MASON CITY – A Cerro Gordo county jury has acquitted a Mason City man accused of felony willful injury in connection with a stabbing incident last summer.
Benjamin Bravo Gonzalez, age 31, stood accused of felony D willful injury after an incident on the late evening of June 13, 2013. Mason City Police Officers were dispatched that evening to the area of 117 1/2 N. Monroe Avenue and West State Street for a subject – Joe Walter Latham, age 34, of Mason City – that had been stabbed. Latham was transported to Mercy Medical Center North Iowa for treatment for his injuries that night. Gonzalez had pleaded not guilty, and was represented by local attorney Richard Tompkins.
The case finally went to trial on July 8th. Photos of Latham’s wounds – including close-ups of stab lacerations to his back – were presented to the jury. On July 9th, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
Gonzalez still faces a parole violation and is accused of violation of a no-contact order, in court. Tompkins is representing him in those cases, as well.
Gonzalez owes nearly $7,000 in unpaid fines, fees and restitution related to a guilty plea to felony second degree theft. That balance has been sent to third party debt collection.
NOT GUILTY OF WILLFUL INJURY, BUT STILL IN COURT ON OTHER CHARGES
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
[poll random]
Good luck collecting the fine with this guy. Who pays his attorney fees???