CEDAR FALLS – On Thursday, November 2, the Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments at Cedar Falls High School in Cedar Falls involving a case of a Rockford man who beat his wife. The proceeding will take place in Cedar Fall High School Auditorium, 1015 Division Street.
The oral arguments are open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m. There will be a public reception immediately following the proceeding.
Jason Gene Weitzel appealed the district court’s judgment and sentence based on his guilty plea to charges of domestic abuse assault, possession of methamphetamine, carrying weapons, and operating while intoxicated. The Iowa Court of Appeals vacated the convictions finding that the district court, pursuant to Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.8(2)(b), did not adequately advise defendant of 35% criminal surcharge penalties applicable to each offense. The Iowa Supreme Court has granted the State’s request for further review of the court of appeals decision.
Weitzel was arrested after a violent incident back on March 5, 2016. Floyd county law enforcement were called to a residence in Rockford for a domestic situation where a woman – Weitzel’s wife – was said to be injured. Weitzel fled the scene in a vehicle, and deputies and state troopers were put on alert to locate him.
After a tumultuous pursuit, Weitzel was stopped and arrested.
After an initial not-guilty plea, Weitzel entered into a plea deal. He pled guilty to domestic abuse assault involving strangulation, second offense possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), carrying weapons, and first offense operating while intoxicated. The other charges were dismissed.
Weitzel wes sentenced to up to 9 years in prison and loss of his driver’s license for 180 days. He was also ordered to pay $5,898.04 in fines and court fees.
