CONESVILLE, Iowa (KCRG) – A former Conesville city clerk has pleaded guilty to theft and financial crimes after a state audit found nearly $66,000 in improper payments she allegedly made to herself and her family.

Yamira Martinez, of Columbus Junction, pleaded guilty to ongoing criminal conduct, unauthorized use of a credit card over $10,000, and first-degree theft. A forgery charge will be dismissed under the plea agreement.

Martinez served as Conesville’s city clerk from June 2022 through March 2024. Officials in Conesville requested an audit from State Auditor Rob Sand, which covered the period of July 1, 2022, through April 30, 2024.

Sand’s audit found nearly $66,000 in improper payments, more than $53,000 in uncollected and undeposited utility billings, and more than $7,500 in unsupported payments.

“Miss Martinez was interviewed about this. She stated that the 24 checks that were unauthorized payroll and were made to appear like payroll checks, she admitted, were unauthorized. She also stated that the checks were for her kids. When she was asked about personal Amazon purchases, she stated that that was her fault,” Sand said.

The nearly $66,000 in improper payments includes more than $45,000 in payroll and reimbursements paid to Martinez, as well as nearly $12,500 in purchases made using the city’s debit card.

According to Sand’s office, it is unknown whether additional utility transactions were improperly recorded or if there were additional improper payments, as city records were not well-maintained.

Martinez was originally charged with two counts of ongoing criminal conduct, two counts of theft, and two counts related to forgery and fraud.

Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced July 10 at the Muscatine County Courthouse.

After a spectacular senior year with Iowa basketball, point guard Bennett Stirtz won Iowa Athletics’ men’s Athlete of the Year and men’s Hawkeye of the Year awards at the athletic department’s 10th annual Golden Herky awards ceremony.

Stirtz, who made stops at Northwest Missouri State and Drake before his lone season at Iowa, finished with a career Division I average of 19.5 points, 5.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game on 48.7% field goal shooting, 37.2% 3-point shooting, and 82% from the free-throw line.

This past season, the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder from Liberty, Missouri, averaged 19.8 points and 4.4 assists per game on 47.7% field goal shooting and 35.8% 3-point shooting, to accompany 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals through approximately 37:44 of action in his 37 games played.

At the end of the season, Stirtz’s play earned him AP and USBWA honorable-mention All-America honors, first-team All-Big Ten recognition, and the winner of the prestigious Chris Street Award.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A University of Iowa student critically injured in an April 19 shooting at the Pedestrian Mall is off a ventilator after multiple surgeries.

Miranda, who suffered the most serious injuries in the shooting, was taken off a ventilator and breathing through her tracheostomy with oxygen support as needed, according to a May 2 update on a GoFundMe page organized by her sister, Janjay Peters. The fundraiser has raised more than $195,000.

Doctors said if Miranda continues to do well with her breathing, she may be moved out of the ICU soon. The family expressed appreciation for the support they have been receiving.

The shooting happened at the Pedestrian Mall in Iowa City, around 1:45 a.m. on April 19. Five people were hurt, one critically.

Iowa City Police said 17-year-old Damarian Jones of Cedar Rapids was involved in a fight before he retrieved a gun from another person and fired six shots into the crowd, hitting five people.

Authorities said there is no evidence Jones targeted any of the victims, and none were involved in the initial fight.

Iowa City Police are still searching for Jones. He is facing five counts of attempted murder among several other charges.

The Iowa City Police Department said it expects to arrest more people in addition to the charges for Jones.