2 jury trials are slated for next week

By Sarah Stultz | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Friday, October 30, 2009

Two area residents are scheduled to appear before a jury next week on charges related to separate altercations from this summer.

The first, Marco Antonio Morales, 37, of Albert Lea faces one count of first-degree assault of great bodily harm, two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of third-degree assault of substantial bodily harm in connection with the alleged slashing of a woman’s neck in July.

He was arrested July 14, after officers received a 911 call just before 10:30 p.m. from a downtown tattoo parlor, at the time called Inkaholics, of a reported slashing of a 38-year-old woman’s neck with a sword at a nearby apartment. She had come to the tattoo business because it was open late at night.

Morales pleaded not guilty to all counts in September.

During a pre-trial for Morales on Thursday, public defender Kevin Riha indicated his client has no known criminal history.

Riha said he and the Freeborn County Attorney’s Office have not yet resolved the charges against his client, but they are still talking.

Morales’ case is the No. 2 trial in line for the jury trials on Tuesday.

Joshua Quincy Hill

The second man, Hill, 30, of Albert Lea faces seven felony counts, including aggravated robbery, burglary and assault related to an alleged armed robbery on South Washington Avenue in July.

He was arrested July 16 after police received a call of a 33-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman who were reportedly held at gunpoint at 709 S. Washington Ave.

According to court documents, Hill allegedly forced his way into the apartment, pointed the gun at both the woman and the man, and later requested their money.

During Hill’s pre-trial on Thursday, Assistant Freeborn County Attorney David Walker asked that an analysis be conducted of Hill’s prior convictions.

Hill is much lower in the list of trials to appear, so there is a high chance his trial date will be postponed.

Casey Alan Gefre

The jury trial for Gefre, 23, who is charged with two counts of assault related to a reported stabbing at Harmony Park near Geneva Lake, has been postponed.

Gefre’s public defender, Stephen Erickson, appeared in court Thursday, unable to talk because he had lost his voice.

Because of this, Erickson and Gefre waived the right to a speedy trial, so that Erickson would be able to speak at the trial. Before this request, Gefre’s trial had been No. 1 on the list.

Gefre faces one count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of third-degree assault related to the incident July 26.

The exact date of the new trial was not announced.

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