Appeal filed to Iowa Supreme Court in regard to sentence and other rulings in Mindy Jones first degree arson case

The sentencing and ruling denying a new trial handed down Monday, February 3 in Allamakee County District Court to Mindy Jones, the woman found guilty of purposely setting fire to her 9 Allamakee Street business building in Waukon, is now being appealed to a higher court.

Notice of Appeal documents filed immediately the day after Jones was sentenced to 25 years in prison on a charge of first degree arson and another two years on a charge of animal abuse for the death of a dog ruled to be caused by the February 13, 2022 fire indicate that the Notice of Appeal to the Supreme Court of Iowa was filed by Jones’ attorney, Aaron Hawbaker of the State of Iowa Public Defender’s office in Waterloo, in regard to those February 3 orders delivered by Iowa First Judicial District Judge Laura Parrish.

Although no further details have yet been outlined in the appeal, according to information posted on the State of Iowa Judicial Branch website, an appeal does not involve conducting trials or hearing new evidence; the appellate court will only review the evidence that was previously submitted in the district court to determine whether legal errors were committed in the rendering of the district court judgment. The opinion rendered by the appellate court represents a collective decision of a majority of the justices or judges, rather than the decision of just one judge.

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