RURAL CERRO GORDO COUNTY – On April 23rd, 2012 a State Patrol Officer made a traffic stop in Cerro Gordo County on a vehicle driven by 27-year-old Vincent Allen Dowdell of Hampton. The trooper allegedly smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the car, and after a search of the vehicle found marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. There was at least on child in the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop.
In the criminal complaint, the trooper indicated Dowdell failed a field sobriety test designed to detect drug use. Dowdell was taken to a local medical facility where he submitted to blood testing under Iowa’s implied consent statutes.
After obtaining a blood test specimen Dowdell was transported to the Cerro Gordo County Jail and charged with a serious misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana, and a simple misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Dowdell was released the following day after an agent with North Iowa Bonding posted a $1,000 bond in his name.
On June 20th, 2012 Assistant County Attorney Rachel Anne Ginbey filed additional charges after the state crime lab returned the blood test results showing Dowdell’s THC blood level to be consistent with being under the influence of marijuana as the state trooper suspected following field sobriety testing in April.
In accordance with Iowa law, Dowdell was charged with a serious misdemeanor count of 1st offense OWI, and an aggravated misdemeanor count of child endangerment for the April traffic stop.
Dowdell originally pled not guilty to all four charges and a trial date was set. Before the trial Dowdell’s public defender requested a suppression hearing in an attempt to have evidence obtained in the case withheld from use in the pending trial. After the prosecution resisted the motion, Dowdell’s public defender withdrew the motion before it was ruled on.
At a pre-trial conference a plea bargain agreement was reached between the prosecution and the defense. As part of the plea bargain agreement Dowdell agreed to plead guilty to operating while under the influence of marijuana and child endangerment for having kids in the car while he operated the vehicle. The prosecution agreed to not pursue the original charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia in exchange.
At Dowdell’s sentencing hearing on Friday, February 15th, newly appointed District Associate Judge Karen Kaufman Salic sentence Dowdell to serve 2 days in county jail for operating while under the influence of marijuana. Dowdell was also ordered to pay a $1250.00 fine, $437.50 surcharge, and $190.00 in court costs.
On the more serious aggravated misdemeanor count of child endangerment Judge Salic sentence Dowdell to a 365 days in jail with all but 2 days suspended. Judge Salic then suspended the minimum $625 fine in the case, instead ordering Dowdell to pay $441 in court costs and public defender fees. In addition Dowdell must serve 2 years of probation with the Iowa Department of Corrections.
Dowdell has a record of being a violent individual who has a history of violating probation and has a problem with paying court imposed fines. Dowdell’s criminal record in Iowa started before he turned 18:
December 2002 Dowdell was charged with an aggravated misdemeanor count of Assault with Intent to Inflict Serious Injury in Butler County Iowa. Dowdell received a deferred judgment in the case with probation and anger management classes. He was found guilty of violating probation in December 2003.
December 2002 Dowdell was found guilty of a simple misdemeanor count of assault in Franklin County Iowa, he received a 30 day suspended jail sentence.
May 2003 Dowdell was charged with a Class D felony count of Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon in Butler County Iowa. The charge was plea bargained to a simple misdemeanor count of criminal mischief with Dowdell receiving 30 days in jail. $598.91 is still owed in the case nearly a decade later.
July 2004 Dowdell was charged with a serious misdemeanor count of Assault Causing Bodily Injury. The charge was plea bargained to a simple misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct with Dowdell receiving 1 day in jail. $599.99 is still owed in the case.
February 2005 Dowdell was found guilty of a serious misdemeanor count of Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Injury in Floyd County Iowa. He received 7 days in county jail and 1-2 years of probation. Records show he was later discharged from probation after being convicted of another crime.
August 2009 Dowdell was found guilty of a serious misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana in Cerro Gordo County Iowa. He received 2 days in county jail with $501.14 remaining unpaid in court costs and fines.
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
This headline is Deformation of character! False information presented against an individual using social networking to broadcast and spread false information. I will request this to be removed as I will attempt a lawsuit otherwise
More jails, please!
Really? You want to put people in prison that you don’t like? OK fine, but YOU’RE paying for it. You’re not making me pay for it, that’s for sure.
People I don’t like? Am I supposed to be impressed by his cheesy smile on that mug shot? PLEASE. This guy was OWD with a child in the car! And he has a history of not paying his fines back to when he was 18. This guy doesn’t learn and it’s time for a long wake-up call in jail instead of 2 days and probation. And everyone should pay for more jails with another 1-2% sales tax. Even criminals eat fast food and shop at Wal*Mart.
More tax…?
What, are you a communist? You sound like a Marxist.
Well, I don’t believe in shooting perverts the way some people who post on this site do. Our justice system is more civilized than Afghanistan and we believe in due process. I do believe in locking people up for life for some crimes, and trying to rehabilitate others and change their attitudes about life and liberty. It takes money, institutions, and people willing to work with criminals to accomplish this. This is the only way to keep our society and our children safe from criminals and their influence. I hate the idea, too, but it is what is needed. Any other suggestions?
Giving up liberty for perceived safely is idiotic to say the least. Your’re classified as a Communist, Fascist. A mix of the two.
Have you ever heard the word antidisestablishmentarian? The shoe fits you.
We’ll build more jails and put you in it.
Shooting some perverts may not be a bad idea when they threaten you or your family. Putting them in jail for two days won’t help. And fining him doesn’t work because he won’t pay it anyway. This guy got caught breaking the law and everyone is upset because he had kids in the car. What if in his impaired condition he had wrecked that car and killed one of you family members who just happened to be in his way. You wouldn’t be so quick to call people names then would you brick.
Of course it’s a joke. It’s a business.
What a fine upstanding citizen. I think I finally understand why all these criminals smile in their mugshots… they know that the justice system around here is a joke!
Was his vehicle seized for forfeiture?