Hull, Iowa — A Hull man charged with murder and arson has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
According to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, their dispatch received several 911 calls about a disturbance at 5th and Division Streets in Hull on Monday, October 14.
The sheriff’s office says that when deputies got there, they discovered three people had been involved in a disturbance, with two of those people having stab wounds.
Both victims were transported by the Hull Ambulance to Sioux Center Health for treatment of their injuries. They tell us deputies were able to apprehend one suspect, identified as 28-year-old Jorge Gomez-Badillo of Hull.
Deputies later reported heavy black smoke coming from a residence at 1429 Division Street, near the original incident. Fire Departments from Hull and Rock Valley responded to and extinguished a fire that appeared to have started in a bedroom of the home. Deputies say they suspect the fire may have been intentionally started before the disturbance by Gomez-Badillo.
Gomez-Badillo faces two counts of attempted murder, first-degree burglary, second-degree arson, assault while participating in a felony, assault while participating in a felony – serious injury, willful injury causing serious injury, wilful injury causing bodily injury.
The attempted murder charges are class B felony counts, as is first-degree burglary. Second-degree arson is a class C felony, as are assault while participating in a felony – serious injury and willful injury causing serious injury. Straight assault while participating in a felony and willful injury causing bodily injury are both class D felonies. If convicted, Gomez-Badillo could face 25 years in prison on each class B count, ten years on each class C felony count, and five years on each class D felony count, for a total maximum sentence of 115 years if ordered to serve the sentences consecutively.
He also faces misdemeanor charges of interference with official acts – obstructing prosecution, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of cannabidiol.
