BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A southeast Iowa prosecutor criticized for dropping charges filed against a nursing home operator has decided not to seek a second term. The Hawk Eye reports that Des Moines County Attorney Amy Beavers mentioned in her announcement Monday the scrutiny and criticism she’d received for dropping charges against Marc Johnson, director of the Danville Care Center. He was accused of taking money from a patient’s account.

She cited concerns that if he were convicted, the home would have to close. Beavers made an agreement not to pursue the charges if Johnson paid the case’s court costs and didn’t violate any laws for two years.
She said in her statement Monday that, “If closing this nursing home is what the community expects from their county attorney, I am not the right county attorney.”

FAYETTE, Iowa (AP) — A sheriff says three more certified nursing assistants are charged with sexually exploiting patients at an Iowa facility for mentally disabled adults. Two CNAs at the Prairie View Residential Care Facility in Fayette were charged with sexual exploitation March 5. Fayette County Sheriff Marty Fisher said Monday that three additional former CNAs have been charged for alleged relationships dating to 2015.

The women ages 24, 31 and 43 were arrested and have been released. One’s accused of having a patient perform oral sex on her 30 times; another is accused of engaging in “heavy kissing and touching” with a patient twice. The third’s accused of having a weeklong sexual relationship. Fisher says the patients involved were undergoing court-ordered treatment.

He says investigators are looking into “further incidents where more charges could be filed.” The home provides skill-building services for adults with chronic mental illness.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says an Afton man reported Saturday evening, that his teenage daughter had run away from home. 15-year old Sabrina McBurney is a six-foot tall white female, weighing about 185-pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes, and a lip ring. If anyone has seen her,  or has any information on where she is, please call the Union County Sheriff’s Office at 641-782-8402. (There was no photo of her from the Sheriff’s Office, but she does have a Facebook account with images located there)

The Sheriff’s Office reports also, 53-year old David Dale Dukes, of Stuart, was arrested late Saturday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, for disorderly conduct. Dukes plead guilty and was released from the Union County Jail. And, 29-year old Casey David Mitchell, of Afton, was arrested Sunday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, for domestic abuse assault. Mitchell is being held in the Union County Jail on no bond.

Authorities said also, a Shannon City man reported Sunday morning, that sometime overnight, someone took 5 red gates (2 10-foot gates, 2 16-ft. gates, and 1  8-ft. gate) from his property. The estimated value of the gates was $825.

A traffic stop at around 6:23-p.m. Saturday, resulted in the arrest of a woman from Shelby County and a man from Pottawattamie County, on drug charges. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department reports 32-year old Sarah Chitty, of Harlan, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana/2nd offense, and for several traffic citations. Chitty was seen by the magistrate and was released on her own recognizance. And, 37-year old Ian Leib, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Saturday for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to deliver (under 5 grams), and possession of drug paraphernalia. Leib was seen by the magistrate and is currently being held in the Audubon County Jail on a $10,000 bond.  Both arrests stem from a traffic stop in Kimballton in which K-9 “Axel” alerted to the presence of an odor of a narcotic. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Department also assisted in the traffic stop.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A prosecutor in Mexico says a gas leak in a water heater is suspected in the death of a southwest Iowa couple and their two children last week. The head prosecutor of the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo told local media today (Monday) that the water heater “was leaking gas, maybe from use or lack of maintenance.” Miguel Angel Pech told the Radio Formula station that “a high level” of gas was found in the rented condo where the couple was staying.

Autopsies indicate the family died from inhaling toxic gas in the resort of Tulum, but the source hadn’t been determined. Iowa officials identified the family as 41-year old Kevin Sharp, his 38-year old wife Amy, and their children, 12-year old Sterling, and seven-year old Adrianna, all of whom were from Creston. According to reports, their bodies are expected to be returned to the U-S on Wednesday.

If it was a gas leak the took the family’s lives, it wouldn’t be the first time faulty gas connections killed tourists in the area. In 2010, the explosion of an improperly installed gas line at a hotel in the nearby town of Playa del Carmen killed five Canadian tourists and two Mexicans. In that case, prosecutors said the heating-gas line, apparently meant to fuel a pool heating unit, was not properly installed or maintained. They claimed a leak from the line may have been set off by a spark from an electric switch or plug. A judge later dismissed criminal charges against five contractors and employees at the hotel.

DES MOINES – The State Objection Panel, comprised of Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, State Auditor Mary Mosiman and Attorney General Tom Miller, will convene Tuesday, March 27th, to review challenges to several candidates’ nomination petitions. The meeting is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. in the Ronald Reagan Conference Room, G19, on the lower level of the Iowa State Capitol.

Challenges to the following candidates have been filed:

Dale Bolsinger, Republican candidate for Iowa House, District 56

Ginny Caligiuri, Republican candidate for U.S. House, District 2

Ron Corbett, Republican candidate for Governor

Theresa Greenfield, Democratic candidate for U.S. House, District 3

Steve King, Republican candidate for U.S. House, District 4

Kim Reynolds, Republican candidate for Governor

David Young, Republican candidate for U.S. House, District 3

Shawn Zierke, Republican candidate for Iowa House, District 76* (candidate has withdrawn)

A Candidate’s Guide to the Primary Election, that includes detailed instructions and best practices for acquiring petition signatures, is available on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website (https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/candidates/2018primcandguide.pdf ). Signature requirements for federal, statewide, and legislative offices are available at this link: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/primary/index.html

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former teacher accused of groping and kissing one of his anatomy students in a Des Moines suburb is scheduled for sentencing next month. Station KCCI reports that Dustin Mead entered an Alford plea Monday to a misdemeanor charge of harassment. In an Alford plea, a suspect acknowledges there is enough evidence for a jury to reach a guilty verdict. In April last year Mead pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a school employee.

The 34-year-old Mead’s sentencing is set for April 9. A Polk County court document says that during the 2015-2016 school year, Mead gave one girl grades she didn’t earn, made sexual comments and groped her. He’s since resigned his position with the Johnston Community School District.