The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has filed criminal charges against 29-year-old Dennis Lawson and 23-year-old Anthony Bauer. Both are inmates at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. Lawson and Bauer are each charged with two counts of Attempted Murder (Class B felony) and one count of Possession of Weapons in a Correctional Institution (Class C felony).
The charges stem from a January 21, 2026, assault on two Department of Corrections (DOC) employees. Reportedly, they used “shivs” to attack a prison counselor and then a responding employee.
The custody of Lawson and Bauer has been managed in accordance with established DOC procedures.
The injured employees were treated at a local hospital and have since been released.
The DCI was assisted in this investigation by the DOC, Lee County Attorney’s Office, and the Fort Madison Police Department.
2 thoughts on “Iowa penitentiary inmates charged after stabbing attack on prison staff”
Look at these thugs. I blame the lack of fathers in the home.
That’s a good start.