COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The ex-wife of a western Iowa sheriff’s deputy killed in the line of duty has filed a lawsuit against his widow and the county, claiming donations made for his children were never given to them.

Pottawattamie County Deputy Mark Burbridge died in May 2017 after inmate Wesley Correa-Carmenaty shot him while attempting to escape. Sheriff Sgt. Jason LeMaster and the county started the Mark Burbridge Memorial Fund after his death, collecting more than $160,000 in donations.

Sara Reinsch, the deputy’s ex-wife, filed a petition on March 29, alleging that the public was told the funds would go toward Burbridge’s children, The Daily Nonpareil reported . Reinsch and Burbridge, who divorced in 2012, had two children together and cared for another minor while they were married, according to the lawsuit.

Reinsch was denied access to the fund’s bank statements, and only Burbridge’s widow, Jessica Burbridge, was allowed access to the account, the petition said. “Jessica has now depleted the fund and taken all the money meant to assist Mark’s children following his death, leaving them nothing after openly exploiting them for personal gain,” the lawsuit alleged.

Jessica Burbridge said the donated money wasn’t specifically declared for the children, according to court records. She denies exploiting the children and alleges she’s helped them collect various benefits, including a $400,000 life insurance policy. She said the children will also receive $171,000 from the Department of Justice and $8,000 from the Homicide Survivor’s Group.

Reinsch’s attorney, Edward Keane, said Jessica Burbridge’s response had inaccuracies and that the children aren’t beneficiaries of the life insurance policy.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A judge says a Davenport woman accused of killing her husband isn’t competent to stand trial, so he ordered that the case be dismissed. Judge Stuart Werling said in a ruling filed last week that there’s “no reasonable likelihood” 53-year-old Shiela Jasper can be restored to competency. He says his decision is based on evaluation reports from two doctors.

Werling ordered that she be released to the custody of Vera French Community Medical Center staffers or her guardian. An arrest affidavit says Jasper told police she shot 64-year-old Mark Jasper in the head Jan. 7, 2017, while he was asleep on a living room chair. She covered his face with a towel and waited several hours before contacting a mortuary.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests. On Monday, 37-year old Brandon Benton, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail until being seen by a magistrate. And, today (Tuesday), 37-year old Draper Dearborn, of Glenwood, was arrested Possession of a Controlled Substance. Bond was set at $1,000 cash or surety.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports, that as the result of a search warrant, 24-year old Doriyanni Estine Slaughter, of Audubon, was arrested Monday, and 43-year old David William Devall, of Audubon, was arrested this (Tuesday) morning. Both were charged with Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Slaughter and Devall were transported to the Audubon County Jail to appear before the magistrate.   The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the search warrant and further charges are pending.

On Saturday, 27-year old Scott Nathanial Belew, of Audubon, was arrested on three outstanding warrants for Failure to Appear.  Belew was transported to the Audubon County Jail where he posted bond and was released. That same day, 25-year old Joseph Ray Perkins, of Audubon, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana – 2nd offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Perkins was transported to the Audubon County Jail and was released after appearing before the magistrate.  The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest and further charges are pending in this incident.

WELLMAN, Iowa (AP) — A superintendent who let a convicted sex offender volunteer at an eastern Iowa school district has been given another year on the job. The Mid-Prairie school board renewed Superintendent Mark Schneider’s contract Monday, saying he was not at fault for the lack of a district policy about volunteer suitability. Schneider had said he’d resign without a vote of confidence.
Volunteer Trent Yoder had pleaded guilty to exploiting a minor at an Anita school, by videotaping a high school athlete changing her clothes in 1998.

He was removed from the sex offender registry after 10 years. The district, which is based in Wellman, granted him special permission to volunteer, after receiving letters of support. Schneider has said he informed school principals that Yoder must be with another adult at all times.

A traffic stop at around 11:45-a.m. Monday in the area of Cottonwood and 235th Street in Pottawattamie County, resulted in the arrest of 24-year old Tyler Robert Warnke, of Council Bluffs. Warnke was pulled over after a deputy observed the man was not wearing his seat belt. A check of his ID revealed Warnke was Driving While Barred. He was arrested on the charge, and cited for no seat belts, and expired plates.