Judge denies Goodale’s request for Juvenile Court in Fairfield murder case

FAIRFIELD — A judge has denied Jeremy Goodale’s request to have his murder trial heard in Juvenile Court.

Goodale is one of two Fairfield teens charged with murdering Fairfield High School Spanish teacher Nohema Graber in November 2021. Goodale and co-defendant Willard Noble Chaiden Miller were both 16 at the time of their arrest that same month, and both of their attorneys filed motions to move their cases from adult court to Juvenile Court.

In an order issued Wednesday morning, Judge Shawn Showers of Iowa’s Eighth Judicial District denied Goodale’s request to have his case moved to Juvenile Court, citing the short length of time he would spend in juvenile rehabilitation before aging out of the program, given that he is now 17 years old and could be released as early as his 18th birthday regardless of the progress made during his rehabilitation.

During a court hearing on April 28 in the Jefferson County Courthouse, Goodale’s legal team called Dr. Brenda Payne to testify on his behalf. Payne is an experienced clinical psychologist who evaluated Goodale. She asserted that Goodale was a good candidate for rehabilitation based upon his intelligence and maintenance of self-created goals.

The prosecution called Juvenile Court officer Karen Dennler to the stand, who testified that there is not enough time to rehabilitate Goodale since all facilities, except for the Iowa State Training School for Boys, would only be able to hold him until he turned 18. Even if he were placed in the training school, Goodale could reside there for up to 18 months after the dispositional order, or until receiving his high school diploma.

Additionally, because the defendant could simply “run out the clock” on his detention, there is no guarantee that he would engage meaningfully in rehabilitation, Dennler said.

In his order, Showers wrote that he took into consideration that the state has shown probable cause that Goodale committed the alleged offense, that Goodale has no prior involvement with juvenile authorities and thus no record of successful rehabilitation, and finally that the Juvenile Court system lacks the resources necessary for rehabilitating Goodale given his age.

Showers wrote that, while the two sides dispute whether Goodale would be motivated to participate in rehabilitation, “there is no question that the Juvenile Court would likely have less than a year to provide services before the defendant’s release without meaningful supervision.”

Goodale’s trial is scheduled for Aug. 23 at a venue to be determined.

Showers has not issued a ruling on whether Miller’s case will be transferred to Juvenile Court. Miller’s trial is scheduled for Nov. 1.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com