16-year-old manslaughter suspect free on bond
By Molly Montagmmontag@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Thursday, November 20, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- A 16-year-old girl accused of fatally shooting another teenager in the head is free on bond after appearing in Woodbury County District Court.
According to court documents, Codie Kristine Kapaun, of Sioux City, made her initial court appearance Wednesday in Sioux City.
Kapaun faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, a felony, and assault with a dangerous weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor, for unintentionally causing the death of Ryan Blanchard, 16. A judge ruled earlier this week that Kapaun would be tried as an adult for the crime.
A Woodbury County jail official said Kapaun posted $1,000 of a $10,000 bond about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday and was released from custody. She had been held in juvenile detention since August.
According to court documents, a judge appointed the Woodbury County Public Defender's Office to represent Kapaun. Her next scheduled court appearance is a Dec. 1 preliminary hearing.
If convicted as charged, Kapaun could face up to five years in prison for the manslaughter charge and up to two years for the assault charge.
Police say Kapaun, Blanchard and others were hanging out at 2314 Riverside Blvd. when Blanchard was shot Aug. 11.
According to a criminal complaint and affidavit, Kapaun pointed a Bryco .38-caliber handgun at Blanchard and fired. Blanchard died Aug. 12 in a Sioux City hospital.
Kapaun told investigators she believed that either there wasn't a clip in the gun or that the safety was on, the complaint says, although others had fired several rounds from two magazine clips in her presence.
-- Journal staff writer Dolly A. Butz contributed to this story.
According to court documents, Codie Kristine Kapaun, of Sioux City, made her initial court appearance Wednesday in Sioux City.
Kapaun faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, a felony, and assault with a dangerous weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor, for unintentionally causing the death of Ryan Blanchard, 16. A judge ruled earlier this week that Kapaun would be tried as an adult for the crime.
A Woodbury County jail official said Kapaun posted $1,000 of a $10,000 bond about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday and was released from custody. She had been held in juvenile detention since August.
According to court documents, a judge appointed the Woodbury County Public Defender's Office to represent Kapaun. Her next scheduled court appearance is a Dec. 1 preliminary hearing.
If convicted as charged, Kapaun could face up to five years in prison for the manslaughter charge and up to two years for the assault charge.
Police say Kapaun, Blanchard and others were hanging out at 2314 Riverside Blvd. when Blanchard was shot Aug. 11.
According to a criminal complaint and affidavit, Kapaun pointed a Bryco .38-caliber handgun at Blanchard and fired. Blanchard died Aug. 12 in a Sioux City hospital.
Kapaun told investigators she believed that either there wasn't a clip in the gun or that the safety was on, the complaint says, although others had fired several rounds from two magazine clips in her presence.
-- Journal staff writer Dolly A. Butz contributed to this story.
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