Those convicted of vehicular homicide would no longer be able to go free on bond while they appeal their conviction under a bill which cleared the Iowa House yesterday. The bill was spurred by a Cedar Rapids case in which a man driving over 100 miles an hour killed two children who were walking door-to-door selling candy. Jeremy Atwood has appealed that conviction and posted a bond in order to remain free rather than start serving time in prison. Representative Steve Sukup, a republican from Dougherty, says that’s wrong. Sukup says while Atwood was sentenced on April 10th of last year to two 10-year prison sentences, Atwood hasn’t spent a day in jail because he’s appealing the case and is free on bond. But Representative Jack Holveck, a democrat from Des Moines, said it was wrong to keep a possiblyinnocent person in jail while they’re appealing their conviction. The bill passed on an 85 to 17 vote. It goes to the Senate forconsideration.
