WEBSTER CITY – Police say an Iowa felon illegally possessing a gun shot himself, then called cops to report a armed man in his yard.
Following a lengthy investigation into the July 2, 2023 shooting incident at 408 Grove Street in Webster City, an arrest has been made, police declared. On that evening, at 6:49 PM, the Webster City Police Department responded to a 911 call of a man with a firearm at 408 Grove Street in Webster City. The 911 caller stated a male discharged a weapon and was running around in the yard. Officers arrived on scene and located an adult male who was suffering from two gunshot wounds.
Investigators were able to conclude that 25-year-old Cory Lee Joseph Cebula falsely reported being the victim of a drive by shooting on the night of July 2. The investigation revealed that Cebula had in fact shot himself and fabricated the story of being shot by an unknown assailant.
Cory Lee Joseph Cebula was arrested at the America’s Best Value Inn motel and charged with the following:
• Dominion/Control of Firearm/Offensive Weapon by a Felon, a Class D Felony.
• False Report of Indictable Offense to Public Entity, a Serious Misdemeanor.
• Possession of Controlled Substance-Marijuana, a Serious Misdemeanor.
• Possession of Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine, a Serious Misdemeanor.
• Discharging Weapons within City Limits, a Simple Misdemeanor.
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Simple Misdemeanor.
A Simple Misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of at least $105 and no more than $855 as well as possible incarceration not to exceed 30 days.
A Serious Misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of at least $430 and no more than $2,560 as well as possible incarceration not to exceed 1 year.
A Class D Felony is punishable by a fine of at least $750 and no more than $7,500 as well as incarceration of not to exceed 5 years.
The Webster City Police Department was assisted by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and the Hamilton County Attorney’s Office.
