BOONE, IOWA – The disgusting and heinous crimes of an Iowa man against children over a number of years have placed him behind bars for over two centuries.
On March 24, 2017, a District Court Judge sentenced Ryan Christopher Barnhardt, 38, of Marshalltown, Iowa to 205 years in prison. According to the Judge’s sentence he must serve a mandatory minimum of 122.5 years before he is eligible for parole. The sentencing is a result of a jury trial from February 14th to February 17th. In this trial a Boone County jury found Barnhardt, of Marshalltown, Iowa, guilty of seven (7) counts of Sex Abuse in the 2nd Degree and three (3) counts Sex Abuse in the 3rd Degree.
According to the testimony at trial, officers with the Boone Police Department received a report about Ryan Barnhardt previously committing sex abuse on a child. The Boone Police Department investigated the case and found four other victims of sex abuse. Of the total of five victims, three were under the age of 12. All the victims testified in court stating that Ryan Barnhardt committed sex abuse upon them over the period of five years. Several Michigan State Troopers and the Michigan State Computer Crimes Unit testified in this case. While assisting with Boone Police Department on this case, Michigan State Troopers found a thumbdrive belonging to Ryan Barnhardt. Ryan Barnhardt’s thumbdrive contained videos of Ryan Barnhardt performing sex acts on a child. The defense claimed that all the kids were making up the allegations and they were suggested to make these claims by their parents to get back at Ryan Barnhardt. The State refuted these claims with the evidence and an expert from the Child Protection Center rebutting the myths about sex abuse.
The jury trial began on February 14, 2017, and ended on February 17, 2017, with the jury finding Ryan Christopher Barnhardt guilty of seven counts of Sex Abuse in the 2nd Degree which are Class B-felonies and guilty of three counts of Sex Abuse in the 3rd Degree which are Class C felonies. As a result of the guilty verdicts Ryan Barnhardt faced up to 205 years in prison.
A sentencing hearing was held in the Boone County District Court. In this hearing several parents of the children who Ryan Barnhardt victimized spoke to the court. Ryan Barnhardt’s attorney with the State Public Defender’s Office, objected several times during their emotional statements about how Ryan Barnhardt had impacted their children and what sentence they wanted to see the court impose. The defense argued for a mandatory minimum of 17 years with a possible maximum of 25 to 55 years. The State argued for the maximum sentence of 205 years due to the nature of the crime, the way Ryan Barnhardt used the children, manipulation, and violation of trust and the crimes he committed. The Court agreed with the State and sentenced Ryan Barnhardt’s ten counts to be consecutive to each other. In total Ryan Barnhardt received a maximum sentence of 205 years in prison with the Iowa Department of Corrections. Due to the nature of the charges Ryan Barnhardt must serve at least 122.5 years in prison before he is eligible for parole. The Court found that the consecutive sentence will protect the community along with providing rehabilitation for the Ryan Barnhardt. The Court noted that it was disgusted and shocked by Ryan Barnhardt’s conduct and he violated the trust of the parents and children.
Boone County Attorney, Daniel Kolacia and Assistant Iowa Attorney General Susan Krisko tried the case on behalf of the State of Iowa for the prosecution. The Boone Police Department investigated the case with the assistance of the Boone Sheriff’s Office and Michigan State Police.
Im a parent of 2 of these children. They are having a very tough life. I believe we should get compensation for all of this but we dont. Ryan did get put in a max security prison. If anyone would like to donate money, clothes, food that would be much appreciated.
Deport him to Mexico like they do to us
Nail his balls to a tree stump and then push him over backwards.
Then make him stick his pathetic pecker in a tank full of piranhas.
After that, put him in a cell with a gay 400 lb male gorilla.
Disgusting piece of shit.
sad just sad that tax money is involved with trying to defend this man-less human. I hope there IS a special place in hell for these type of wicked beings
Save tax payer money, put him out of his misery.
A small fund might be raised to help the victims cause and donated to his cell buddies.
Good work! From what we hear he will be dead within 2 years – even criminals in jail hate child molesters.
The satate paid for his defense and paid for his prosecution – Now it will pay his for his incarceration for the next 30+ years. No wonder were BROKE. Where are the cowboys and a rope – oh! forgot tree. – well could have just dragged him to town.
The man has no chance of parole, he is going to die in prison, the tax payer is going to pay to keep him alive in prison for the rest of his miserable life. Why don’t we have the death penalty in Iowa!?
I understand your sentiments and agree 100%. We can be sure Ryan’s remaining time on this earth will not be pleasant. He is going to face his toughest jury in prison. In reality, this is a death sentence.
Im sorry to be the bad guy in all of this, but this man will not fear prison. The majority of the snitches and sex offenders in Iowa go to low security prisons with others of their own kind. The days of prison justice are only in max security general population.
It is my opinion there is a criminal living in Clear Lake who should be in jail too for allowing a child to die.
OK. Who is it?
FINALLY a judge who rules by the standards of the law and doesn’t give leniency or plea bargains! We need more judges like this one. Kudos to this judge!!! Those innocent children will be scarred for life.