The duties of the County Attorney are discharged by the Civil and Criminal divisions.
The Civil division serves as legal counsel to elected officials and County departments
and represents the County in court actions. The Criminal division processes adult
criminal and juvenile actions referred from law enforcement, government agencies
and the public. The County Attorney, governed by Chapter 331 of the Iowa Code, ensures
that the laws of the State are enforced within Polk County, prosecutes violators
of the law, and acts as legal counsel to the Board of Supervisors.
Announcements, News, & Recent Cases
Announcement: County Attorney’s Collections More
Than Double
Top Story: Christopher Michael Phipps Guilty of Murder
On Tuesday, August 17, 2010, a Polk County jury found Christopher Michael Phipps guilty of Murder in the First Degree in the beating and strangulation death of Melissa Dean. On September 18, 2009 at approximately 5:10 A.M., Des Moines Police received a 911 call from a public telephone located in a parking lot at S.W. 9th Street and McKinley Avenue from the defendant in which he confessed to accidentally killing his girlfriend by “beating her and stuff.” A subsequent investigation by Des Moines detectives and the department’s identification Section revealed that the murder had taken place at 601 S.W. Army Post Road, trailer #15, which was a trailer shared by the defendant and the victim. Analysis of this scene revealed extensive blood spatter in the living room portion of the trailer, indicating the victim had suffered significant blunt force trauma while she was on the floor of the living room. An autopsy performed on the victim showed that she had numerous bruises, defensive wounds, several brain hemorrhages, two broken ribs, a broken sternum, a lacerated liver, a broken hyoid bone and numerous injuries to her neck tissue and muscles. The defendant asserted defenses of diminished capacity, intoxication and justification. The jury rejected the defendant’s contentions and found him guilty as charged. Mr. Phipps will be sentenced on September 29, 2010 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. John Sarcone and Susan Cox prosecuted this case.
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