On February 17th 39-year-old Elizabeth Mae Ward was arrested by Cerro Godro County Sheriff’s Department and charged with possession of hydrocodone with intent to deliver.
Records show the Cerro Godro County Sheriff’s Department later applied for a search warrant on Elizabeth Mae Ward and Victoria Ann Flores March 21, 2012. On April 2nd, 2011 local law enforcement arrested Flores for a US Marshal hold in federal case CR12-3015 alleging Flores conspired to distribute meth.
Records show on April 20th Ward entered a voluntary written plea of guilty to the charge of possession of hydrocodone with intent to deliver.
At a scheduled sentencing hearing on Monday, June 11th, presiding Senior Judge Paul Riffel handed down a deferred judgment to Ward on the possession of hydrocodone with intent to deliver charge. As part of the deferred judgment Ward must complete 3 years of probation with the Iowa Department of Corrections. Judge Riffel imposed a 1,000 fine, but then suspended it.
Flores is still awaiting trial on the federal conspiracy to distribute meth indictment. Ward has not been charged or indicted in connection with that case.
A deferred judgment refers to a postponed or delayed judgment. In a deferred judgment, the court gives a defendant an opportunity to complete a probationary period before sentencing and prior to any entry of conviction. If the defendant successfully completes probation at the conclusion of the probationary period the court will review the defendant’s file and may dismiss the charges against him/her.
If the defendant does not follow all of the terms and conditions of probation the court may enter the conviction and sentence the defendant accordingly. Normally, if a person pleads guilty or is found guilty of new criminal charges the case proceeds to sentencing. When a deferred judgment is obtained the case is frozen between the guilty plea and sentencing.
Victoria Ann Flores
Elizabeth Mae Ward
SUBJECTS ARE INNOCENTS UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
