COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A former Nebraska jail employee convicted in western Iowa of child sex and pornography counts has been sentenced to 45 years in prison. Omaha television station WOWT reports that Shawn Beu was sentenced Wednesday in a Council Bluffs courtroom. The 37-year-old Beu was convicted in October of 10 counts of sexual abuse and video recording of young girls.

Prosecutors say videos of Beu sexually abusing a young girl and of young girls taken on a hidden camera in Beu’s bathroom were found in his home. Beu, who lives in Council Bluffs, was a corrections sergeant at the Douglas County Jail in Omaha when he was arrested in March. Beu has said he plans to appeal his convictions.

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The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest on Wednesday of a Red Oak woman for stealing an iPad.  At 2:01pm officers arrested 63-year-old Marsha Ann Wagaman of Red Oak at her residence on East Coolbaugh Street in Red Oak for 5th Degree Theft.  The theft of an iPad from the Chat Mobility Store on Senate Avenue in Red Oak occurred on November 23rd.  Wagaman was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

Authorities in Page County have arrested a man who allegedly assaulted an inmate on Oct. 26th, at the Page County Jail. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says 34-year old Joshua Jay Martin, of Clarinda, was charged Tuesday with Assault, a Serious misdemeanor.  Martin is currently incarcerated in the Page County Jail.

An investigation determined Martin assaulted 24-year old Jerry Knight, of Shenandoah, who was also incarcerated in the Page County Jail at the time of the assault. Martin is being held on a felony charge of Burglary 3^rd Degree along with the Assault charge. His total bond amounts to $6,000.

Knight was being held on charges of Driving while Barred along with Possession of drug paraphernalia, and Possession of a controlled substance. His bond is $2,000. Both men are awaiting further court proceedings.

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The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a juvenile was arrested Tuesday, following an investigation into the theft of $400 from a woman’s purse located inside her rural Essex home. The investigation revealed the unidentified juvenile was responsible for the theft and had spent some of the money. The youth was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs for holding, pending further court proceedings.

Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad today (Wednesday) announced the appointment of Iowans to the Judicial Nominating Commissions. From western Iowa, Dr. Robert Stewart, from Sioux City and Arlan Ecklund, of Denison, were nominated to Judicial Nominating Commission 3B (serving Crawford, Ida, Monona, Plymouth, Sioux & Woodbury Counties). The terms of both men are effective through January 31st, 2022.

The Governor also nominated three persons to Judicial Nominating Commission 6, which serves the eastern Iowa Counties of Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Tama.

Council Bluffs Police report one person was arrested and warrants were issued for the arrest of three other people, in connection with 10 separate vehicle burglaries in the Council Bluffs area. The incidents occurred during a period spanning October 16th to the 23rd, in the area of Lake Manawa and Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs.

Officers and detectives of the Council Bluffs Police Department were able to develop information on a burglary ring that was responsible for the break-in’s and obtained arrest warrants for the listed subjects.

Authorities say 27-year old Travis M. Schmidt, of Council Bluffs, is currently in custody and being held at the Pottawattamie County Jail. He faces charges that include 1st Degree Robbery, 1st Degree Theft, 8 counts of Burglary in the 3rd Degree, 2 counts of Credit card Forgery, and Ongoing Criminal Conduct. Arrest warrants were issued for: 30-year old Katie L.Rief of Council Bluffs;25-year old Elizabeth M. Cozens, of Omaha, and 29-year old Jessica A. Fryrear, of Bellevue, NE.

Rief faces charges that include Robbery in the 1st Degree, 7 counts of Burglary in the 3rd Degree and Ongoing Criminal Conduct. Cozens is wanted for Robbery 1st Degree, 5 counts of Burglary in the 3rd Degree and Ongoing Criminal Conduct. Fryrear is wanted for Theft in the 4th Degree and Ongoing Criminal Conduct.

The Robbery 1st charge stems from an October 17th incident at the Council Bluffs Country Club, when an Omaha man witnessed a female breaking into his vehicle on the parking lot. As the man approached the woman, she noticed him and got into a Green Jeep Compass driven by Schmidt and they fled the area. The victim had jump out of the way of the oncoming Jeep to avoid being intentionally run over. The Jeep Compass was later discovered to be stolen and has since been recovered.

Anyone with information concerning the location of Rief, Cozens and Fryrear is encouraged to contact the Council Bluffs Police Department at (712) 328-4721 or Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-7867.

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Officials with the Harlan Police Department report five people were arrested on separate charges, last week. On Saturday, 44-year old Jeffrey Allen Tierney, of Portsmouth, was arrested following an investigation into suspicious activity in the Harlan Hy-Vee parking lot. After police stopped Tierney’s vehicle, they arrested the man for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Operating a Motor Vehicle without Registration, as well as for having No Insurance.

Last Friday, 19-year old Brett Donald Keane, of Panama, and 23-year old Brandon Christopher Allen, of Harlan, were arrested on drug charges after the Harlan K9 officer was called to search a vehicle during a routine traffic stop. Keane was taken into custody for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, while Allen was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On Thanksgiving Day, Harlan Police arrested 43-year old Thomas Stanley, of Harlan, for OWI and excessive speed. And, on Nov. 23rd, 31-year old Jason Ronald Ostrus, of Earling, was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs (a schedule 1 narcotic) without a valid prescription.