SIOUX CITY – A man who distributed child pornography was sentenced July 17, 2014, to five years in federal prison. Todd , age 22, of Ashton, Iowa, received the sentence after an…
Category: Crime
A comprehensive crime page for the North Iowa area and beyond.
Five persons arrested for trying to help terrorists
WASHINGTON – Three defendants were arrested today on charges of providing material support to al-Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization that is conducting a violent insurgency campaign in Somalia. Two additional defendants…
Swaledale man convicted of more burglary charges
VAN BUREN COUNTY, IOWA – A Swaledale man already incarcerated and convicted of burglaries from around the North Iowa area was convicted last week of more felony burglary charges and is now…
Jury convicts man of impeding Boston Marathon bombing investigation
BOSTON – A federal jury in Boston has convicted a friend of alleged Boston Marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, for impeding the bombing investigation. Assistant Attorney General John P. Carlin of the Justice…
Minnesota man who – as juvenile – killed convenience store clerks set for re-sentencing hearing
CORALVILLE – A Minnesota man who, when he was 17-years-old, came to Iowa and killed a convenience store clerk and robbed the store and then was sentenced to life in prison, will…
Trial date pushed back for MN man accused of attempted murder and kidnapping of Clear Lake woman
CLEAR LAKE – A Minnesota man now in the Cerro Gordo County Jail has pleaded not guilty to charges of 1st degree kidnapping and attempted murder involving an alleged victim in Clear…
UPDATED: CCPD confirms arrest of purse snatcher
CHARLES CITY – Police in Charles City confirmed this week that a woman recently arrested and charged with three felonies is the person they believe stole a purse out of a car…
Clear Lake man sent to prison on drug, violent offenses
MASON CITY – A Clear Lake man who led police on a foot chase through a Mason City neighborhood earlier this year as he tried to deliver methamphetamine was sentenced Monday to…
Mason City man charged with violating parole
MASON CITY – A convicted meth dealer, recently released from prison, has been charged with violating the terms of his probation for at least the fifth time. Chad Aaron Maskarina, age 41,…
Iowa law enforcement investigate shooting death of man
OTTUMWA, IA – At approximately 1:21 a.m., Monday, July 21, 2014, the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a shooting at 4367 91st Ave., which is approximately 4 miles…
For second time in days, Mason City man arrested for public intoxication
MASON CITY – A Mason City man was arrested for public intoxication for the second time in just a few days. Charles William Woodiwiss, age 73, was arrested Monday afternoon July 21st…
Iowa man who used gun to defend mom from violent felon sent to prison
CEDAR RAPIDS – An Iowa man who used a gun to scare off a man beating up his mom lost his appeal on the ensuing federal gun charge he was convicted of….
Law enforcement reports computer scam
CASS COUNTY, IOWA – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office wants the public to be aware of a scam that is circulating wherein someone calls the victim, claiming to be from a computer…
Iowa drug dealers sent to prison
DAVENPORT – On July 17, 2014, Delbert Lorenzo Sykes, Jr., age 34, and Darross Tyrese Sykes, age 30, both of Davenport, Iowa, were sentenced by United States District Judge Stephanie M. Rose…
Former Iowa man sent to prison for enticing minor
DAVENPORT – On July 17, 2014, Jesse Dewayne Moore, age 26, formerly of Davenport, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose to 120 months imprisonment, after pleading guilty to coercion…
Algona police report variety of scam attempts
ALGONA – Late least week, the Algona police department wanted of a variety of scams that continue to plague residents. Citizens in Algona are continuing to report to police suspected scams. Reportedly,…
FBI aggressively attempts to prevent elder abuse
WASHINGTON – In testimony last week, a high-ranking FBI official described the onslaught of frauds and scams now being perpetrated against the elderly, who are prime targets of crooks for a number…
Floyd woman losses appeal for morphine possession
DES MOINES – A Floyd woman’s conviction for drug possession has been upheld by the Iowa Appeals Court. Faith Lohr, age 37, challenged her conviction for possessing morphine as a second-time drug…
Woman-beater to stay in prison till he dies
DES MOINES – A man serving a life in the Iowa State Penitentiary won’t be coming back to Mason City anytime soon, as he lost an appeal this week. Warren Purvis, age 60, appealed…
Mason City man arrested for public intoxication
MASON CITY – Police responded to a North End alley for a report of “a very intoxicated subject” early Saturday and placed a man under arrest. A caller reported to police Saturday…
Woman accused of crimes across Iowa arrested in Mason City
MASON CITY – A woman who has faced criminal charges across the state of Iowa and now living in Mason City was picked up by Mason City police on an arrest warrant…
Alleged drunk driver caught driving without license
MASON CITY – An ex-convict who spent time in an Iowa penitentiary and was arrested in April for second offense drunk driving and interference with police was caught driving without a license…
Mason City man pleads guilty in arson case
MASON CITY – A Mason City man facing arson and theft charges has entered a guilty plea and will face sentencing in September. Roger Kuck, age 57, was charged with felony C…
Mason City woman arrested for possession of two illegal drugs
PLYMOUTH – Mason City woman was taken to jail late Friday after an officer discovered she possessed two illegal drugs. Jennie Marie Melby, age 32, was stopped by a Cerro Gordo deputy…
Supreme Court awards former ISU writer $650,000 payment in whistle-blowing case
DES MOINES – A man once employed by Iowa State University will get a $650,000 payday for treatment by his former bosses that damaged his reputation and inflicted emotional distress, the Iowa…
Man who brought drugs to the CG Jail pleads guilty to felony
MASON CITY – A Mason City man who brought drugs into the Cerro Gordo County Jail pleaded guilty to a felony charge and a theft charge. Monroe Brown III, age 24, pled…
Facing three charges of aggravated public intox, Mason City man sent to Beje
MASON CITY – He has been found passed out in bushes in the Cultural Crescent, in a stupor in a North End Kum & Go bathroom, and then arrested after aggressive behavior…
Known drug dealer flees cops before being caught
MASON CITY – Police chased a wanted, violent drug dealer Friday afternoon in a Mason City neighborhood before he was caught and arrested. Friday afternoon at about 3:13 PM, a member of…
After ruling, thousands of inmates convicted of drug crimes may walk free early
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Sentencing Commission voted unanimously today at a public meeting to apply a reduction in the sentencing guideline levels applicable to most federal drug trafficking offenders retroactively, meaning that…
Mason City Assessor jailed for domestic assault
MASON CITY – The Mason City Assessor has been arrested and charged with serious domestic assault. Danielle Elizabeth Naumann, age 38, was booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail at 1:42 AM…
Iowa felon with sawed-off shotgun sent to prison
CEDAR RAPIDS – An Iowa man who was convicted of possessing an unregistered sawed-off shotgun was sentenced Thursday to more than 6 years in federal prison. Patrelle Jose Green-Bowman, age 21, from…
Man who created pornographic images of younger sister will remain in prison
OMAHA – A man who digitally altered a pornographic photo of a woman by adding the head of a young female child – who is the man’s half-sister – lost his appeal…
Four racists indicted for hate crimes that left one man dead
WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury has indicted four people from Mississippi for racially motivated hate crimes where they allegedly targeted African-Americans they thought were drunk or homeless. John Louis Blalack, 20,…
Two kicked out of rental house and cited; one arrested
MASON CITY – Two people were kicked out of a Mason City rental house and made the task a little difficult for Mason City police. Mason City police assisted a landlord in…
One man dead after high speed chase in West Des Moines
WEST DES MOINES – A tragic accident between a drunk driver and a man fleeing police on a motorcycle claimed one life Wednesday in West Des Moines. According to a report, 28-year-old…
Mason City man pleads guilty to violating sex offender registry
MASON CITY – A Mason City man convicted of violent domestic assault and indecent exposure pled guilty to violating the Iowa Sex Offender Registry. Lane Edward Factor, age 58, was arrested at…
Mason City woman pleads guilty after being charged with felony arson
MASON CITY – A North Iowa woman jailed after a fire near downtown Mason City in April and accused of felony arson has pleaded guilty. Jacque Sue Paulsen, age 32 formerly of…
Mason City man charged with public intox for second time since May
MASON CITY – A Mason City man arrested numerous times for public intoxication was arrested late Wednesday on the same charge. Jeffery Donald Eliason, age 50, was picked up by Mason City…
Armed, wanted drug dealer arrested, then bonds out of jail
WATERLOO – A man accused of being an armed drug dealer who was wanted on warrants after an investigation by Waterloo police was finally caught, only to post bond and walk free. Waterloo…
Hampton man faces federal charges
CEDAR RAPIDS – Abel Hernandez-Labra, age 43, from Hampton, Iowa, has been charged with passport fraud and false statements in a complaint filed on July 15, 2014, in United States District Court…