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
21 thoughts on “Woman gets deferred judgment in felony drug case”
@Peter L, I hope the authorities can figure out who you are with your ip address. It seems you, yourself have a drug problem. What’s up? Have yu bought your “pills” from these people? There’s nothing wrong with people taking prescription medication. The doctors also have to fill out a pain sheet explaining why they are prescribing it to the patient to protect their license, and to ensure that the patient isn’t abusing the medication or selling it for a profit. So, I”m really curious just how are you getting a hold of your medication? Also, seeing your numerous posts on this site and the way you seem to think about some issues makes me wonder just how high you are on your “pills”.
People that deal Meth are polluters of the environment.
that chiks gots some huge tits!
I think u r on the wrong website.
Did you NOT see the “intent to deliver” part of this article? That’s my problem. I am sick and tired of loser drug dealers selling their meth and pills to people in the community that I happen to live in. Answer me this sir….how would you feel if these dirtbags sold their stuff to one of your children? I have children and I don’t want people like this cooking up their meth and trying to sell it to my kid. You obviously take too many of your own pills that you aren’t aware that there is a major drug problem in Mason City.
Maybe you should hook up with these two, seems like you have a lot in common with them.
“…..and constitutionally I understand that a government should not be telling humans what they can and cannot put into their bodies. It’s a matter of personal consumption.”
Peter, legally,it’s called compelling government interest. There is nothing in our Constitution, that is true, but, if there is a danger to citizens, it is the duty of the government to control it.
Your example of cheese is a good one. The USDA does regulate cheeses. How they are made, especially when it comes to raw milk cheeses. States also regulate the production of such cheeses. So they can limit and regulate the market if need be. A great example of compelling state interests.
Here’s quite a brutal way to address this. If the court system is not going to do anything about these people, when they let them out, how about giving them as much of their meth and drugs they want until they O.D.
Sorry but these repeat offenders obviously haven’t learned their lesson.
In this particular instance I think I must support Peter somewhat. We keep putting people in jail or worse, giving them a record that prevents them from getting a decent job or a decent place to live for violating a prohibition that does not seem to be working. On top of that we are spending million’s on combating a problem that we created by forming un-en-forcible laws. Just looking at these two tells me they are way past rehabilitating and we are wasting resources trying. I remember the Flores girl from only 10 years ago and was totally shocked by her appearance today. She look 50 years older than her years but you know she did it to herself and I just don’t know why we should continue to pay for it. We need to come up with something different to isolate these people from society. I don’t know what that is.
The court relies in part on the mandatory presentence investigation recommendation of the Iowa Department of Correctional Services in felony sentencing. If the PSI recommended a suspended 10-year sentence and deferred judgment probation, and the parties made the same recommendation at sentencing, then she received the sentence designed to best rehabilitate her, protect society and deter others from committing similar offenses. This sentence is exactly what society should expect under the circumstances.
If you are in favor instead of imposing a prison sentence in drug cases where the individual is non-violent and lacks any real criminal history, then please explain where we’ll come up with the resources to house, feed, treat, educate, vocationally train, etc. these offenders for more than 18 months (on a 10-year sentence) at a stretch in an already overcrowded system?
If you want all non-violent offenders locked up, then call your elected representatives and let them know you’re in favor of a massive state tax increase to build and staff more prisons. That’s right. More income tax, more sales tax, more property tax.
Save the limited prison space for those who deserve to be separated from society. We can supervise the rest on the street.
GO COLIN BEST LAWYER AROUND WOULD REFER TO ANYBODY
“We can supervise the rest on the street.” How’s that workin’ out, Colin?
We could use the money that such an upstanding individual would be receiving in welfare benefits to house in prison. That money would then be spend by guards and other employees in the for of wages and used back in the community.
Lets not BS here though. Look at the timeline. Ward gets busted a short while later police raid her and Flores. Flores gets indicted and Ward gets off with probation. While she is a drug dealer herself at least she helped the Feds get another Flores dealing meth off our streets.
Come on people. If they started putting drug dealers and the like in prison how would Mr. Murphy get to make a quick buck representing the same people over and over again. Of course a criminal defense lawyer doesn’t want to see potential paychecks locked up.
If you’re smart, he’d be the first attorney you would call for help when in a bind. And don’t think you’re exempt from ever needing his services. You’d be surprised how many people, even those “productive” members of society, wrongly think they’ll never need a defense attorney. He’s the best defense attorney around here by far. You would be wise to pay attention to what he has to say. Everyone hates lawyers…until they need one.
Great advice Mr. Murphy, nice to see your helpful comment.
Well i gues the rehabilitation didn’t work for these two since it’s not their first offense. Lets see deferred judgments will help rehab repeat offenders? What world do u live in? If they keep getting light sentences they are going to do it again and again and thats the truth. Take your rose colored glasses off and see the world for what it really is. Look at mason how badly its declining.
Seriously?? Here we go again! Why can’t they keep these people in jail where they belong? No wonder there’s a drug problem in Mason City.
Let the revolving door of justice spin.
always the same little slap on the hand, why bother
Ward will end up in prison anyway. She is still a drug addict and without treatment will do the same thing all over again. They should of stuck her in Oakdale treatment center for a year.
Sick and tired of all these drug dealers getting off scott free. When will our judges grow some balls? Maybe its time to clean house. No wonder mason city is turning into such a crap hole