Trial dates set for pair of primary election candidate ethics cases

By ANDY HALLMAN

Golden Triangle News Service

WASHINGTON ? Trials dates have been set for two defendants accused of campaign ethics violations during the June primary election.

The trial of Priscilla Marlar is set for Oct. 30 at 9:30 a.m. The pretrial conference is Oct. 19. District Court Judge Joel Yates established the trial dates in an order that was filed Sept. 7.

Marlar was charged with an unlawful receipt of a monetary campaign contribution from a corporation and unlawful use of campaign funds. She is represented by attorney Sara Linder, who works for Tindal Law Office in Washington.

The trial of Custom Impressions Inc. is set for Dec. 18 at 9:30 a.m. Custom Impressions is charged with six counts of unlawful campaign sign placement and one count of unlawful campaign contributions from a corporation. The pretrial conference is Dec. 7. Custom Impressions, owned by Marcus Fedler, has hired Iowa City attorney James McCarragher to represent it. McCarragher is a member of the Meardon, Sueppel and Downer law firm.

Marlar signed a written arraignment on Sept. 6 in which she pleaded not guilty to the charges. An arraignment is a notice the court gives to a defendant to inform the defendant of the charges against him or her and the time and place of the alleged offense. The defendant then pleads either guilty or not guilty. Marlar demanded a right to a speedy trial, which means the trial must commence within 90 days after the filing of the trial information.

During the pretrial conference, the defendant and prosecutor must certify that discovery of evidence is complete, or must identify what evidence remains to be discovered and explain reasons for the delay and also to present a resolution to the delay.

Each party will estimate the length of the trial and identify the motions that will need to be ruled on before the trial. The court will then decide the number of alternate jurors necessary and it will decide upon a method of selecting them.

Custom Impressions signed a written arraignment on Sept. 4 in which it pleaded not guilty to all the charges against it. Custom Impressions waived its right to a speedy trial.

Marlar and Custom Impressions were two of four subjects charged with campaign violations in July. The other two were supervisor candidates Bob Yoder and Jack Seward Jr. Seward?s trial will start Sept. 24 and Yoder?s will start two days after that on Sept. 26. Both will start at 9:30 a.m. Seward is charged with one count of unlawful receipt of a monetary or in-kind campaign contribution from a corporation. Yoder is charged with unlawful transfer of campaign funds.

All of the charges in the cases are serious misdemeanors. A serious misdemeanor under Iowa law is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine between $315 and $1,875. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.