March 28, 2024

Trial in theft of $100K in motorcycles continues Tuesday

Jurors will continue to hear witnesses’ testimony Tuesday, as the case of the alleged theft of $100,000 worth of motorcycle unfolds.

Joel C. Case, a 39-year-old man from Jasper County, is on trial for first-degree theft which began last week at the Jasper County Courthouse in Newton.

Case is represented by defense attorney Richard Phelps, and the trial is being presided over by District Court Judge Thomas Murphy. Case is also on trial with two alleged accomplices, Christopher Retman and Christina Britt.

Monday at 1 p.m., Jasper County Prosecutor Scott Nicholson indicated he had three witnesses left to testify, and the trial lasted until 4 p.m., seemingly halfway through the second witness.

Several victims in the alleged theft testified Monday afternoon, confirming the motorcycles and motorcycle parts stolen belonged to them. They told jurors about identifying marks on the motorcycles which allowed the owners to confirm the bikes belonged to them. They also testified they had never met the defendant.

Thursday saw Jasper County Sheriff’s Office Detective Jeremy Burdess, who led the investigation, take the stand. Burdess told jurors he located the motorcycle parts involved in the case. He said he drove past Case’s mother’s house and saw enough evidence simply by driving by to get a warrant to search the residence.

Case was arrested in January 2017 and charged with first-degree theft and altering and changing vehicle identification numbers.

The Newton Daily News previously reported the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, Pleasant Hill Police Department and the Iowa State Patrol Motor Theft Division collaborated in the investigation and conducted a search warrant for stolen property at a storage location in Pleasant Hill.

Contact Orrin Shawl at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or oshawl@newtondailynews.com