MASON CITY – Alan Cannon’s legal troubles started following a party at his apartment in Clear Lake in which he supplied alcohol to a female juvenile. Following the party the female juvenile reported to law enforcement Cannon had sexually assaulted her while she was intoxicated.
Cannon was arrested following the report for sexual abuse in the 3rd degree and providing alcohol to a minor. Cannon was released from jail under the supervision of court services the following day on order of Magistrate Patrick Byrne .
While under the supervision of court services Cannon allegedly approached two separate men soliciting one to murder the alleged victim and hide her body. Cannon gave the 2nd man $400 dollars to purchase a firearm to complete the murder.
One the same day, both men came forward to report the alleged planned murder to law enforcement. One man went to Mason City police department the other man went to Clear Lake police department. Cannon was arrested March 27th, 2012 following a cooperative investigation between the two departments. Cannon has remained in the Cerro Gordo County Jail for the past 10 months on a $460,000 bond requirement.
On Monday, January 28th, 30-year-old Alan Michael Cannon entered one voluntary negotiated guilty plea to a class D felony count of 705.1(A) Solicitation to Commit a Felony. Cannon will be sentenced on the charge on March 13th, 2013. The maximum Cannon could face is up to 5 years in prison, allowing him to be released from prison within one and a half years from his pending sentencing date.
In exchange for the guilty plea to the lessor of four charges he had originally faced in the murder-for-hire plot the prosecution has agreed not to pursue the other 3 felony charges the originally filed against him when the plot was uncovered by law enforcement.
The charges being dismissed include:
– One class B felony count of 707.11 Attempted Murder alleged to have occurred November 25th, 2011. The maximum penalty Cannon could have received if convicted would have been up to 25 years in prison.
– One class C felony count of 706.3(A) Conspiracy to Commit a Forcible Felony alleged to have occurred December 22nd, 2011. The maximum penalty Cannon could have received if convicted would have been up to 10 years in prison.
– One class D felony count of 705.1(A) Solicitation to Commit a Felony alleged to have occurred November 25th, 2011. The maximum penalty Cannon could have received if convicted would have been up to 5 years in prison.
Cannon was represented by Susan Flander of the Public Defender’s Office. Assistant Cerro Gordo County Attorney Steven Tynan represented the state and intended victim’s interest in the matter.
The original charge of sexual abuse was dismissed by a jury, instead the jury found Cannon guilty of assault and supplying a minor with alcohol.
REACHES PLEA DEAL
