Lang
2/26/20
The Tipton Police Department has reported the Cedar County Attorney to a state agency that investigates allegations of attorney misconduct.
That’s according to a KCRG i9 report. The television station says the report, filed with the Iowa Judicial Branch’s Office of Professional Regulation, centers around Cedar County Attorney Jeffrey Renander’s interaction with a crime victim. No other details have been released.
Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington told KCRG that his office is also planning to file a report about Renanader with the state. The reports could lead to discipline against Renander from the Iowa Supreme Court’s Attorney Disciplinary Board, including anything from a reprimand to losing his law license.
Last week the sheriff’s office issued a no-confidence letter to Renander after his handling of a sexual abuse case. Nicholas Becker admitted performing sex acts on a woman without her permission. According to deputies, Renander shamed the victim by telling her, “at least you weren’t awake for it,” blamed her for being drunk and told her she should learn from the incident.
Becker was charged with felony 3rd Degree Sexual Abuse, but reached a deal with Renander to plead guilty to a lesser charge. Becker was sentenced to 90 days in jail and will not have to register as a sex offender.
Court records show that the victim said the plea deal was acceptable, but objected to allowing Becker work release. The judge in the case also expressed concerns with the leniency of the deal, but said she signed off on it to not undermine prosecutors’ abilities to make plea agreements.
Had there been no plea deal, Becker could have faced up to ten years in prison.