Orange City, Iowa — A Matlock man recently convicted of sexual assault, but not yet sentenced, is planning on asking for a new trial.
According to court records, Sioux County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 30-year-old Daren Thomas Leikvold of Matlock at his home on April 12, 2016. Court records say he was accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old on two separate occasions. The incidents are alleged to have occurred in October of last year, and in January of this year.
A bench trial was held on July 19th and 20th. On July 28th, defense attorney Angela Kayl filed a motion to strike any and all reports, exhibits and testimony from the DCI lab where Amy Pollpeter was employed.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety says Amy Pollpeter, an analyst at the Iowa state crime laboratory, was fired in July for an unrelated post on social media.
On September 29, before announcing his verdict, Judge Hoffmeyer said that according to past case law, the unrelated misconduct by Pollpeter did not invalidate the results of the evidence she processed.
Hoffmeyer found Leikvold guilty on one count of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree. Leikvold is scheduled to appear for a sentencing hearing at 10:00 a.m. on October 31, 2016.
However, his lawyer, Angela Kayl, has filed a motion asking for more time to file a motion for a new trial and a motion in arrest of judgment. She also filed a motion to continue (or postpone) the October 31st sentencing. The court has yet to rule on the motions.
