Compiled by Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com

On the clock
Des Moines Police — June 8-10

June 8-9, 11:30 p.m. to 5:55 a.m.
Burglary in the 1100 block of 23rd Street. The victims stated that during the night, the suspect(s) took a stool from their back porch, placed it under an unlocked window and entered the residence. The suspect(s) took a new Macintosh computer, valued at $1,375, and $600 in cash. The victim’s wife found her purse abandoned along with some videos outside the window. There are no witnesses or suspect(s) at this time.

June 9, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Burglary in the 1500 block of 10th Street. The victim stated he returned home from work and noticed light entering his back door. He investigated and found the door had been pryed open. Multiple items including an automobile jump pack, drill, saw, CD Walkman and binoculars, valued at $1,385, were taken. The victim told police it might be the same robber who has stolen from him before. There were no witnesses.

June 9-10, 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Burglary in the 900 block of 29th Street. Officers were dispatched to a burglary call. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the victim who claimed while he was at work someone broke into his house by pushing through the front screen door and lifting the glass window up. Multiple items were taken including a bike, TV, DVD player, DVDs and a change jar, valued at more than $3,400. Tire marks in a northbound direction were left in the yard. There are no witnesses or suspect(s) at this time.

BUSTED

Name: Megan Marie Jacobs
The story: Officers were dispatched to a neighborhood dispute. The victim stated that a female, later identified as Jacobs, and an unknown black male accused the victim and her husband of breaking into her house. Jacobs and the man pushed their way into the house and a fight ensued. The victim’s husband and the black male began pushing each other and when the victim tried to break it up, Jacobs hit her. The victim said Jacobs tried to choke her. Jacobs then went outside and grabbed some tools and threw them at the victim, hitting her in the face, and breaking a window. Jacobs was arrested for simple assault and criminal mischief and taken to the Polk County Jail.

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. Donald Kevin Newman.

“On April 17, 2007, the state filed a trial information charging Newman with delivery of a controlled substance as a second and subsequent offender. The trial information described how Newman had sold cocaine to an undercover police officer on Aug. 25, 2006. Newman requested counsel and an attorney from the Des Moines Public Defender’s office was appointed to represent him. Newman pled not guilty to the charge. The court scheduled a pretrial conference for May 24, 2007. Newman’s appointed counsel did not attend the pretrial conference. Newman’s appointed counsel did not appear at the June 6 hearing, so the court issued an order rescheduling the conference to June 8.

“Prior to the June 8 conference, Newman drafted a pro se motion for ‘termination of current defense counsel and appointment of new counsel.’ On June 8, Newman, his appointed counsel and the assistant county attorney met for the status conference and informed the court that Newman was prepared to enter a plea. The matter proceeded to a sentencing hearing on July 24, 2007, where the State recommended that Newman be sentenced to 20 years in prison. Newman’s substitute counsel argued that probation was a more appropriate sentence. Newman also personally addressed the court, discussing his family and the things he had done to better himself. The district court sentenced Newman to a term of incarceration not to exceed 15 years. The court noted that this sentence was appropriate in light of his prior record, age and the nature of the offense.

“The presentence investigation report reveals that Newman has an extensive criminal history and has been incarcerated for significant periods of time for numerous crimes in multiple states. Many of his crimes are related to the possession and delivery of controlled substances. Since 2003, he has been sentenced to probation, rather than incarceration, on two occasions.

“We conclude the district court provided sufficient reasons for imposing a term of incarceration not to exceed 15 years. Given his lengthy criminal history and the lack of success of prior efforts to rehabilitate him, we find the sentence handed down by the district court was reasonable and free from any abuse of discretion. Accordingly, we affirm the sentence imposed by the district court.”

MISSING

Name: Kyanja K. Vanwey
Age at report: 18
Age now: 20
Weight: 210 lbs.
Height: 5’6”
Race: White
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Sex: Female

Incident type: Endangered/physical

Kyanja Vanwey was reported missing to the Des Moines Police Department on Jan. 4, 2006. She has a scar on her right hand between her thumb and forefinger. Her nicknames are “Kiki” and “Keri”.

If you have any information on Kyanja, contact the Des Moines Police Department at 283-4811. From the Missing Person Information Clearinghouse Web site: http://www.iowaonline.state.ia.us/mpic.

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

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