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Two men found guilty in burglary and injury

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com 

Two men who had been charged with burglary and seriously injuring a person were found guilty this week on various charges in Floyd County District Court.

According to Charles City Police Department and court documents, Isaac Charles Brown III, age 30, of Charles City, entered a residence in the 400 block of Richings Street without permission on Feb. 17, 2018.

Isaac Charles Brown
Isaac Charles Brown

The police report says Brown got into a physical confrontation with an ex-girlfriend and when another man who was at the residence tried to help, Brown injured him by striking him with a beer bottle and a space heater.

The report said the man had an open wound on his left hand, a cut on his right hand and a cut on top of his head.

The report said two other men, Eric D’Andre Sanders, age 27, of Charles City; and Dontrale J. Gaston, age 28, of Matteson, Illinois, but living in Charles City; entered the residence with Brown without permission and were also involved in the confrontation.

Eric D’Andre Sanders
Eric D’Andre Sanders

All three men were charged with first-degree burglary, a Class B felony; and willful injury causing serious injury, a class D felony.

Gaston pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree burglary, a Class C felony. He was sentenced on June 25, 2018, to up to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and state surcharge. Both the prison sentence and the fine were suspended and Gaston was placed on probation for three years.

The willful injury resulting in serious injury charge against Gaston was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Both Brown and Sanders pleaded not guilty and requested jury trials. In December, a district court judge approved motions made by Brown and Sanders that their cases be combined and that they be tried together.

Their jury trial began in Floyd County District Court last week, on Tuesday, Feb. 19. The trial was held up by weather and when one of the witnesses who had been subpoenaed refused to appear. Judge Colleen Weiland issued a warrant for the woman’s arrest, but the warrant was canceled when the woman voluntarily appeared to testify.

The jury verdicts were filed Thursday.

The jury found Brown guilty as charged of first-degree burglary and willful injury causing serious injury.

The jury found Sanders guilty on the lesser charges of second-degree burglary, a Class C felony; and assault causing bodily injury, an aggravated misdemeanor.

Court records do not yet list a sentencing date for either men.

Brown has also been charged with tampering with a witness for allegedly trying to bribe or threaten two witnesses in the case. A police report alleges that Facebook messages made by Brown showed he contacted two witnesses, offering one money to change his statement and asking the other to change her statement.

The charge is an aggravated misdemeanor, and trial has been set for March 21.

Brown has also been charged with domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury, second offense, for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend on July 3, 2017. He also faces various serious misdemeanor and aggravated misdemeanor controlled substance charges. The trial on all those charges has been set for April 2.

 

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