Hamilton Sentencing Rescheduled for July 17; Defense Files for New Trial

The sentencing hearing for Jacob Hamilton, who was convicted in May of willful injury causing serious injury in connection with the 2024 shooting death of Zachary Drinovsky in Hudson, has been rescheduled for Friday, July 17.

The hearing was originally scheduled for Aug. 7. However, court records show the State filed an unresisted motion requesting the date be changed because members of the victim’s family would be out of state on Aug. 7. The filing also noted the Iowa Department of Corrections indicated the presentence investigation report could be completed by July 17, provided Hamilton completed the required paperwork. The defense did not object to the request.

Black Hawk County District Court Judge Joel Dalrymple granted the motion on June 24, officially rescheduling the sentencing hearing for 11 a.m. Friday, July 17.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday in Black Hawk County District Court, where Judge Joel Dalrymple is expected to determine Hamilton’s sentence following his conviction for willful injury causing serious injury. Under Iowa law, willful injury causing serious injury carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Update as of 11:30 AM on 7/13:

Hamilton Defense Files Motion for New Trial Before Sentencing

Defense attorney Konrad Kamizelich has filed a motion asking the court to grant Jacob Hamilton a new trial following Hamilton’s conviction for willful injury causing serious injury in the 2024 shooting death of Zachary Drinovsky in Hudson.

The motion, filed July 12 in Black Hawk County District Court, argues the jury’s verdict “is contrary to the law and the weight of the evidence presented” and cites the Iowa Supreme Court case State v. Ellis in support of the request.

Hamilton was originally charged with first-degree murder. Following a nearly three-week trial, a Black Hawk County jury found him not guilty of first-degree murder on May 29 but convicted him of the lesser-included offense of willful injury causing serious injury.

The one-page motion does not include additional factual arguments supporting the request. The court has not yet ruled on the motion.