Two Women Charged with Offenses Related to Pipeline Attacks

DES MOINES – Two Iowa women known as activists have been indicted on federal charges related to incidents involving the installation of the Dakota Pipeline in Mahaska and Jasper counties in 2017. On Sept. 19, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging defendants Jessica Rae Reznicek, 38, and Ruby Katherine Montoya, 29, with one count of conspiracy to damage an energy facility, four counts of use of fire in the commission of a felony, and four counts of malicious use of fire, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. 

The charges, in part, stemmed from equipment fires at three construction sites in Jasper and Mahaska counties on the Dakota Access Pipeline construction route in 2017. No injuries were reported.

In a report in December 2017, Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty said two machines were damaged at the Newton site — one was smoldering and the other was still ablaze when firefighters and deputies arrived at the scene. The damaged pieces of equipment were identified as a bulldozer and a track hoe. Deputies in Jasper County are also investigating a second fire on Salmon Street about 2.5 miles southeast of Reasnor.

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