Jonathan McCaffery waives appearance at hearing next week

The initial hearing is set for Aug. 29 at the Johnson County District Court.

Liam Halawith, Senior Politics and News Editor

August 22, 2023

The Johnson County Courthouse on South Clinton Street in Iowa City on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022.

Jonathan McCaffery, 17, of North Liberty, and his attorney asked a Johnson County judge to waive his right to appear at his trial that starts next week.

McCaffery’s attorney Joseph Moreland will appear in court in his place on Aug. 29 in the Johnson County District Court. McCaffery pled not guilty in July to the simple misdemeanor on July 17.

McCaffery, who is the son of Iowa men’s basketball head coach Fran McCaffery, was cited with failure to yield to a pedestrian right of way in May that resulted in the death of off-duty National Guardsman Corey Hite, 45, of Cedar Rapids, in June.

The collision occurred at the intersection of Melrose Avenue and Kennedy Parkway in Iowa City, less than a mile from West High on May 22 at approximately 4 p.m.

In response to McCaffery’s request to waive his right to appear at trial, prosecutors filed a motion late Monday asking McCaffery to stipulate that he was driving the car. The state must prove he was driving the vehicle beyond a reasonable doubt under the statute McCaffery was charged.

Under Iowa law, the penalty for this simple misdemeanor is a fine of $1,000, a driver’s license suspension for up to 180 days, or both.

About the Contributors

Liam Halawith, Politics Editor

he/him/his

Liam Halawith is a third-year student at the University of Iowa studying Journalism and Mass Communication and minoring in Public Policy. Before his role as Politics Editor Liam was a politics reporter for the DI. Outside of the DI Liam has interned at the Cedar Rapids Gazette and the Southeast Iowa Union. This is his second year working for the DI.

Grace Smith, Senior photojournalist and filmmaker

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Grace Smith is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa double majoring in Journalism and Cinematic Arts. In her four years at The Daily Iowan, she has held the roles of photo editor, managing summer editor, and visual storyteller. Outside of The Daily Iowan, Grace has held an internship at The Denver Post and pursued freelance assignments for the Cedar Rapids Gazette and the Des Moines Register.