Total charged now up to 8 after home search allegedly found drugs

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Another person has been charged with a felony drug crime after a search of a Charles City home in October that had previously resulted in the same charges against seven other people.

Jason William Brunning, age 38, of Cedar Falls, has been charged with conspiring to manufacture, deliver and/or possess with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a Class B felony.

The charges against all eight people have been made in the days since a house in the 700 block of 10th Avenue was searched on Oct. 25.

The criminal complaint filed against Brunning in Floyd County District Court says the search resulted in finding “approximately 161.1 grams of methamphetamine along with other narcotics and paraphernalia.”

The complaint said, “The defendant had knowledge of the illegal narcotic activities. Statements were made stating the defendant was involved in the illegal activity.”

An arrest warrant was issued for Brunning on Oct. 28 and it was served at the Worth County Jail on Dec. 19.

The others who have been charged with the same Class B felony in relation to the search are:

• Kaitlin Marie Caster, age 19, of Charles City.
• Robert Patrick Frazer, age 25, of Charles City.
• Caleb Robert Green, age 27, of Charles City.
• Jennifer May Johnson, age 42, of Charles City.
• William Channing Riley, age 32, of Cedar Falls.
• Anna Marie Schmitz, age 45, of West Union.
• Russell William VanBrocklin, age 39, of Charles City.

Most of the defendants have been released on their own recognizance or under the supervision of the Iowa Department of Corrections.

Many of them have faced difficulty being appointed attorneys, as attorneys get appointed then ask to be dismissed from the case because they are already representing other defendants in the related cases. Some defendants have had up to three or four attorneys appointed before getting one that can represent them.

Trials in the cases are being set for March 2, 2021, under guidelines from the Iowa Judiciary regarding suspending trials during current high incidences of COVID-19.