(Sioux City)– It will be later this year before a man acquitted of murder charges in the death of a Spirit Lake toddler goes on trial on federal drug charges.
Jesse Wendelsdorf faces methamphetamine and marijuana charges that stem from alleged incidents in Dickinson county since 1997.
His trial, which had been scheduled to start today (Monday) in U-S District Court in Sioux City, has been postponed until June 6th. His attorneys requested more time to get ready.
Wendelsdorf gained statewide notoriety in 2000 when he and the child’s mother, Heidi Watkins, were charged in the death of her two-year-old daughter, Shelby Duis.
Wendelsdorf was acquitted. Watkins was convicted of child endangerment and sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Shelby’s death attracted the attention of Governor Vilsack and the legislature and led to several changes in state law to prevent other child deaths.
(From the Associated Press).
Copyright GCI. All rights reserved.
