• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Crime / Courts / Lawmaker on trial over obscene phone calls

Lawmaker on trial over obscene phone calls

July 18, 2000 By admin

The state representative accused of making obscene phone calls to women he didn’t know will take the stand today in his own defense. The trial against Michael Cataldo of Des Moines began yesterday in Indianola with the testimony of four women who told of being awakened by obscene phone calls. Paula Spinler of Martensdale was the first witness. She said she felt dirty after the calls, like she’d been raped. Spinler’s 18-year-old daughter, and two women from Des Moines testified they received calls from a cell phone number investigators found registered in Cataldo’s name. Warren County Deputy Sheriff Paul Morrison said Cataldo confessed when first confronted and then repeatedly asked to be let off. Morrison said Cataldo asked to be able to apologize to the victim.Morrison says he asked Cataldo if his wife knew of the calls. Cataldo replied if she found out she would “kill me.”Cataldo’s wife, Karen, testified her husband could not have made the calls because they were at home together in bed when the calls were made.A cell phone expert hired by Cataldo to testify said Cataldo’s cell phone could have been cloned, as there were some discrepancies on Cataldo’s phone bills. Cataldo’s attorney says Cataldo will deny he made the phone calls when he takes the stand in his own defense today. Cataldo narrowly won a democratic primary in June and there is no republican running against him in the fall election.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Crime / Courts Tagged With: Democratic Party, Legislature

Featured Stories

Bill would limit placement of solar arrays on farm ground

Marquette casino moving to land, leaving only 2 casino boats in Iowa

Reynolds signs her ‘school choice’ bill into law

Governor Reynolds touts 2024 Iowa Caucuses in Inaugural Address

University of Iowa grad presiding over U.S. House Speaker vote

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

No coaching changes coming for Iowa football

Iowa State names new receivers coach

No. 2 Iowa visits No. 1 Penn State in wrestling dual Friday night

Iowa’s Clark brings increased exposure to women’s basketball

No. 18 Iowa State women visit TCU

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC