MAPLETON, Iowa (AP) – A man has been sentenced to five years in prison after authorities say he shot another man in western Iowa. The Sioux City Journal reported Tuesday that 23-year-old Joshua Beam had pleaded guilty in September to reckless use of a firearm for the Dec. 16, 2014, shooting of Eric Franco.

Monona County court documents say Beam and Franco had been drinking in a Mapleton home and began wrestling. The documents say that Beam fired three shots during the altercation, and that one of the rounds struck Franco. Franco was not seriously injured.

Beam was sentenced to seven years in prison in January in an unrelated case of willful injury and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. He pleaded guilty in that case.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A 21-year-old Council Bluffs man has been given 20 years in prison for injuring a baby. The Daily Nonpareil reports that Rodney Weatherwax was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to two counts of child endangerment causing injury.

A court document says Weatherwax injured the baby at least three times between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30. The 5-month-old child suffered at least 20 fractures. The child’s mother told doctors that Weatherwax punched the child in the face.

Weatherwax says he was intoxicated when the infant was injured.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Another man charged with murder has taken a plea deal in the death of a Council Bluffs resident. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 18-year-old Caine Petersen pleaded guilty Tuesday to vehicular homicide. Prosecutors lowered the charge in exchange for Petersen’s plea. Petersen was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Authorities say Petersen, Sarael Duncan, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Christopher King, of Lincoln, Nebraska, robbed 20-year-old Jacob Combs of marijuana on Aug. 15 last year. Authorities say Combs jumped onto Petersen’s vehicle as the three men fled but then fell or was thrown, suffering head injuries. Combs died in a hospital later that day.

Prosecutor Jon Jacobmeier says King also has agreed to a deal and will plead guilty to a lesser charge and be sentenced on March 22.

Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Tuesday, announced appointments to fill Iowa’s various boards and commissions. Included among the appointees whose term begins May 1st, is:

• John Pauli, of Carroll, to the Alcoholic Beverages Commission
• Emily Forquer, of Afton, to the Architectural Examining Board.
• Lindsey Nielsen, of Missouri Valley, to the Board of Behavioral Science
• Michael Knedler, of Council Bluffs, to the State Board of Education
• Eric Green, of Creston, to the Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board
• Eugene Meiners, of Templeton, to the Mental Health Risk Pool Board
• Karol Dammann, of Manning, to the Board of Nursing Home Administrators
• Gina Primmer, of Council Bluffs, to the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC)

Their appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

Authorities in Montgomery County report two drug-related arrests. At around 1:20-a.m. today (Wednesday), Red Oak Police arrested 34-year old Paul Earl Lemburg, II, of Red Oak, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 3rd or subsequent offense. Lemburg was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 cash bond.

And, a traffic stop north of Red Oak Tuesday night resulted in the arrest of 24-year old Eric David Taylor, of Red Oak. Taylor was stopped by Sheriff’s Deputies for speeding at around 11-p.m. near the intersection of Highway 48 and 165th Street. He was subsequently charged with Possession of Marijuana and brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond. Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Iowa State Patrol.

And a little after 11-p.m. Tuesday, Red Oak Police arrested 30-year old Jason Paul Crouse, of Plattsmouth, NE., on a Trespass charge. Crouse was taken into custody in the 600 block of Sunset Avenue and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on $300 cash bond.

The Red Oak Police Department reports a Clarinda man wanted on an active Montgomery County warrant for Probation Violation, was arrested Tuesday morning in the 100 block of Coolbaugh Street. 21-year old Christian Lane Clark Latham, of Clarinda, was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,500 bond.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests took place, Tuesday. 36-year old Christopher Brown, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Harassment in the 2nd degree. His bond was set at $1,000. And, 25-year old Vincent Wells, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested in Glenwood, for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,300.

Two people were arrested Tuesday, in Mills County, The Sheriff’s Office says 46-
year old Steven Ray Gooch, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday morning in
Sarpy County, NE., on a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. Gooch was being
held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

And, 22-year old Benjamin Lee McGhee, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday night for
Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at $300.

A Council Bluffs man was arrested Tuesday afternoon following a report of a person yelling profanities at passing vehicles in the 2400 block of 9th Avenue. Officers arriving on the scene at around 4-p.m. found 24-year old Colton Benson on the roof of the house. Benson was jumping on and off of the roof. When Officers began to negotiate with Benson, he reportedly jumped down to a porch area in the front of the house.

At that point, officers on scene decided that Benson was in a safe location, and they attempted to taser him while he was on the lower portion of the front porch. As the taser was being deployed, Benson was able to remove the probes, indicating the device had no effect. Benson had also torn off his shirt and coat and continued to be aggressive.

Officers continued to negotiate with the man, and he was finally convinced to come off of the roof at around 4:15-p.m. Benson was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. He was then transported to Pottawattamie County Corrections and charged with Interference with official acts.