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Tuesday, June 24, 2014
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Sanders pleads guilty to federal firearms charge
OBITUARIES Janice A. Corwin, 77 Sharon Edwards, 77 Patricia K. Hosler, 53 Rose A.C. Kane, 81 Louise K. Newell, 87 Ina Peterson, 89
By Daily News Staff
INSIDE TODAY
ollection of the incident is based on what he has heard from his wife, children, neighbors and Henniger. “As soon as (Henniger) shut the door, his words (were) the dog charged him down the alley and was jumping all over his left side,” Nathan said. “The other cop was saying that it appeared to him that the dog was latched on to (Henniger’s) left side. But he has no wounds on his left side. The only wound he has is a wound on his right shin.” Nathan said he asked Henniger to see his wounds and said he observed a mark approximately two inches in diameter and that the mark didn’t break the skin. Pline said the dog also bit Henniger on the arm but couldn’t verify which arm. She also said she did agree with Nathan’s assessment that the bite marks did not look substantial. Dozzer was a 79-pound pit bull the family described as friendly, loving and protective. The dog was raised by family since he was a puppy, and Nathan said the kids and Michelle purchased Dozzer as a Father’s Day gift for him.
William “Billy” Leroy Sanders, 40, of Newton entered into a plea agreement Thursday on a federal charge of felon in possession of ammunition and is facing up to 15 years in prison. As part of the agreement, Sanders will plead guilty to felon in possession of ammunition, and the court will dismiss the felon in possession of firearms portion of the original Sanders charge. The agreement did not designate fines or costs of incarceration but stated Sanders understands the forfeiture of assets is part of the sentence that may be imposed in the case. The plea agreement did specify Sanders will be forced to forfeit the weapons and ammunition found in his home at the time of his arrest in December, including a Stevens 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, a H&R 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, a Marlin Model 40 .22 caliber long rifle, and a Springfield XD 9 mm pistol as well as ammunition for the guns. Sentencing is set for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, in Des Moines. Sanders was arrested Dec. 28, 2013, in Sully after his wife called her son and told him she was being held against her will and had been assaulted. Her son called 911, notifying Jasper County authorities of what he had been told and also informing them Sanders had firearms in the home. A deputy arrived at the scene and was approached by Sanders’ wife, who appeared to have extensive injuries, in the front yard. She was first taken to Pella Regional Health Center and later airlifted to Mercy Medical Center. While being transported to Pella, she stated Sanders had hit her in he face with the butt of a shotgun and that she thought she may have fractured ribs. Sanders was taken into custody, and authorities found a number of 12-gauge shotgun shells in his pants and coat pockets. Law enforcement officials also found four loaded firearms in the home. Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty interviewed Sanders’ wife two days later in her hospital room. During the interview, she stated Sanders had fired one of the weapons at her while she was sitting on the couch and that he also fired a crossbow at her. Halferty stated both weapons missed where she had been sitting by 12 inches or less. Sanders also forced her to drive him to a gas station at gunpoint to purchase cigarettes, according to Halferty.
SHOOTING See Page 5A
SANDERS See Page 5A
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Dunitz Music Scholarship winners Page 5A
Submitted Photo Dozzer, a pit bull owned by Nathan and Michelle Walker, is pictured spending time with one of their seven children. Dozzer died from complications after surgery last Tuesday after being shot by a Newton Police Department officer last Monday. Michelle said the kids haven’t been sleeping well since the incident and that several of the kids witnessed the shooting firsthand.
Newton family wants answers after NPD officer shoots dog
Agriculture
17-year cicadas are here Page 8A
By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer
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Cardinal teams sweep Eagles Page 1B
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Newton, Iowa
The Walker family is seeking answers after Newton Police Department Lt. Bill Henniger, shot their dog, Dozzer, last Monday. Dozzer, owned by Newton residents Nathan and Michelle Walker, later died from complications after surgery the following day. Henniger responded to a report of a large dog running loose at 9:49 a.m. June 16 in the 300 block of North Third Avenue East. Beth Pline, a neighbor of the Walker family, said she also contacted authorities about the loose dog, stating the dog had cornered a man who was pushing a baby in a stroller. She said the dog previously displayed menacing behavior toward her son and daughter on Sunday, May 26, and that this was her second time reporting it. Two officers, Henniger and Ryan Zylstra, arrived at the scene and parked in the alley behind the Walker home. At this time, Dozzer was in one of the Walker family’s neighbor’s backyard, and Nathan and Michelle’s 5-year-old daughter, Nevaeh, went to fetch him and bring him home. Nevaeh told her
parents she was close to their driveway when one of the officers asked her if the dog belonged to her. She responded that it was and that Henniger then stepped out of his vehicle. The Walkers are unclear exactly what happened after Henniger exited the patrol car. Michelle said she was awakened by her children when the officers arrived. “I went out the front door, and all the neighbors were out there, and I started yelling for the kids, and then I heard the ‘POP, POP.’ I had to run out back, the kids were freaking out, so I told them to go inside. The officer asked me if it was my dog and if he would listen to me. Then I asked if he was dead,” Michelle said. Michelle said the officer told her the dog wasn’t dead and that he had run to the front of their yard. She found Dozzer in the front yard bleeding heavily. She wrapped the dog’s leg and stayed with him until the Jasper County Animal Rescue League arrived to transport him to a veterinarian office. Nathan was at work when the incident occurred and raced home after receiving a frantic call from his wife. His said his rec-
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School board to form sub-committee to update visitor’s policy
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By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer
Comics & Puzzles Page 6A Dear Abby Page 6A Opinion Page 4A Obituaries Page 3A Police Page 3A Our 113th Year No. 26
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After Newton Community School District Superintendent Bob Callaghan gave a detailed recap of David LaVera’s activities in two Newton school buildings, Berg Middle School and Aurora Heights Elementary School, the school board agreed to start looking closer at the district’s security measures for visitors after Monday’s meeting. LaVera, 33, is a native of San Diego and reportedly has been in the Newton area since early to mid-May. During this time, he claimed he was an actor in the “Twilight” film series and had been signing autographs under the alias “Kiowa Gordon” — a verified actor in the series. He is currently incarcerated at the Jas-
per County Jail for allegedly enticing a 14-year-old Baxter girl into his vehicle on June 10 and is being held on $50,000 bond. He is also being investigated for an incident involving a 14-year-old Newton girl. “David was a guest in the home of parents of three of our students. The eldest child requested that Mr. LaVera be allowed to talk to his classmates (at BMS) regarding his Hollywood experiences,” Callaghan said. “The teacher verified his credentials and received permission from campus administration.” LaVera then made his first appearance at BMS on May 28, where he was accompanied by both parents, and they proceeded with the district’s standard visitor formalities — identifying
yourself on camera, going to the main office to sign in, being assigned a visitor’s badge and then being accompanied to said destination. A complete guide of the district’s visitor’s policy may be found at www.newtoncsd.org/ Downloads/1006.pdf. “Mr. LaVera, with both parents, visited their son’s classroom where the teacher was present. After the classroom talk, Mr. LaVera was given permission by the principal to do some stunts on the cafeteria stage,” Callaghan said. BMS principal Scott Bauer wasn’t present at Monday’s meeting. LaVera’s visit proved to be popular, and he was invited back to BMS on May 30 for a short assembly to perform more
stunts. He also was present at the school’s end-of-year pool party on June 9, which Callaghan added was properly chaperoned by school personnel. LaVera visited Aurora Heights on May 29 to visit the couple’s daughter’s classroom. Social media posts from district parents and students indicate LaVera signed autographs and posed for photos with students during his visits. Callaghan said LaVera was accompanied by the parents and a district staff member at all times while in the buildings. He said there is video verifying this and that he received three emails and three phone calls regarding the situation. SCHOOL See Page 5A