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.
Look at these thugs. I blame the lack of fathers in the home.
That’s a good start.