Man Accused in Cedar Rapids Homicide Makes Intial Court
Appearance  By Trish Mehaffey, Reporter  CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - A
Cedar Rapids man made his initial appearance Tuesday on a first-
degree murder charge in the stabbing death of Clifton West, who
was found in an alley June 25.  Stephen Jerred Johnson, 39,
wearing a smock that defendants wear while on suicide watch,
made his appearance by video from the Linn County Jail Tuesday
morning. Johnson was charged with first-degree murder, and a
judge set his bond at $2 million cash or surety.  Johnson said
he would hire his own attorney when the judge asked if he wanted
court-appointed counsel. He mostly looked down during the brief
hearing.  According to a criminal complaint, Johnson is accused
of stabbing West, 34, of Cedar Rapids to death, with
premeditation and malice, in the 1500 block alley between Fifth
and Sixth avenues SE. Johnson had an altercation with West and
used a dangerous weapon to kill him, according to the complaint.
The complaint had no details