OTTUMWA MAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO ATTEMPTED MURDER

Ottumwa man pleads not guilty to attempted murder

Jacob Heckethorn has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and requested a court-appointed attorney.  He was charged last week in the Aug. 16 shooting of Clifford Collett Sr.  This charge is punishable by up to 25 years.  Heckethorn was already in custody for a separate murder charge in which he shot and killed William Shuttlesworth on Aug. 23.  He was already in custody so authorities didn’t have to look far for him.  That case also involves another charge of attempted murder, in which Heckethorn is accused of firing at a man and missing.  The two attempted murder charges could bring a combined 50 years in prison, the first-degree murder charge could bring an automatic life sentence upon conviction.  Heckethorn is being held in Wapello County Jail on a $1 million-cash-only-bond.

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