Court sets trial date for Clear Lake man charged with murder for hire

A Clear Lake man charged with two counts of solicitation to commit murder, one count of conspiracy to commit murder and one count of attempted murder will go on trial Dec. 11.

The trial for Alan Michael Cannon, 30, 1331 N. Seventh St., Apt. C, Clear Lake, was to have started Oct. 30 in Cerro Gordo County District Court. However, it has now been continued until 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, in district court in Mason City.

Cannon was arrested at his home March 27, 2011 by the Clear Lake Police Department.  According to Clear Lake Police Chief Greg Peterson, the charges against Cannon stem from actions he took in December to try to beat charges he is facing as the result of a prior incident which occurred on Nov. 25, 2011.  On that date, a 16-year-old female from Mason City alleges that Cannon sexually assaulted her in his apartment.

As a result of those allegations, the CLPD arrested Cannon Nov. 29 on a warrant issued for sexual abuse in the Third Degree, a Class C felony.  Officers took DNA samples from Cannon at that time.  Cannon made an initial appearance in court and had been free on a pre-trial release and living at his home, wearing an ankle bracelet and ordered not to be in the vicinity of his alleged victim while awaiting trial on those sexual assault charges.

Sunday night, March 25, 2011 Anthony Reysack, of Clear Lake, came to the CLPD and told police that Cannon had approached him in December and offered him money to kill and dispose of the body of the female victim that has reported the sexual assault.  That same night, Daniel Wigant, of Clear Lake, went to the Mason City Police Department and reported that Cannon had given him $400 in December so that he could purchase a gun and kill the female victim.

Cannon has pleaded not guilty to the charges.  He remains in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $150,000 bond.