Mason City man convicted of murder has motion to reconsider sentence denied

MASON CITY — A Mason City man convicted of a 2021 murder in downtown Mason City has had his motion for reconsideration of his sentence denied.

A Cerro Gordo County jury convicted 39-year-old Benjamin Gonzalez of first-degree murder in August of last year. Gonzalez was accused of the pre-meditated shooting death of 36-year-old Michael Creviston in late March in the area of 3rd and North Jefferson. Gonzalez was given the mandatory sentence of life in prison without the opportunity for parole.

Gonzalez argued in his motion that the sentence should be reconsidered because he has not been a disciplinary problem during his time in prison and has demonstrated an interest in his own rehabilitation. He also stated that the sentence should be reconsidered since he was also required to make restitution in the case but is not able to do so because of his being in prison and a lack of income.

District Judge DeDra Schroeder earlier this month denied Gonzalez’s motion, saying the court imposed an appropriate sentence which should not be reconsidered.