Prisons

Mallard man gets 22-year prison sentence (10/01/08)
A 41-year-old Mallard man was sentenced to 22 years in prison for distributing more than 150 grams of methamphetamine in Palo Alto County and Clay County. Kenneth Putensen received the prison term after an April 3 guilty plea to one count of having been previously convicted of two felony drug offenses and then conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine...

Drug distribution charges send three to jail (09/10/08)
Clay County Deputies made a series of arrests late last week with ties to drug distribution allegations in the area. Deputies located 48-year-old Ronald Gene Bunker of Romona, S.D., at about 4:40 p.m. Thursday in the 1200 block of 340th Street in Everly after they had prior knowledge of a warrant for Bunker's arrest out of South Dakota. He was transported to jail and was held to appear before the magistrate on a charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance...

Payne escapes prison time in conviction (08/27/08)
Despite an emotional appeal from the victim and her mother in court Monday, Kyle Dean Payne will serve no prison sentence for his conviction on three crimes related to an incident in which he partially stripped an unconscious fellow Buena Vista University student, photographed himself fondling her body, and later installed the images and video on his computer...

Arraignment set in vehicular homicide case (08/22/08)
A Spencer man will have a chance to respond to amended charges for his possible role in a traffic fatality earlier this summer. James Owen Prather faces a charges of vehicular homicide, serious injury by vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. The vehicular homicide charge is a Class B felony and carries a penalty no more than 25 years in prison...

Advocates push for revamped drug penalties in Iowa (07/16/08)
DES MOINES (AP) -- Some Iowa lawmakers and legal advocates say state drug laws that include methamphetamine and crack cocaine penalties need to be revamped. A legislative study committee agreed Wednesday to take steps that could lead to a major revision to the state's drug laws. Some say the laws are unfair or racially biased...

MOVIE REVIEW: Will Smith...to the rescue? (07/07/08)
What if you had super powers, had no idea who you were, had no one like you to understand your problems, and felt a need to play the role of super hero whether Los Angeles likes it or not. Oh ya, in addition to having overwhelming super hero depression, you're also an alcoholic. If this sounds familiar, then perhaps you're Hancock...

Traffic stop leads to drug charges (06/24/08)
A traffic stop Saturday by a Clay County deputy landed three Spencer residents in the Clay County jail. Deputies pulled over a vehicle driven by 33-year-old Travis Stoyke of Spencer at approximately 3:36 a.m. for a minor traffic violation. Upon investigation, it was found that the front female passenger, 24-year-old Amanda (Schaunaman) Schley of Spencer, was wanted on two Clay County arrest warrants for fifth-degree theft and had a $900 cash only bond. ...

Supervisors race features six candidates (05/31/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Republicans have a choice on the ballot as the party tries to find two nominees for a pair of available seats on the Clay County Board of Supervisors. Incumbent Del Brockshus of Spencer is near the end of his fourth term. He has filed to run again...

Meth sales suspected in Memorial Day bust (05/28/08)
A Louisiana man was placed in the Clay County Jail on suspicion of distributing methamphetamine. Deputies originally stopped 28-year-old Robert Poulsen of St. Bernard, La., on a traffic violation at about 2:32 a.m. Monday in the 2900 block of Highway 71. As the deputies approached the car, he observed "what looked to be drug paraphernalia sitting in the ash tray of the vehicle," according to a statement from the Clay County Sheriff's Deputy Jesse Rustad...

Castillo-Alvarez receives 50-year sentence (04/26/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff A quiet and, at times, seemingly disinterested Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez received a 50-year prison sentence Friday for his role in the disappearance and death of a Estherville teenager almost 11 years ago. Castillo-Alvarez was the last of 10 people charged in the June 1997 plot to end 15-year-old Gregory Sky Erickson's life over an unpaid drug debt and his possible role as a police informant...