Jonathan Youngbear Pleads Guilty to Second Degree Murder, Cedar Rap…

A brutal stabbing on the Meskwaki Nation Settlement in Iowa has resulted in a guilty plea for 21-year-old Jonathan Youngbear. Youngbear pled guilty to one count of second degree murder in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

According to the plea agreement, Youngbear admitted to stabbing Severn Jefferson twice in the neck and chest with a knife, causing the victim to bleed to death. At the time of the stabbing, Youngbear was under the influence of alcohol and had methamphetamine in his system.

The incident occurred on the Meskwaki Nation Settlement, which falls under federal jurisdiction. As a result, Youngbear was charged with second degree murder in Indian Country. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tony Morfitt and Pete Deegan.

The investigation into the stabbing was conducted by the Meskwaki Nation Tribal Police Department, the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The evidence gathered during the investigation led to Youngbear’s guilty plea.

Youngbear faces a possible maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and five years of supervised release following any imprisonment. Sentencing will be determined by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade after a presentence report is prepared.

For now, Youngbear remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. The case file number is 14-CR-00046, and court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The guilty plea brings some closure to the case, but the community is still reeling from the violent incident.

The Meskwaki Nation Settlement has seen its share of violent crimes, but the stabbing death of Severn Jefferson has sent shockwaves through the community. As the case moves forward, the community will be watching to see how justice is served. The guilty plea is a significant step towards holding Youngbear accountable for his actions.