• 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 / Supreme Court ruling on sentence for juveniles leaves lawyer uncertain

Supreme Court ruling on sentence for juveniles leaves lawyer uncertain

June 27, 2015 By Dar Danielson

The Iowa Supreme Court today ruled district courts can only give those who committed crimes as juveniles life sentences with the chance of parole.The ruling threw out a 25-year district court sentence given former Iowa State University student Yvette Louisell who was convicted of murder as a 17-year-old.

The Iowa Supreme Court also advised the parole board to reconsider the way it looks at juvenile cases, as no one has been granted parole since being given the new lief with the chance of parole sentence. Louisell’s attorney Gordon Allen says that could help his client.

“I hope it does. I hope it does. I’ve got several other clients up there,” Allen says. The high court ruled that only the legislature can determine sentences, and a brand new law providing more options for the Story County judge wasn’t in effect in time of Louisell’s sentencing.

The whole issue came up after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled mandatory life sentences without parole for juveniles where not constitutional. The 25-year sentence meant Louisell was now eligible for parole, but Allen says things are now back to where they started. He isn’t sure that means parole anytime soon.

“I don’t think either way under this current parole board she has much of a chance,” Allen says. Louisell was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1987 death of Keith Stillwell. She had met Stillwell in an art class where she was a nude model.

 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, News

Featured Stories

Exhibit features lesser known works of Grant Wood

Testing finds 21 new CWD cases in deer

It may become a crime in Iowa to use fake urine in workplace drug tests

February trending 18 degrees below average temperature

Iowa House Education Committee votes to end tenure at UI, ISU, UNI

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

New look and new format at girls’ state basketball

Youngstown State takes action against assistant football coach

Iowa’s Jack Nunge lost for the season

Key stretch begins for #9 Iowa

Drake’s Roman Penn lost for the season

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC