MASON CITY – A tirade over what a Mason City man called botched dental work by a Mason City dentist lead to an assault charge with an elusive court date, NorthIowaToday.com has learned.
Last August, Mason City dentist Jay Lala was helping pick out locations for statues in downtown Mason City when a local man, Dennis Luna, approached him on the plaza near Southbridge Mall, alleging that Lala had “ruined” his teeth.
Luna and Lala proceeded to have words, with Luna pursuing Lala. Scott Moorman, who owns Moorman Clothiers, got between the two men and separated them. Some of the sculpture walk group, including Lala, could be seen laughing after the incident.
“My teeth are ruined, and they think it’s funny,” Luna said immediately after the incident, motioning to Lala and the sculpture group. “He took over $9,000 of Medicaid and refused to finish the work.”
Mason City police were called, and everyone was questioned. Members of the sculpture group said Luna threw a punch at Lala, which Luna denied.
Police took a report and left, or so it seemed.
Mason City police confirmed on Friday that “Luna was cited and released for Simple Assault on 8/21/2012 by one of the officers on-scene.”
Court dates for Dennis Luna have been postponed four times, according to court records. The latest court date was set for March 8th, 2013. Luna, who has plead not guilty, is now represented by Charles Biebesheimer of Clear Lake.
A call to Lala’s dental office asking about the incident and Luna’s allegation of poor dental work was never returned.
Dennis Luna explained the incident on camera. Subscribers, watch it below:
He was a dead beat Dad. How do I know? I adopted his son and married his son’s mother. Never once did he support that son and/or sent any birthday card. He was a selfish SOB.
RIP Denny Luna. You were a great guitar player and natural songwriter. Just wished you could have kept off the sauce. RIP Rock and Roll for life.
I wonder if this is the same Dennis Luna who just died 7-4-13.
Good luck Dennis, but you know that the big wigs in this town are untouchable.
Drama!
What a total waste of the courts time. The police officer should have diffused the situation without any charges.
What the hell is simple assault? Did Luna hit Lala? Is giving someone a piece of your mind considered assault?
I don’t know everything that happened but approaching someone and complaining about their work doesn’t rise to assault.
Looks like Luna embarrassed Lala in front of his friends about shoddy dental work. That is a crime?
I agree, Lala has no class but I can also see the the other side of the story.
A person has a personal responsibility to take care of their dental care at home. A dentist can’t do much after the damage has been done.
Luna said he did the crowns on his own? Does that mean he paid for them instead of Medicaid?
I would be surprised if another dentist would accuse the former dentist the way Luna has described.
Is it against the law to flip the birdie?
Looks like his step son beermeyer, now we all know where he learned the finger wave.
So true!!!!
Sure does have a lot of class NOT!