Seventy one Sioux County residents have signed a petition supporting former Sheriff James Costello's appeal of his misdemeanor convictions for filing a false stolen vehicle report on a pickup owned by his ex-son-in-law. The petition claims that Costello was not allowed to submit all the evidence on his behalf, was not granted a fair trial and should be granted a new one.

Costello, convicted of false reporting and abuse of public records after a day long trial May 29th, will have his appeal heard prior to his scheduled sentencing July 21st by Judge Randin Roland.

Special prosecutor Doug Warner presented evidence during the trial that Costello filed the report to gain revenge against his daughter's ex, who was awarded the pickup in a divorce settlement.

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Warner cited three recorded phone calls to back his contention Costello lied to others in law enforcement and claimed that the judge in the divorce case, Brian Silverman, wanted the stolen vehicle report filed.

Defense attorney Bell Island argued there was no evidence or testimony that the sheriff intentionally filed a false report or tried to hurt his former son-in-law either by taking his truck or having it listed as stolen in hopes of having Otis or his live-in girlfriend Pam Goss stopped and arrested.