued.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department reports 44-year old Michael Gene Bland, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 2:45-a.m. Sunday on a drug charge, following a traffic stop on Highway 71, near Exira. Bland was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. During the stop, the Audubon County K9 “Axel” indicated to the presence of the odor of a narcotic(s) on the vehicle. Bland posted bond and was released. Bland was arrested again on Monday, at around 7:25-p.m., on additional charges stemming from the traffic stop the previous morning. He was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance-marijuana 2nd offense, Interference with official acts, carrying weapons and depositing or throwing litter on highway. “Axel” located marijuana that Bland allegedly attempted to hide along the highway. Bland is currently in the Audubon County Jail awaiting his appearance before the magistrate.

Audubon County Sheriff’s Deputies also arrested 21-year old Brandon William Henderson, of Audubon, on two outstanding court-ordered jail time warrants. In the process of his arrest, was also charged with possession of meth and possession of marijuana. Henderson remains in the Audubon County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports, that as the result of an ongoing investigation, three people from Griswold: 18-year old Devin Joel Hilliard; 18-year old Jacob Christian Steffen, and a 16-year-old juvenile male, have been charged with felony counts of Theft 2nd Degree, Conspiring to Commit a Non-forcible Felony, and Burglary 3rd Degree. The juvenile male was transported to Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs, and Steffen and Hilliard were both taken to the Cass County Jail where they remain held on $15,000 bond each.

And, August 30th, former Cass County 911 Director, 53-year old Robert D. Koppert pled guilty to a charge of activities related to: Material Constituting/Containing Child Pornography. He entered his plea in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Sentencing is scheduled for January 16, 2019, at 2:30 p.m. at the US Courthouse in Council Bluffs.

Court records from July, 2017 indicate that Koppert knowingly possessed one or more matters which contained visual depictions that had been shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce, by any means including by a computer, the producing of such visual depictions having involved the use of a minor, i.e., any person under the age of eighteen years, engaging in sexually explicit conduct and said visual depictions of such conduct, and involving a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained the age of 12 years of age.

Rob Koppert resigned from his position on July 24, 2017. The Cass County Public Safety Commission approved his resignation the following day.

The Iowa Judicial Branch reports that at 3:30-p.m. September 21st,, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will administer the oath of office to Iowa Supreme Court Justice Susan Christensen in a public ceremony in the supreme court courtroom in the Judicial Branch Building (1111 E. Court Ave.), in Des Moines. Justice Christensen, of Harlan, will fill the vacancy that resulted from the retirement of Justice Bruce B. Zager.

Gov. Kim Reynolds (right) introduced Judge Susan Christensen as her pick for IA Supreme Court Justice during a press event on Aug. 2nd, in Des Moines. (Radio Iowa photo)

Prior to her appointment to the supreme court, Justice Christensen was appointed a district associate judge in 2007 and a district judge in 2015. Before becoming a judge, she practiced law in Harlan for 16 years. Justice Christensen graduated from Judson College in 1988 and received her law degree from Creighton University School of Law in 1991. She served as Assistant County Attorney in Shelby County from 1991 to 2007, Harrison County from 1996 to 2007, and Crawford County in 2007.

Justice Christensen is a member of the Children’s Justice State Council and served on the Supreme Court’s Family Law Pro Se Forms Committee, Child Support Guidelines Review Committee, and Parents Representation Standards Committee. She is a member of The Iowa State Bar Association, the Southwest Iowa Bar Association, and the Shelby County Bar Association.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A man sought by police for more than 20 years has been arrested in Burlington. Des Moines County District Court records say 41-year-old Dawarn Moncrief was taken into custody Thursday. The Hawk Eye reports that he’s charged with going armed with intent for the June 27, 1998, stabbing of DiAngelo Willis. Police say Moncrief fled the stabbing scene and remained free until Thursday.
He was arrested on drug and other charges after the vehicle he was in was stopped for an illegal license plate.

Moncrief’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, today (Tuesday) released a report on arrests and other information. Vandewater said 28-year old Kenny Joe Cunningham, of Creston, was arrested Aug. 28th on a warrant for Failure to Appear on a child support matter, the cash -only bond for which was set at $1,500. He was also arrested on Court Orders requiring he serve the balance of his sentences (12 days), for Carrying Weapons, and Failure to serve his required jail time.

And, 21-year old Matthew Christopher Avila, of Prescott, was arrested Aug. 31st in Orient, on a warrant out of Taylor County. He was turned over to Deputies from Taylor County.