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Despite enhanced penalties signed into Iowa law, alleged domestic abuser charged only with misdemeanor

Cerro Gordo county courthouse

MASON CITY – Cerro Gordo county prosecutors may not be bringing the full force of Iowa laws against perpetrators of domestic assault.

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed into law Senate File 93 on February 15th, 2012, which enhances the penalty for certain domestic abuse assault cases, most notably cases that involve strangulation.

The new law states that “For a domestic abuse assault committed by knowingly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of another by applying pressure to the throat or neck of the other person or by obstructing the nose or mouth of the other person, and causing bodily injury, the person commits a class “D” felony.”

Despite this new law, it has been brought to the attention of NorthIowaToday.com that one of the latest cases of domestic assault in Mason City that fits the criteria of this law brought only a misdemeanor charge against the accused person.

Bryon Michael Sletten, 46, was arrested at a location in the 600 block of South Connecticut Avenue by Mason City police at about 1:20 AM Sunday, December 9th.  Records show that the description of Sletten’s alleged crime as “domestic abuse assault impeding flow of air/blood.”

According to records and sources close to the victim, despite the fact that strangulation was involved in the alleged crime, Sletten was charged only with an aggravated misdemeanor (Iowa code 708.2A(2)(d)).

These sources also said that “(Sletten) was just released on $300 cash and already attempted contact (with the victim) within 5 (minutes) of release.”

A phone call to Cerro Gordo County Attorney Carlyle Dalen for comment was not immediately returned.  NIT will update this story when and if Mr. Dalen offers any new information.

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