Hide Article Text (OCR)
OutsideTODAY:Partly sunny. Higharound 50. Low around 35.•TOMORROW:30% chance of rain. High 45.Details/Page 8Southern Iowa’s best newspaper28 pagesOttumwa boys shoot past KeokukStory/Page 9Saturday, Dec. 7, 1991mmmArnoldreduced bond,drug treatment for sisterAccusedA manconnected with the StockdallOrganization has been charged withmanslaughter.Story/Page 3By DON DAVISCourier staff writerDES MOINES - Tom Arnold went to federal court in Des Moines Friday to try to get his sister help for a drug problem.“I want to give Lori the same chance I had to get sober,” Arnold said.However, he will have to wait to see if Lori Stockdall of Ottumwagets that chance. A federal magistrate agreed to lower Stockdall’s bail, but delayed implementing the order because the U.S. attorney’s office plans to appeal the decision.Arnold sat alone outside the courtroom for most of the two-hour hearing because he expected to be called as a witness.Stockdall’s Minneapolis attorney, Ron Meshbesher, planned to put Arnold on the stand to show support for his 31-year-old sister.Magistrate Celeste Bremer agreed to lower bail for Stockdall and her 47-year-old husband, Floyd, without Arnold’s testimony.Bremer reduced bail for each of the two from $200,000 cash or $400,000 in property to $50,000 cashor $200,000 in property.However. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Kayser told Bremer he plans to appeal her decision, so the new bail will not take effect unless approved by a federal district court judge.The Stockdalls will have to undergo drug treatment if released on bail, Bremer ordered. Floyd Stockdall would be able to take outpatient treatment, but his wife would be required to undergo inpatient treatment.That is why Arnold went to court with his wife, Roseanne.‘‘I’m just here to get Lori some help,” he said.If Lori Stockdall ‘‘is going to get drug rehabilitation ... I’m happy,” Arnold said as he was leaving the federal courthouse.‘‘She’s a drug addict and so am I.”Meshbesher told Bremer that Arnold was there because ‘‘he is close to his sister” and wants her to get help.Many of the 30 spectators in court were from the media or there to get a look at the Arnolds. Some federal court workers stopped in just to see the couple, executive producers and stars of the ABC-TV show ‘‘Roseanne.”The Arnolds — who arrived and left in a long, black limousine — have been crusading against drug abuse since both say they have kicked the habit.Courier photo by Jim HamannARRIVING IN STYLE: Roseanne and were on hand to plead for a bond reduc-Tom Arnold step out of their limousine at tion and drug treatment for Tom Arnold'sfederal court in Des Moines. The couple sister, Lori Stockdall.fightbehindBy DON DAVIS Courier staff writerDES MOINES — Federal authorities Friday stepped up their fight to keep jailed the couple they allege led a multi-state drugring from Ottumwa.“If the Stockdalls are on the street, they can exercise a great threat,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Kayser said of the alleged leaders of the ring, Floyd and Lori Stockdall, who own a 170-acre horse ranch southwest of Ottumwa.Kayser and three witnesses told federal Magistrate Celeste Bremer of threats they say were made to police officers who investigated the Stockdalls during the past five years as well as witnesses who help make the government’s case.“It is physically impossible to protect thefamilies (ot the witnesses and officers), Kayser said. “We’re genuinely concerned.Kayser’s comments came at the second hearing dealing with the Stockdalls’ bail. Bremer agreed to lower bail to $50,000 cash or $200,000 in property.However, a federal district judge will make the final decision. No date was set for that hearing.The Stockdalls’ attorneys repeatedly told Bremer the government was not presenting new evidence at Friday’s hearing The alleged threats had been reported at a bail hearing Nov. 13.However, Kayser put three law enforcement officers on the stand Friday to reinforce his argument that the Stockdalls should be held without bail.The Stockdalls had told people that “anyone who testifies against us will be dead,”testified Arthur G. Vogel, a federal Drug Enforcement Administration agent.Lori Stockdall threatened David Young, convicted in an earlier drug case, with a hitman she called “No Name,” Vogel testified.Ottumwa police detective Rick Jones, who has investigated the Stockdalls for five years, testified Floyd Stockdalls attorney once told him about rumors that “there would be a dead officer in Ottumwa.”Jones and Jerry Nelson, agent for the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, said the brother of Lori Stockdall and comedian Tom Arnold was involved in the alleged threats.Scott Arnold offered to pay Jeff Murphy, who was not further identified, for pictures of Jones and witnesses against the Stockdalls, Nelson said.The Stockdalls and nine others face a multitude of charges alleging their involvement inan organization that has brought the illegal drug methamphetamine into Southern Iowa from four other states.A federal grand jury alleged the Stockdalls brought up to $3 million worth of drugs into the state since early 1985.The 21-count indictment charges the Stockdalls with leading a confining criminal enterprise, continuing to violate federal laws, two counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.The indictment also seeks to seize more than $750,000 worth of property from the couple, who own the Wildside bar in OttumwaBremer tentatively set Feb. 24 for the start of a two- or three-week trial for the 11 charged in the Oct. 25 indictment.50HulbertpleadsinnocentBy DAVE PITTWCourier Oskaloosa bureauBrian HulbertOSKALOOSA - Brian Hulbert pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife during an initial appearance Friday morning in Mahaska County Magistrate Court.He remains in the county jail in Oskaloosa on $1 million bond.Magistrate Willard Ellis de clined to reduce the bond and scheduled a preliminary hearing for 10:30 a.m. Dec. 16.Ellis said he would recommend against bond reduction because Hulbert refused to cooperate with court services personnel Friday and would not talk to them.Hulbert, in handcuffs and shackles, spoke softly to Ellis, reciting his name, age and social security number during the brief hearing.Hulbert, 23, is accused of murdering his wife, Amie Hulbert, also 23.Her frozen body was found by a farmer Thursday afternoon in a deep ditch alongside a gravel road northwest of Oskaloosa.She had been missing since Nov 19.The last time family members saw her, she was headed to talk with Brian Hulbert about a divorce.Amie Hulbert’s 3-year-old daughter is staying with Amie Hulbert’s father, Daryl VandeGeest of Oskaloosa.Brian Hulbert will be defended by Des Moines attorney Alfredo Par rish.Oskaloosa Police Chief Jake McGee said some details of Amie Hulbert’s death will not be known until after an autopsy, which is scheduled for Sunday morning at Ottumwa Regional Health Center.He hopes to learn more about the method of Hulbert s murder, the location and weapon used.Assistant State Medical Examiner Dr. Francis Garrity said the autopsy could be delayed to as late as Mon day if the body is still frozenHe said preliminary results about the cause of death may tie availableOfficers(Please turn to page 3)
Newspaper Details
Ottumwa Courier
Ottumwa, Iowa, US
Sat, Dec 07, 1991
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
NY, USA 21 Jul 2020
Other Publications Near Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa Daily Review
Ottumwa Courier
Ottumwa Tri Weekly Courier
Baptismal Register Sacred Heart
Standard Atlas of Wapello County Iowa
