MASON CITY — A northern Iowa woman accused of drunk driving, putting a child at substantial risk and assaulting a person in a protected occupation has pleaded not guilty and is potentially headed toward trial.
Ashley Joy Samuelson (pictured at top), 29, was booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail at 7:19 p.m. on May 22, 2026.
Authorities charged Samuelson with first-offense OWI, child endangerment involving substantial risk, assault on persons in certain occupations with no injury, and speeding 11 to 15 miles per hour over the limit in a 55 mph or under zone.
Court records show the case was filed as State of Iowa v. Ashley Joy Samuelson in Cerro Gordo County District Court.
The criminal complaints were filed by the Iowa State Patrol on May 22. Samuelson had an initial appearance the next day, and the court appointed a public defender on May 26.
A motion for bond review was filed May 27. A bond review hearing was later set for June 8, but court records show that hearing was canceled after notice was filed with the court.
Samuelson posted cash bond on June 1. NIT reported her as a NIACC graduate back in 2022.
On June 22, Samuelson filed a written arraignment and plea of not guilty. An order filed the same day set a pretrial conference for 1 p.m. on August 31, 2026, and a jury trial for 8:30 a.m. on September 15, 2026.
The case comes as impaired driving remains one of the deadliest problems on the road. Iowa recorded 376 traffic deaths in 2023, up from 338 the year before, according to federal traffic fatality estimates reported by Axios Des Moines. Nationally, researchers and safety officials have long found that roughly 30 percent of traffic deaths involve alcohol-impaired driving.
Samuelson remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.