On Nov. 24 at 2:14 a.m., Fayette CountySheriff’s deputies were called to 320 Olive Street in Westgate in reference to a domestic disturbance. Upon investigating, they arrested Jeffrey William Arthur, 54, of Westgate on the charges of domestic abuse assault while displaying a dangerous weapon (aggravated misdemeanor) and obstruction of an emergency communications (simple misdemeanor). He was transported to the Fayette County Jail.   On Nov. 25, at 3:57 a.m., deputies were called to 106 Mechanic Street in Fayette in reference to a domestic disturbance. Upon investigating, they arrested David A. Hayes, 20, of Fayette, on the charges of domestic abuse assault (simple misdemeanor) … Continue reading Deputies make domestic abuse arrests over holiday week

Fayette County Sheriff’s deputies arrest a Maynard man and a Randalia woman on felony charges over the weekend in separate incidents. On Friday, Nov. 18, a deputy arrested Dalton Bunn, 24, of Maynard on a valid Clayton County arrest warrant for charge of felon in possession of a firearm. Bunn was transported to the Fayette County jail and later transported to Clayton County Jail. On Sunday, Nov. 20,a deputy initiated a traffic stop at 12:49 a.m. on 2000 Chevrolet S20 truck for a traffic infraction. After further investigation, the driver Samantha Kay Darling, age 47 of Randalia, was arrested and … Continue reading Deputies arrest Maynard man on gun charge, Randalia woman over drugs

Men from Oelwein and West Union were sent to prison this week after pleading guilty to felony drug charges in separate cases in Fayette County District Court. Here are some recently concluded felony cases: Thomas Daniel Wilds, 28, of Oelwein, pleaded guilty Nov. 15 to the Class D felonies of third-offense possession of methamphetamine and third-offense possession of marijuana and was sentenced by District Court Judge John Sullivan to a pair of concurrent prison terms of up to five years. Four other counts were dismissed. Fines and surcharges, which exceeded $2,000 total, were suspended. Vanessa Lynn Wilson, 38, of Oelwein, … Continue reading Oelwein and West Union men sent to prison over drug crimes

A Monona man is facing multiple charges related to burglaries reported in West Union in late October. Mason Lee Schroeder, 18, of Monona, is charged with two counts of second-degree burglary, four counts of third-degree burglary from a motor vehicle, three counts of attempted third-degree burglary from a vehicle/vessel, and one count each of second- and fourth-degree theft. He made his initial appearance in Fayette County District Court on Oct. 27, and bail was set at $25,000 cash or surety. According to the criminal complaint filed by West Union Police, Schroeder was spotted through security cameras trying to enter two … Continue reading Monona man, 18, charged in West Union burglaries

Update: This trial has been pushed back to February 2023. A 2022 Wapsie Valley graduate is scheduled to go on trial Dec. 7 in Fayette County District Court on a charge of third-degree sexual abuse. He’s accused of forcing a sex act on a teenage girl at her Fairbank home on March 2, 2022. Holten Taylor Robinson, 19, of Parkersburg, turned himself in to the Fayette County Sheriff’s office on March 28, 2022, after a warrant was issued for his arrest on the Class C felony charge. His bail was set at a $10,000 unsecured bond, and he was released … Continue reading WV grad sex abuse trial scheduled to begin Dec. 7

Nine people from Oelwein and one each from Alpha, Maynard and Sumner were jailed after “drug house warrants” were served Friday night by 15 cooperating law enforcement agencies. According to a news release from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement seized drugs, firearms, and about $4,000 in cash. Along with paraphernalia, the drugs seized included 1.25 pounds of marijuana, 70 grams of methamphetamine, and multiple types of prescription pills and packaged pills. Weapons seized included long guns and a a pistol. More than 100 charges have been filed including seven Class B felonies, two Class C felonies, 35 Class … Continue reading ‘Drug house warrants’ lead to 12 arrests in Oelwein, Maynard and Sumner

An Oelwein man who possessed eight loaded guns and fled from the police was sentenced on Oct. 19 to more than five years in federal prison. Justin James Gallmeyer, 39, of Oelwein, pleaded guilty on April 14 to possessing firearms as a felon. He has a prior federal felony conviction for possessing a firearm as a drug user. According to the news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Northern Iowa, evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that Gallmeyer possessed a total of eight guns over the course of about one year. In August 2020, he fled from the police … Continue reading Oelwein man sentenced to 70 months in federal Prison

Convictions Ethan Lee Palmer, 48, of Oelwein, pleaded guilty Oct. 5 to second-offense possession of methamphetamine (aggravated misdemeanor) and was placed on two years of formal probation on a suspended 10-year prison sentence. An $855 fine plus surcharge was also suspended. Ralph Deangelo Barron, 55, of New Hampton pleaded guilty to a Class C felony manufacture, delivery and possession of methamphetamine and on Oct. 17 received two to five years of probation on a suspended 10-year prison sentence. A $1,000 fine plus surcharge was also suspended. One count of possession of a controlled substance was dismissed. He was ordered to … Continue reading Fayette County District Court update (Oct. 5-17)

INDEPENDENCE — The Buchanan County Attorney’s Office has reached a plea agreement with Tyler Alan Welter, 27, of Fairbank, that will mark him as a sexual predator of children and send him to prison. Welter agreed today to plead guilty to two Class C felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two Class C felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, and three Class D felony counts of enticing a minor. Six additional counts will be dismissed. According to the criminal complaints, Welter exchanged nude photos and attempted to engage in sexual acts with children under the age … Continue reading Buchanan County prosecutor reaches plea deal to send Fairbank man to prison