Jose Olmeda’s change of venue motion was granted Thursday by Judge William Mays. Olmeda was charged with possession of 500 pounds of marijuana after a traffic stop in Quincy last summer. The trial is scheduled to start April 7 in Petersburg.
Olmeda’s attorney, Don Heck, and State’s Attorney Jon Barnard had been negotiating — don’t be surprised if there is some sort of resolution before going to trial — but for now, the two sides have stopped talking.
Neither attorney would say what the negotiations involved.
Technically, Olmeda is eligible for 60 years in prison if convicted of the drug charges, and another 21 years in prison if convicted on escape and battery charges stemming from a Dec. 15 Adams County Jail escape case.
Realistically, if found guilty of the drug charges he’d serve them at the same time. That’s 30 years max. If convicted of the escape and battery charges, he’d serve those in addition to the drug counts, and probably get a maximum seven years.
Olmeda has a lot to lose by going to trial. So do Adams County taxpayers, who would foot the bill for his transportation and arrangements if he goes to trial in Petersburg, and for Barnard’s expenses, as well.
However, Olmeda is innocent until proven guilty and entitled to the same rights as any criminal suspect, even though he’s illegally in the country and a Mexican national.
Stay tuned, because it will get even more interesting.

I talked to Mike Terry’s writing class Tuesday at John Wood Community College, and it was an enjoyable experience.

The
students wanted to know what it’s like covering crime and courts for a
newspaper, and I gave them the line I always use — "You can’t make it
up."

The students were respectful, knowledgeable, interested and
asked good questions. Interaction is a good thing because reporters
tend to get insulated operating out of the newsroom, and I learn every
time.

Thanks Mike, and thank you students.

I walk to and from the Adams County Courthouse
frequently — we call it the "Fifth Street Shuffle" – and you need to be
warned sidewalks and roads are really slippery right now.

There
seems to be plenty of salt on the roads and the sidewalks are clear,
but when it thaws and freezes it gets slick, and that’s all there is to
it.

Twice this morning I nearly took headers on very thin and
nearly invisible ice. A squirrel in Washington Park thought it was
funny, and it probably is, watching a big geek take a fall.

But slipping on ice is no laughing matter and can result in serious injury, so please – be careful out there!

Prayers go out to Kelly Voss and her family
after her two children were found dead with her estranged husband in
Eastern Iowa Wednesday.

Kelly lived in here just a short time
after separating from her husband last fall. She worked at the Hy-Vee
on Harrison in Quincy, and co-workers there knew her as a mom who was
trying to get her life back on track.

It has to be a shock to be visiting and working with somebody new to the community, only to find out this happened.

The recent Adams County Jail breakout has sparked debate about the need for a new jail.

The
estimated cost is up to $20 million. Adams County Sheriff Brent Fischer
says a new facility could be more secure, since it could be a one-story
jail with better control and access.

A
new jail sounds nice, but the cost is prohibitive and there’s no way
the county can or will foot the bill. There’s the public safety tax
option, not popular with the general public, or state and federal
grants to pursue.

What about an all-purpose public safety facility, where Quincy Police Department and the Adams County Sheriff’s Department could be located, along with courtrooms, various county departments like probation, parole and others?

Will it ever get done in our lifetime? Who would spur the effort? Could we get the various entities to work together?

Many hard questions, with no easy answers