Posted: 11/30/04
Justin Meyer gets maximum sentence in kidnapping
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Justin Meyer was sentenced to life in prison without parole on November 29 by Judge John Bauercamper at the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon.
Bauercamper, sitting in front of about 40 people in the courtroom, said it was a mandatory sentence, and that he had no discretion to exercise.
Meyer was found guilty of kidnapping in the first degree on November 10 for kidnapping his former girlfriend and their son from her home in Caledonia on December 8, 2003.
He took them to his parentsí home in New Albin, Iowa, where he sexually assaulted the woman.
Meyer said a tearful apology at the end of the 45-minute sentencing. Looking at the Sullivan family, he said he had no intention of killing Mark Sullivan. ìThis is just as hard for my family,î he said. ìI just want you to know Iím sorry.î
Three people gave victim impact statements at the sentencing. The victim who was kidnapped spoke first. Reading from a paper in a shaky voice, she said she was reminded of the kidnapping experience every day. She said she had daily thoughts that someone was going to kill her.
She said that she constantly felt the loss of Mark Sullivan too. ìI donít know if Iíll ever feel safe again,î she said. She also asked how she would explain to her son what his father had done. Justin Meyer took a lot, she said in conclusion, but she did not take her spirit.
The womanís stepmother spoke next. She said that she wished that Justin Meyer could receive the death penalty, but since that wasnít the case, she hoped the state would enforce the life imprisonment sentence. ìWe donít want to worry about you getting out and hurting anybody again,î she read. ìAs far aw weíre concerned, you donít exist.î
Erin Kearney, Mark Sullivanís sister, was the last one to speak. At first she could not read her statement because she was crying. Then she spoke in a voice that got stronger and stronger. She told how her father had died from cancer, and she thought his spirit had been passed on to Mark. She talked about Mark Sullivanís personality, and the impact his death had on her 10-year-old son. She hoped that Justin Meyer would be constantly reminded of the pain he had caused to the Mark Sullivanís family and the family of the woman he kidnapped.
After the statements, prosecutor Patricia Houlihan from the Minnesota Attorney Generalís office noted that Justin Meyer cannot have any contact from prison with the victim or her family. She asked the judge to extend that to Meyerís family. Houlihan said that the victimís stepmother had been contacted by a sister of Justin Meyer to ask that Justinís son be able to attend a family reunion. It was clear that that phone call should not have been made, Houlihan said. Bauercamper said the court would evaluate the request.
Bauercamper also denied a motion for a new trial by defense attorney Steven Hodge.
An automatic appeal will be filed after Meyer is sentenced, because it a capital case (a case that carries a life sentence without the possibility of parole). The appeal can take up a year, according to defense attorney Steven Hodge.
Meyer also allegedly killed Mark Sullivan of Caledonia prior to the kidnapping. Meyer will now be extradited to Minnesota.
The extradition process is estimated to take at least two months. Minnesota will get temporary custody of Meyer for the murder trial here through a law called the Interstate Agreement on Detainers.
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