BOONE, Iowa—A Boone County District Associate Court Judge has sentenced a Fort Dodge woman to 5 years in prison for probation violation on a Boone County case. The Boone County Attorney’s office released this information on sentencing:
On August 1, 2018, a Boone County District Associates Court Judge sentenced Mary Evelyn Francis, 39 years old of Fort Dodge, Iowa, to 5 years in prison with the Iowa Department of Corrections on a probation violation on her Boone County case. On August 1, 2016, Mary Francis pled guilty to Forgery in violation of Iowa Code section 715A.2(1). As a result of her plea the court sentenced her to probation for a period of three years. A report of violation of probation was filed on June 4, 2018, alleging that Mary Francis violated her terms of probation by testing positive for controlled substance and being arrested on a theft charge in Webster County. After a probation revocation hearing in July, the court found that the Mary Francis violated the terms of her probation. The court set the sentencing hearing for August 1, 2018. At the hearing the State, represented by the Boone County Attorney’s Office, requested that the defendant’s probation be revoked and she serve five years in prison. The court agreed with the State and sentenced Mary Francis to five years in prison with the Iowa Department of Corrections.
According to the Complaint and Affidavits this case originated back in March 21, 2016. On that date a person reported to the Boone Police Department a fraud complaint. They stated that Mary Francis stolen her debit card and used it multiple times and wrote checks on that account. After an investigation that led to finding a missing notary stamp and found that Mary Francis had taken these items. The defendant was charged with Forgery and ultimately pled guilty to Forgery back in August 1, 2016. The penalty for this charge can range from probation to up to five years in prison. The court ordered probation in this matter.
Mary Francis ultimately violated the terms of her probation by picking up another theft charge out of Webster County in June of 2018 and testing positive for a controlled substance. The District Associates Court found that she violated the terms of her probation and ultimately revoked Mary Francis probation and sentenced her to five years in prison with the Iowa Department of Corrections.
First Assistant Boone County Attorney, Matt Speers, tried the case on behalf of the State of Iowa for the prosecution. Mary Francis was defended by a local attorney. The Boone Police Department investigated the case.
(contributed article and photo, Boone County Attorney’s office)
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