The man accused of shooting a Linn County deputy during a robbery in Coggon two years ago has been found guilty.
Stanley Donahue of Chicago was charged with attempted murder of a peace officer, robbery, willful injury, attempting to elude, trafficking in stolen weapons, disarming a police officer, felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of false imprisonment. A jury on Tuesday morning found him guilty of all charges.
Investigators say in June of 2021, Donahue robbed the Casey’s General Store in Coggon. He shot Linn County Sheriff’s Deputy Will Halverson, who responded to the scene, multiple times before fleeing in his vehicle. Donahue crashed his vehicle in Coggon while being pursued by another deputy and then fled on foot. Hours after a manhunt began, he was spotted walking down Highway 13 near Coggon the next day and taken into custody.
Deputy Halverson was hospitalized for several months, but has recovered.
During the trial this past week, the defense tried to convince the jury witnesses had misidentified Donahue as the suspect. However, Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks repeated that Deputy Halverson had identified Donahue as the person who shot him. Two Casey’s employees and a Deputy who gave chase to Donahue also identified him. Maybanks says change was found in Donahue’s pocket, including trip alarm money from the register. Donahue’s gun and Deputy Halverson’s gun were also found in Donahue’s van, along with stolen property from Casey’s and personal property taken from Casey’s employee.
The defense challenged the eyewitness identification by calling a professor from Arkansas who studies the topic. They also surmised that another person was involved that was never caught. However, there was no evidence of another person being involved and nobody else was caught or charged.
Donahue faces up to 112 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Maybanks tells KMCH that he commends the bravery and courage of Deputy Will Halverson and the two Casey’s employees, Jacob Christianson and Madelyn Stepanek, for all they went through that night in June 2021. “They were steadfast through this whole process. Standing up for these victims makes our job that much easier.”
As for the investigation, Maybanks says the Linn County Sheriff’s Office “did an incredible job, as usual. I’d also like to recognize the hard work of my co-counsel, Assistant Linn County Attorney Molly Edwards and most of all, we both want to thank the jury for the justice they served today.”
Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner released a statement following Tuesday’s guilty verdicts:
