THE DARK SIDE OF IOWA
Charles James
#0804144
Full Name: Charles Keith James
DOB: February 27, 1962
Charge: Voluntary manslaughter
County: Polk
City: Des Moines
Current Status: Released in June 2002
Date of Crime: December 5, 1986
Victim: Sandra Evans
DOB: February 27, 1962
Charge: Voluntary manslaughter
County: Polk
City: Des Moines
Current Status: Released in June 2002
Date of Crime: December 5, 1986
Victim: Sandra Evans
Charles Keith James testified that he was scared and confused the night an argument in December 1986 ended in the death of his girlfriend. “I was just sick, sick, sick that I was shooting at the person who means more to me than anything in this whole world,” Charles said.
Charles, 25, of 1701 Lincoln Avenue, Des Moines, was accused of the December 5, 1986 slaying of Sandra Evans, 20, at an east-side home. Charles, a former Iowa Golden Gloves boxing champion and was a popular crossing guard at Moulton Elementary School.
Charles claimed he acted in self-defense after Sandra got a gun out and fired at him three times before the gun jammed. Sandra had asked Charles to follow her in her car so they could find a place to discuss the couple’s three children. Sandra led Charles to a location near 26th and Garfield Street. The discussion erupted into a quarrel and when Charles returned to his van, Sandra started shooting at him.
According to Sandra’s father, James had been knocking her around. The couple lived together for about seven years and Sandra was the mother of Charles’ three children. Sandra left Charles two months before her death because of repeated physical abuse. Sandra had “mentioned to three or four people that she was going to kill him, about two weeks before she died,” Charles’ attorney said.
Charles, 25, of 1701 Lincoln Avenue, Des Moines, was accused of the December 5, 1986 slaying of Sandra Evans, 20, at an east-side home. Charles, a former Iowa Golden Gloves boxing champion and was a popular crossing guard at Moulton Elementary School.
Charles claimed he acted in self-defense after Sandra got a gun out and fired at him three times before the gun jammed. Sandra had asked Charles to follow her in her car so they could find a place to discuss the couple’s three children. Sandra led Charles to a location near 26th and Garfield Street. The discussion erupted into a quarrel and when Charles returned to his van, Sandra started shooting at him.
According to Sandra’s father, James had been knocking her around. The couple lived together for about seven years and Sandra was the mother of Charles’ three children. Sandra left Charles two months before her death because of repeated physical abuse. Sandra had “mentioned to three or four people that she was going to kill him, about two weeks before she died,” Charles’ attorney said.
Source: Des Moines Register