OTTUMWA —
A man accused of murdering the manager of a downtown business now has legal representation.
Allen Cook of the Iowa Public Defender’s office will represent Bruce Darnell Pollard, 25, of Ottumwa.
Pollard has been charged with murder in the first degree in connection to the death of Kenneth McDaniel, 70, who spent 40 years as the manager of Cinema X, an adult theater business in downtown Ottumwa.
Police allege that when they responded to the shop, they discovered, in addition to the body of the victim, missing merchandise and money. The owner of the business has told the Courier the cash amounted to “less than a hundred dollars.”
Ottumwa police claim Pollard has confessed to them that he struck the victim with a crowbar.
Judge Samuel Erhardt appointed a public defender this week after reviewing a financial statement submitted by Pollard.
Lawyer Allen Cook worked prosecuting cases when he was the Wapello County Attorney.
He stepped down from that position to take his current job as the head of the local public defender’s office.
Pollard remains in custody on $1 million cash-only bond related to the homicide.
He is also being held on several other charges, including separate accusations that he displayed a firearm to rob a gas station and a fast-food restaurant in Ottumwa.
Ottumwa
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Bruce Pollard
Cinema X suspect gets public defender
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