Compiled by Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com

On the clock
Des Moines Police — May 10-13

May 10, 3:10 a.m.
Robbery in the 3600 block of University Avenue. Officers responded to a robbery call and met with the victim. He stated he was walking westbound on University Avenue when he was struck from behind. He didn’t see what he was hit with, but he had minor contusions to the right side of his jaw and a small abrasion to his left cheek, apparently from hitting the ground. The victim remembered being hit, waking up on the ground and seeing two black males walking away from him. The suspect(s) took the victim’s cell phone, keys and headphones, valued at more than $150. There were no witnesses.

May 12, 1:30 p.m.
Robbery in the 1200 block of University Avenue. The suspect came into the Family Dollar, 1251 University Ave., wearing a plaid flannel shirt and white hood, grabbed a set of bed sheets, valued at $14.99, and concealed them in his jacket. He approached the counter and asked if they could make change. The manager informed him that the store does not make change and confronted him about the sheets. The suspect attacked the manager leaving several large, bleeding scratches on his forearm. The suspect exited out the front door, but the manager saw him walking northbound.

May 13, 5:30 a.m.
Burglary and assault in the 1500 block of 21st Street. Officers were called to a residence on a burglary in progress. When officers arrived they spoke with the owner who stated his garage alarm went off around 5:30 a.m. The victim went to check and saw the lock was busted and the side door had been kicked in. The victim went through the garage and thought he heard someone in his shop, which is in the back of the building. When he entered the shop, he noticed someone underneath a table. The victim drew his 9 mm handgun and told the suspect to come out. The two argued and the suspect lunged forward striking the victim with a cane, at the same time the victim fired his weapon. The bullet missed hitting a furnace and the suspect knocked down the victim and ran off.

Busted

Name: Raymond Allen Guthrie
The story: Officers responded to a call about a white male exposing himself while sitting in the parking lot of Walgreens, 3501 Ingersoll Ave. Upon arrival, officers found the suspect, later identified as Guthrie, sitting in a white car. As officers approached they saw Guthrie in the driver’s seat with his pants down, masturbating. Guthrie confessed to police of his actions and was taken to the Polk County Jail. His vehicle was impounded.

Docket Diving

The following is from a recent ruling made by the Iowa Court of Appeals regarding the case of the State of Iowa vs. Robert Joseph Prehm.

“Prehm’s convictions arose from a fire set to a Clarion home on the evening of Dec. 12, 2003. That same evening, Prehm told Patrick Dillon that he had set fire to the Clarion home. Later, with police listening via a recording device, Prehm told Dillon that he had set the fire in question. Prehm was charged with second-degree arson, second-degree burglary and third-degree burglary. A jury eventually found Prehm guilty on all three counts. The district court sentenced Prehm to two ten-year terms of incarceration to be served consecutively and a five-year term of incarceration to be served concurrently.

“Prehm appealed, claiming his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance and claiming the district court failed to state its reasons for imposing consecutive sentences. Our court found Prehm had failed to prove his ineffective assistance claim. In this second appeal, Prehm claims the district court abused its discretion when it imposed consecutive sentences. He also contends the sentences were illegal because the court should have merged the arson conviction into the second-degree burglary conviction. Prehm contends the district court abused its discretion in ordering the prison terms on each count to be served consecutively rather than concurrently. Prehm cites no reason why the reasons for sentencing were inappropriate. He only states that he ‘feels concurrent ten-year sentences would not diminish the seriousness of the convictions.’

“The district court listed the following reasons for imposing consecutive sentences. On or about the 12th day of Dec., the Defendant entered the house, did not have permission or authority to enter and had possession of an explosive or incendiary device or material. Because the elements for second-degree burglary require he “have the specific intent to commit arson” and the elements for arson allow a person to be convicted even if they do not successfully cause a fire. Prehm claims all of the elements of arson were included in the burglary instruction.

“In light of the foregoing, we conclude the district court did not error by failing to merge the convictions for second-degree burglary and second-degree arson. Therefore, we affirm the aforementioned convictions and sentences.”

Most wanted

Name: Timmy Sholley
Age: 36
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 179 lbs
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Wanted for: Escape and violation of sex offender registry. If you know where to find this fugitive, call Crime Stoppers at 223-1400.

1,623 : The number of motor vehicle thefts in Des Moines in 2007.

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