Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports a man from Essex was arrested Tuesday (today) on two Page County warrants. 39-year-old Adam Blake Sandahl was taken into custody at his residence in Essex, on warrants for charges of Failure to Appear -Revocation Hearing, Violation of Probation, Sentencing charge of Driving while License is Barred.

Sandahl was transported to the Page County Jail where he posted the $4,000 bond and was released pending, further court proceedings prior to being booked into the jail.

A charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

(Lewis, Iowa) – Three people have been arrested in relation to the theft of a church bell from Lewis. According to the Cass County (Iowa) Sheriff’s Office those taken into custody include: 31-year-old Trenton Baier, from Lewis; 30-year-old Shialea Cozad, and 62-year-old Phillip Duncan, both of whom are from Omaha.

The trio are alleged to have stolen a nearly 400-pound church bell mounted on pedestals near the United Congregational Methodist Church in Lewis, late last month. All three were arrested for Theft in the 2nd Degree.  Cozad and Duncan were additionally charged with controlled substance violations.

Trenton Baier

Shialea Cozad

Phillip Duncan

Sheriff Darby McLaren says “through the investigation, deputies spoke with several citizens of the community and followed-up on many leads. Deputies executed multiple search warrants, interviewed numerous person(s) of interest, and completed the criminal investigation by making the three arrests.”

The Sheriff said also, “The investigation led deputies to areas of interest in Omaha and Council Bluffs. Unfortunately, during the course of the investigation, deputies received information that lead them to believe the bell had been destroyed.”

The Sheriff’s Department thanks the various agencies of the Iowa Dept. of Public Safety, Omaha and Council Bluffs Police Departments, Atlantic Police Dept. and the City of Lewis, for assistance during the investigation.

Red Oak, Iowa  – Montgomery County voters interested in voting absentee for the June 7 Primary Election may file requests for absentee ballots with the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office.
Due to recent legislation, the time period to request absentee ballots has been reduced from 120 days to 70 days. The new legislation also has shortened the number of days that the Auditor’s Office may have ballots available for absentee voting. Voters now have 20 days to vote absentee either by mail or in-person rather than 29 days.

Voters wishing to receive a ballot by mail for the Primary Election will need to complete an absentee ballot request form and return it to the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office, 105 E Coolbaugh Street, Red Oak, before 5 p.m. on May 23. Voters are reminded that due to recent legislation, the ballot must be returned to the County Auditor’s Office before the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on June 7 to be counted. In-person early voting in the Auditor’s Office and mailing of ballots will begin May 18.

Absentee ballot request forms can be found on the Montgomery County website at www.montgomerycountyia.gov or on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website at https://sos.iowa.gov/. They
may also be requested by calling the Montgomery County Auditor’s office at 712-623-5127. Absentee voters are reminded that since this is a Primary Election, the voter must choose which party’s ballot they would like to vote. The Primary Election in Iowa is a nominating process for the Democratic and Republican parties to determine who will appear on the General Election ballot in November.

For more information about the 2022 Primary Election, contact the Montgomery County Auditor’s office at 712-623-5127 or visit the county website at www.montgomerycountyia.gov. Voters can also follow Montgomery County Auditor & Elections on Facebook.

(Harlan, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Shelby County have issued a report on arrests that occurred between March 23rd and 27th:

On the 27th, 39-year-old Joshua William Cox, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. He was charged with Operating while under the Influence, and Driving while License Denied or Revoked.

There were two arrests March 26th. 18-year-old Rene Bernal-Salas, of Denison, and 20-year-old Maria Rosa Lara Salazar, of Council Bluffs, were arrested following a traffic stop at Highway 59 and 1200th Street in Shelby County. Bernal-Salas was charged with OWI, Prohibited Acts, Possession of Controlled Substance, Minor in Possession of Alcohol, Speeding, Driving while under Suspension, and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability. Salazar was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance and Minor in Possession of Alcohol.

On the 25th, 30-year-old Isaaias Baltazar-Delgadillo, of Denison, as arrested after a traffic stop on highway 191.  He was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Operating Non-Registered Vehicle, and Speeding. And, on March 23rd, Shelby County deputies arrested 37-year-old Jason David Bengford, of Defiance, following a call for service in Defiance.  Bengford was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault.

Note: Criminal charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

(Sioux City, Iowa) – A Harrison County man involved in methamphetamine and illegal possession of a firearm pled guilty on March 24, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City. The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa, today (Tuesday), said 38-year-old Dustin Haynes, from Onawa, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, manufacture and attempt to manufacture methamphetamine, and illegal possession of a firearm.

At the plea hearing, evidence showed that Haynes was previously convicted of Burglary, Assault while Participating in a Felony, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. As a result, Haynes was not able to legally possess guns. Evidence further showed that on September 1, 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Haynes was operating. Officers seized components of a methamphetamine lab in Haynes’ vehicle, and a shotgun (broken down) in the trunk of the vehicle. Law enforcement also seized two boxes of pseudoephedrine (used to make methamphetamine) and receipts showing the purchase of the pseudoephedrine within the previous 30 days. Haynes intended to manufacture and distribute the methamphetamine. Haynes attempted to flee law enforcement agents by vehicle, then on foot, and during the pursuit threw out several baggies of meth.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Haynes remains in the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. On the two drug convictions, Haynes faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, and at least four years of supervised release following any imprisonment. On the firearm conviction, Haynes faces no mandatory minimum sentence and a possible maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa DCI Laboratory, Monona County Sheriff’s Department, and Iowa State Patrol.