Judge approves change of venue in Jetseta Gage case

A judge Thursday granted a request by Roger Bentley to move his trial from Johnson County. Bentley’s accused of taking ten-year-old Jetseta Gage from her mother’s home in Cedar Rapids three months ago, assaulting the child and killing her in an abandoned mobile home near Iowa City. Defense attorneys requested the change of venue, saying the case is so well known it inspired sex-offender legislation at the statehouse this year. They wanted the trial moved across the state to Council Bluffs, but Judge Patrick Grady didn’t stipulate where he’ll order it to be held. He DID give the lawyers two weeks to study what the pre-trial news coverage has been in the Des Moines area.