Kasemeier ordered to appear for arraignment on first-degree murder charges, bond review is continued

A pair of appearances in Allamakee County District Court for Brandon Kasemeier, the 39-year-old man from Waukon charged in the January 21 death of his estranged wife, Jami Kasemeier, did not take place as scheduled this past week. Action taken in regard to both appearances, however, has resulted in further court proceedings being scheduled in the case.

As Allamakee County Attorney Anthony Gericke had previously forecasted, the preliminary hearing scheduled for Friday, February 23 for Kasemeier did not take place after Gericke and State of Iowa Assistant Attorney General Keisha Cretsinger filed Trial Information in regard to the charge of Murder in the First Degree being brought against Kasemeier. Gericke had previously explained that the Trial Information and minutes of testimony lay out the charges, a brief explanation of fact as to why the charges were filed and a list of witnesses expected to testify at trial.

Upon her review of the Trial Information, Iowa First Judicial District Court Judge Laura Parrish filed an order of her approval of the Trial Information and further prosecution of the case. She noted that the Trial Information and accompanying minutes of testimony “contain evidence which, if unexplained, is sufficient to warrant a conviction by a trial jury.”

Judge Parrish further ordered that Kasemeier appear for arraignment, where the court will read the formal charges and Kasemeier may then enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. That arraignment has been scheduled for Monday, March 11 at 9:30 a.m. in Allamakee County District Court. Until then, Kasemeier was ordered to remain in custody in the Allamakee County Jail under his current arrangement of no bond allowed.

Kasemeier was also scheduled to appear in Allamakee County District Court Monday, February 26 for a bond review hearing, but that court appearance did not take place after what court documents describe as “discussion between the court and counsel”. Based on that discussion, Iowa First Judicial District Court Judge Alan Heavens granted a continuance of those bond review proceedings, which are now scheduled for Monday, March 11 at 1 p.m. in Allamakee County District Court.