MASON CITY – Shortly before 1 AM Sunday, October 16th, local law enforcement spotted Dustin Barnes, age 20, behind Alley Katz bar at 1341 Federal Ave North, Mason City. When Dustin Barnes saw law enforcement he tried to run to an upstairs apartment at the address before being detained.
Dustin Barnes had been wanted since September 29th when a warrant issued for felony escape from custody at Beje Clark, a local residential facility and a probation revocation warrant issued October 6th.
Dustin Barnes had been sentenced to Beje Clark in March 2011 by Judge Carlynn Grupp after he was found guilty of a probation violation in Cerro Gordo County District Court.
Barnes had been on two years of probation for a plea bargain to theft in the 3rd degree, possession of a controlled substance, and serious assault after assaulting a Mason City Wal-Mart employee who tried to stop Dustin Barnes and Chelsea Meinecke in a theft incident at that location. After the assault Barnes tried to elude law enforcement through Mason City in a vehicle before being captured.
Court records show Dustin Barnes was convicted of a 2nd probation violation in the theft case in April 2011 in Cerro Gordo County District Court and was ordered by Judge Carlynn Grupp to serve 30 days in jail before returning to Beje Clark.
On October 6th the Iowa Department of Corrections applied for a warrant and probation revocation hearing after Dustin Barnes escaped from Beje Clark. A hearing for the probation revocation has been set for November 11th at 2:30pm in Cerro Gordo County District Court. If convicted of a 3rd probation violation Dustin Barnes could have a two year suspended prison sentence imposed in the original case.
Escape from custody is a class D felony, and if convicted Dustin Barnes could face up to five years in prison. Further court proceedings have been set for Oct 21st at 8:30am on the charge.
Dustin Barnes is being held in the Cerro Gordo County jail on felony escape, probation revocation, and a charge of interference with official acts for trying to hide from law enforcement when they sited him Sunday morning.
