The Iowa Department of Public Safety said late this (Friday) afternoon, that law enforcement in western Iowa have arrested and charged a 17-year old Sac County resident for the alleged sexual assault of a family member. An investigation into the allegations began on February 27th, 2012, after a local doctor contacted the Sac County Sheriff’s Office to report the sexual assault of a minor girl who was mentally handicapped.

On March 1st, the Sac County Sheriff’s Office requested the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) assist in the investigation.  The Sac County Sheriff’s Office and the DCI proceeded to collect evidence related to the sexual assault.  Through the evaluation of evidence, 17 year old Avery Tjossem was identified as the offender.

Tjossem turned himself in to Sac County Authorities today (Friday, May 4th), He was booked and charged with Sexual Abuse 3rd (a Class C Felony) and Incest (a Class D Felony).  Tjossem has since been released on his own recognizance.

The Atlantic Police Department reports 22-year old Tyler Johnston, of Atlantic, was arrested Thursday on a Cass County warrant for Contempt of Court/Failure to Appear, on orginal charges of Trespassing and Contempt. Johnston was booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Iowa State Patrol says a Missouri truck driver was cited following an accident Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 29, in Mills County. Officials say a semi driven by 54-year old Daniel Smoot, of Atlanta, MO, was traveling south near mile marker 35 on I-29 at around 4:20-p.m.

After Smoot and the driver of a semi who was near him exchanged words over the C.B. radio, Smoot merged in front of the other semi, driven by 61-year old Stephen Greever, of Red Oak, and slammed on the brakes. Greever’s semi hit the back of Smoot’s truck, causing Greever’s vehicle to become disabled. Both drivers suffered minor injuries, but refused transport to the hospital.

Smoot was cited for Failure to Signal a Stop or Rapid Deceleration. Damage to his 2012 Volvosemi, registered to Dickey Transport, was estimated at $10,000. Greever’s 2004 semi, registered to Sully Transport, sustained $4,000 damage.

The Iowa State Patrol says a distracted driver and a deer caused a single-vehicle accident early Tuesday morning on Interstate 80 in Pottawattamie County. Official say 19-year old Rashaund Lobdell, of Peoria, IL, was traveling eastbound near Walnut at around 2:55-a.m., when he became distracted while changing a CD. When he looked up, Lobdell saw a deer and swerved to avoid a collision. The move caused the car to veer into the south ditch, where it spun around and hit a tree before coming to rest in an adjacent corn field.

Neither the driver, nor his three sleeping passengers were injured during the crash. The Patrol says Lobdell was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

Sheriff’s Officials in Mills County say the driver of an SUV involved in a fatal crash last October, has been arrested on a warrant charging him with Vehicular Homicide. 21-year old Timothy Scott Mahan was also charged with two counts of injury by vehicle and OWI with Intent. Mahan was arrested April 30^th at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. His bond was set at $35,000.

Authorities says Mahan was driving of a 2002 Jeep at an excessive rate of speed on Ellington Avenue (a gravel road) just east of Offutt Air Force Base just before Noon on October 19^th, 2011. As he topped a hill, the vehicle went out of control, entered a ditch and rolled several times, for an estimated 50-yards. 

Three passengers in the Jeep,19-year-old Chance Erik Gunderson,23-year-old Felicia Marie Hansen, 19-year-old Jacob Alan Wahle were ejected as the SUV rolled. None of the victims were wearing a seat belt. Some of their clothes and other debris were found in nearby trees and strewn across the crash site. Gunderson died at the scene. Hansen and Wahle suffered critical injuries, while Mahan suffered serious injuries.

Iowa Courts Online didn’t list information pertaining to the charges against Mahan, as of late Friday morning.