Man Charged with Murder in Howard County Pleads Not Guilty to Drug Charges 

A former Charles City resident who has pleaded not guilty to killing a New Hampton man last fall has also pleaded not guilty to drug charges resulting from the same search that found the remains of the deceased man.

26-year-old Sayvonne Jordan of Elma faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of 30-year-old Jonathan Esparza, last seen leaving New Hampton to visit a friend in Elma on October 20th. Court records allege Jordan killed Esparza the same day and a search of Jordan’s residence on November 30th located human remains, later determined to be those of Esparza.

Jordan is also charged in that case with going armed with intent and abuse of a corpse. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has requested a speedy trial, which is set for March 29th in Howard County District Court.

During the same search of Jordan’s residence, authorities found over 250 grams of marijuana, plus a scale and baggies indicating he planned to sell the drugs. He has pleaded not guilty to two felony drug charges and his trial in that case is scheduled for May 3rd.

Jordan is being held in the Howard County Jail in Cresco on a $1 million cash bond.