Hotshot Mason City attorney finally destroys his Lexus after two drunk driving arrests

MASON CITY – This long-time Mason City attorney perched at the top of the Brick and Tile Building has been strutting around town in his fancy black Lexus ES 350 after tipping back on cold ones, until he finally wrecked it – and nearly himself and another innocent driver – in a dramatic crash, and now he is festering in a jail cell pondering his Octogenarian years.

Jay Meredith Shriver (pictured at top), age 81, was booked into the Cerro Gordo county jail Monday morning, July 14, 2025, at 10:06 AM. This was his fate after two drunk driving convictions – and getting off easy the first time – and a destructive auto crash that could have killed someone.

The trouble for Jay Shriver, a Mason City attorney who has been practicing law since 1968 and specializes in “personal injury and litigation” according to his website, began on February 14, 2022. At 1:36 PM that day, Mason City police tell NIT that a motorist reported a black Lexus driving poorly near the 500 block of 6th Street SE. The witness followed the Lexus until police caught up to the vehicle.

“Our officers stopped the vehicle, suspected alcohol impairment after speaking with the driver, administered roadside field sobriety tests, and then placed driver Jay Shriver under arrest for OWI 1st offense.”

After posting his own bond to get out of jail, Shriver began appearing for himself in court, records show, since he is a high-powered attorney and has legal skills, and then he entered his own not-guilty plea. However, by May of 2022, Shriver was beaten by the justice system and finally agreed to plead guilty to first-offense operating while intoxicated. He had to get himself a drunk driving school certificate and was offered a “weekend diversion program instead of jail. Judge Adam Sauer also waived half of Shriver’s fine, and he only had to pay Iowa courts $1000.00 total.

Shriver’s “weekend diversion” and drunk driving certificate apparently failed to teach the old-timer any kind of lesson, however, as he clearly began to climb into his gleaming Lexus for more hijinks that threatened the lives of the community.

Mason City police tell NIT that on October 27, 2024, at 5:52 PM, officers were dispatched to 4th Street SE and S Kentucky Avenue for a two-vehicle collision with injuries reported. Officers arrived and observed one of the involved vehicles, a 2013 black Lexus ES 350, stopped in the yard at 316 S Kentucky Avenue. The driver, Jay Shriver, had some visible injuries and complained of additional internal injuries or pain, police say. The other driver was Sharlene Juhl, who was driving a 2015 Ford Escape westbound on Highway 122.

The collision investigation concluded that Shriver was traveling northbound in the 400 block of S Kentucky Avenue at a higher rate of speed, did not stop for his solid red traffic light, entered the intersection and then collided with Juhl’s vehicle.

“Juhl’s vehicle was struck so hard it basically did a 360-degree spin in the intersection,” NIT is told. “Shriver’s vehicle then careened across the intersection into the yard at 316 S Kentucky Avenue. Fire fighters were called to the scene to assist police with the mayhem caused by Shriver.

“Additionally, Shriver showed signs of alcohol use and impairment at the scene,” police said. “Juhl complained of pain but was not transported to hospital by ambulance.”

After Shriver’s total disregard for the community by driving drunk (again) and smashing into the innocent woman driver, he was taken to the hospital to be treated for his injuries. Due to him being hospitalized, officers applied for a body specimen search warrant related to the operating while intoxicated investigation.

“It took a couple months to get the results back from the lab,” police said, which delayed the filing of charges. “Officers contacted Shriver in December of 2024, after they had lab results,” to inform him of the crime he had committed. “Due to him still recovering from his injuries, and having more medical appointments, officers requested an arrest warrant for OWI 2nd offense. The warrant was issued.”

Shriver turned himself in at the jail on December 18, 2024. He was arrested for OWI 2nd offense then.

“From here, the case went to court and was resolved between late December of 2024 and now,” police continued. “It appears he was sentenced to serve 7 days” in jail.

Shriver was sentenced to 365 days in jail, actually, again by judge Adam Sauer, with all but 7 days suspended. He was also placed on probation for a year and ordered to pay Iowa courts $2,292.25.

As for Shriver’s Lexus ES 350, it is apparently wrecked.

“Ultimately, that’s an insurance company question for an 11 year old car,” police described. “… the damage was severe and disabling (ie probably totaled). When the car went into the yard, besides the ROW curb when it entered private property it looks like car collided with concrete steps between sidewalk and front yard walkway. A lot of undercarriage and tire damage after vehicle collision.”