MASON CITY – On Tuesday, August 14th, 34-year-old Joshua Kelly Winders received up to 10 years in prison during sentencing on an amended 1st degree theft charge.
Originally Winders had been charged with one Class C felony count of 2nd degree robbery following the December 8th, 2011 afternoon robbery of Merle Norman Cosmetics at 107 First Street SE in Mason City. Winders was arrested a short time later at a nearby apartment on 2nd Street South East.
In July District Court Judge DeDra L. Schroeder approved the 2nd degree robbery charge against 34-year-old Joshua Kelly Winders to be amended to 1st degree theft as part of a negotiated plea agreement.
At the scheduled sentencing hearing Tuesday, presiding District Court Judge Rustin T. Davenport sentenced Winders to serve up to 10 years in prison on the amended 1st degree theft charge. Judge Davenport suspended Winder’s fine, and ordered him to pay $526.50 for legal representation, court costs, and law enforcement surcharges.
While both crimes are Class C felonies in Iowa, 2nd degree robbery is classified as a forcible felony under Iowa Code 702.11. A defendant convicted of a forcible felony in accordance with Iowa Code 902.12 “shall be denied parole or work release unless the person has served at least seven-tenths of the maximum term of the person’s sentence”. In this case Winders would have been required to serve no less than 7 years in prison had he been convicted of the original charge. The now amended theft conviction will allow Winders to be paroled at any time by the Iowa Department of Corrections.
Winders claims to be originally from North Miami Beach, Florida on his Facebook page. Winder’s Iowa prior criminal record includes a felony 3rd offense possession of meth that was amended to 2nd offence, arrest for criminal mischief, assault, interference with official acts, and a history of violating probation.
The Cerro Gordo County Inmate Population Report lists Winders as “waiting transport to prison”.
2 thoughts on “Mason City man gets 10 year sentence for Merle Norman Cosmetics robbery”
It is a horrific epidemic in our United States! This epidemic is DRUGS. It seems to me that this man has a primary drug problem that in to many cases results in crime. Mr. Winders could very well be our son, our father, our friend. After looking into this case as well as other similar crimes I strongly feel that the honorable De Dra L. Schroeder , judge in this case made the right decision to amend and Mr. Winders is doing his time and making it count, to who? to all of us.
doing his time at a med. security facility that in my view is cutting edge in it’s quest to REHABILITATE inmates to reenter on a vocational strength, but also takes great lengths to address the main factor of drug addiction! I am more than impressed with Fort Dodge Correctional and it’s top of the line employees. So what am suggesting is that because we all know that this epidemic can very well effect anyone of us, any of us,that we pray for Mr. Winders to become better than when he went in. To know a new freedom! A freedom only recovering addicts know. I say that this inmate will reenter society not only better, productive part of it but with something to add for all of us, that is knowlage he has to help others to the other side of this EPIDEMIC. My bet is on Mr.Joshua K. Winders and others alike. It has happened and is happening to millions of once lost in addiction to be free, again my bet is on Winders.
“The now amended theft conviction will allow Winders to be paroled at any time by the Iowa Department of Corrections.”
Yet ANOTHER FINE SHOWING by our CLUELESS and ASININE local judges! WHEN will we ALL STAND UP and FIRE these ASSHATS?!