Audubon County Attorney Sarah Jennings said Monday, 30-year old Jay Pedrin, of Audubon, pled guilty Monday (March 11th), to charges that include Felony Burglary in the 2nd degree, and Felony Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury. He had been arrested in September in connection with the assault of a Perry man during an incident that took place Audubon, and again in December for a Burglary in Audubon County.

Jay Pedrin

Pedrin was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison, the maximum sentence possible for the two offenses. In her statement, Jennings said “Law Enforcement and I are very pleased with this result. Both Mr. Pedrin’s offenses were victim crimes- crimes that have serious and lasting impacts on real people. One was a heinously violent and unprovoked attack that left the victim with permanent physical effects, including partial vision loss. The other was a greed-driven crime has made an upstanding member of our community feel unsafe in his own home, a place that was once his safe haven.”

Pedrin had faced a 10-year sentence on the Burglary 2nd charge and a five-year sentence on the Willful Injury Class D charge. He and his attorney argued for the prison sentences to be suspended and for him to be placed on probation. Jennings argued not only for the prison sentences to be imposed, but that they also are run consecutively to each other for a total sentence of 15 years. The court went along with the County Attorney’s recommendation, sentencing Pedrin to Oakdale Prison on consecutive sentences for a total indeterminate term not to exceed 15 years. The court also ordered Pedrin to pay restitution to the victim as substantiated by the State.

Mittimus was issued immediately after sentencing, but Pedrin was taking into custody and transported to Carroll County first, to address pending matters there. He also has matters pending in Cass County as of this date. His appeal bonds were set at $20,000 on Burglary 2nd charge and $10,000 on the Willful Injury charge.

Red Oak Police responding to a possible domestic violence incident early this (Tuesday) morning, arrested a man and woman on separate charges. Officers were called to the 1000 block of E. Reed Street at around 3:18-a.m.  Upon further investigation, 25-year old Jayme Marie Parker, of Red Oak, was arrested for Domestic Assault/1st offense, and, 25-year old Joshua Michael Parker, of Red Oak,  was arrested for Public Intoxication/2nd offense. Both were transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where Jayme Parker was being held without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate, and Joshua Parker was being held on a $1,000 bond.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, Monday night, posted a report on arrests from over the past week. On Saturday, 27-year old Shane Sim Blackford, of Chariton, was arrested on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Blackford was released later that same day, on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

Friday night, 23-year old Jason Joseph Joliet, of Adair, was arrested by Adair Police for OWI/1st offense. He was cited and released on bond later that same night. At around 1:10-a.m. Thursday, 20-year old Rayvon Dawn McFarland, of Greenfield, was arrested by Greenfield Police, for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense in connection with an incident involving her live-in partner. She was released later that day after pleading guilty to the offense.

On March 6th, 42-year old Joseph Eric Funke, of Fontanelle, was arrested on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Funke was subsequently Released on his Own Recognizance (ROR). On March 5th, 48-year old Donald James Noggle, of Stuart, was arrested by Stuart Police, following a domestic incident at his home. Noggle was charged with Harassment in the 1st Degree and also was released on his Own Recognizance.

On March 4th, 25-year old Angelic Lashay Lockheart, of Des Moines, was arrested at a restaurant in Adair, for Public Intoxication, after her PBT (breath test) showed a .156% level of intoxication. Lockheart was released later that same day, on her own recognizance. And, on March 3rd, 36-year old Jason Eugene Sheeder, of Guthrie Center, was arrested at the Guthrie County Jail on an Adair County warrant for Failure to Appear for Contempt of Support Payments. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with credit for time served.

(NEWTON) – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports two correctional officers were assaulted by an inmate at the Newton Correctional Facility at approximately 6-p.m., Monday. The assault occurred when an inmate was given a directive by staff, but became hostile towards them.

The inmate was instructed to allow for restraints to be applied, but when the officers attempted to apply the restraints, the inmate became physically combative. An officer suffered a closed fist strike to the head and was also bitten by the combative inmate, while another officer suffered minor injuries while trying to restrain the inmate.

The officers were able to use defensive tactics and restraint techniques to eventually gain control over the aggressive inmate. The inmate involved in the incident did not seem to suffer any notable injuries. The officers involved were seen by institution medical professionals and treated for their injuries.

The incident remains under investigation.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — A special state Senate election in Iowa is gaining a national spotlight as presidential hopefuls try to help a fellow Democrat win. Cedar Falls resident Eric Giddens won the party’s nomination for the seat to be decided next week. For the Democratic field, campaigning alongside Giddens is an opportunity to prove their commitment to building up the state party, a quality local elected officials and party operatives are looking for as they evaluate whom to support for the White House.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke is making his first trip to Iowa of the 2020 campaign, visiting the state that kicks off presidential voting amid intense speculation he’ll enter the race for the White House. A spokesman says O’Rourke will visit the University of Northern Iowa on Saturday to campaign for Eric Giddens, the Democratic candidate running in a state Senate special election there. O’Rourke had previously failed to answer invitations to visit Democrats in Iowa and New Hampshire.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A board has agreed to pay a former prison guard $2.3 million as settlement for discrimination and retaliation she says she suffered after filing a sexual harassment case against the state. The state paid Kristine Sink $1.65 million last month to settle the sexual harassment case, and the Iowa attorney general recommended settling the second retaliation case. The State Appeal Board Monday approved the settlement but only after State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald complained about such settlements.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A proposed underground transmission line would carry electricity generated mostly by wind turbines in Iowa to the Chicago area. The company behind the $2.5 billion project, Direct Connect Development Co., said Monday that it has lined up three major investors to back the project. It could be operational in 2024 if regulators approve. Direct Connect plans to bury the transmission line in land that runs along existing Canadian Pacific railroad tracks, aiming for minimal disruption for landowners.

The Atlantic Police Department, Monday, issued a report on arrests dating back to the beginning of the month. Most recently, 27-year-old Haley Anderson, of Atlantic, was charged Saturday with Public Intoxication.

Last Wednesday, 20-year-old Kolby Fulk, of Harlan, was arrested by Atlantic Police on a Cass County Warrant for Driving While License Barred. On March 4th, 22-year-old Dacoda Schwarte, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Council Bluffs Warrant for Criminal Mischief 1^st Degree and Burglary 3^rd Degree.

And, On March 1^st, 28-year-old Joshua Richardson, of Des Moines, was arrested on a Polk County Warrant for Violation of Probation.

Each of those subjects were transported to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

(Radio Iowa) — Flu is now widespread in Iowa and it’s claiming more lives. The state health department is reporting six more people have died from the flu statewide. Among the six is the first child to die from the flu in Iowa this season, though no name or location was given.

Iowa’s flu season started at the end of September and since then, it’s taken the lives of 20 Iowans and several more due to flu complications. As of March 2nd, at least 25 Iowa schools reported at least ten-percent of their student body was absent because of the flu.

(Radio Iowa) — A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday on a plan that would force local officials to take a public vote if property tax payments in their city or county increase more than two percent. Representative Lee Hein, a Republican from Monticello, says he often hears complaints from constituents unhappy with their updated property assessments.

“Don’t blame the assessor because the assessor is actually doing his job,” Hein says. “We all want our property values to increase.” Hein says under current practice, when the assessed value of a house, business or farm increases, property owners will pay more in taxes even if the property tax levy remains the same.

“I don’t believe your local governments are being very honest with you when they tell you: ‘We are not raising your property tax levy,’ but they’re not lowering it either and then they’re gaining the windfall,” Hein says. Hein’s proposal would require a city council or county board of supervisors to vote to approve an increase greater than two percent in local property tax revenue. In addition, voters could petition for a referendum on any property tax hike that’s above two percent.

The Iowa State Association of Counties has registered its opposition, while the Iowa League of Cities is listed as “undecided” on the bill.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state board has agreed to pay a former prison guard $2.3 million as settlement for discrimination and retaliation she says she suffered after filing a sexual harassment case against the state. The state paid Kristine Sink $1.65 million last month to settle the sexual harassment case, and the Iowa attorney general recommended settling the second retaliation case.

The State Appeal Board on Monday approved the settlement but only after State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald complained that board members are not informed enough about some settlements. He complained about a settlement last month with two women from the Iowa Finance Authority who were paid $4.15 million after allegations IFA Director Dave Jamison sexually harassed them.

Emails obtained by The Associated Press indicate the settlement was reached in discussions with Gov. Kim Reynolds’ attorney in the days before the November election. Solicitor General Jeff Thompson says the decision to settle the IFA cases had nothing to do with politics and was done in the state’s best interest.

Three arrests have taken place recently in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office said Monday (today), that 24-year old Angela Marie Gould, of Bellevue, NE, was arrested Friday, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On Sunday, 42-year old Michael Raymond Carver, of Glenwood, was arrested on a warrant for Harassment in the 1st degree. And at around 2:40-a.m. today (Monday), 24-year old Tyler Albert Fowler, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension and Operating a Non-Registered Vehicle.

Their bonds were set at $300, $2,000 and $300, respectively.