Trial postponed on store manager theft charge

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A trial on theft charges for the former manager of a discount store in Charles City has been postponed until March so the prosecution can subpoena witnesses.

Joseph Alan Raveling, age 33, then the manager of the Dollar General store in Charles City, was arrested and charged a year ago with second-degree theft for allegedly stealing almost $5,400 from the store.

A court document filed Feb. 16, 2017, alleges that Raveling took $5,370 from several store deposits over a period of about two months in December 2016 and January 2017. Second-degree theft is a Class D felony.

Raveling pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was released from jail with an order to appear for his next hearing, but an order for Raveling’s arrest was issued Oct. 10, 2017, when he allegedly failed to appear for a pretrial conference.

That warrant was dismissed when he appeared at a pretrial conference on Oct. 27, 2017.

Raveling filed a motion for a non-jury trial — a trial where a judge determines if the defendant is guilty or not guilty — and the trial was scheduled for Feb. 6.

That trial in Floyd County District Court was postponed this week until March 29.