Garner, Iowa and The Trial of State of Iowa v. Henry Rayhons

The trial of the former state legislator, Henry Rayhons, is taking place in the city of Garner in north-central Iowa.  Garner, population 3,129 (according to the 2010 census), is the county seat for Hancock County, and therefore has its own courthouse. As of 2014, the estimated population of the county was 11,027. According to Google maps, Garner is 111 miles north of Des Moines, the capital of Iowa. Garner’s local newspaper is “The Leader.” 

The defendant was an Iowa State Representative from 1996 until 2014, representing a district that includes Hancock County.  The defendant was a farmer for much of his working life, and as with 90% of the county, he is a high school graduate.  He reportedly did not attend college and therefore is not a college graduate, as is also true of approximately 83% of the county, according to U.S. census figures.