Summary of Notable Criminal Judgment Entries October through December 2023

David Ballard, 56, of South English, was sentenced to 2 years in prison with all but 2 days suspended contingent upon his successful completion of probation to the Iowa Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to Domestic Abuse Assault with Intent to Inflict Serious Injury. Ballard’s charges were filed by the Keokuk County Sheriff’s Department following a report by the victim that she was assaulted by Ballard two days prior. Ballard also pleaded guilty to Violation of a No Contact order.  Ballard served approximately two months in the Keokuk County Jail before being released upon his entry of the guilty plea. 

James Chitwood, 42, of Hedrick, Iowa, was sentenced to five years in prison with all time suspended contingent upon his successful completion of probation to the Iowa Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to Non-Compliance with Registration Requirements as a Sex Offender, second or subsequent offense, a Class D felony. Chitwood’s charge was filed by the Keokuk County Sheriff’s Department after receiving a report that Chitwood was using a Facebook account to message someone. Further investigation revealed that Chitwood did, in fact, have a Facebook account for which he had not reported as required by his sex offender registry requirements. Chitwood served approximately one month in the Keokuk County Jail before being released to the supervision of the Iowa Department of Corrections.  

Cory Frye, 35, of Hedrick, Iowa, received a deferred judgment for the crime of Arson in the Second Degree, a Class C Felony, and was placed on supervised probation to the Iowa Department of Corrections for five years.  Frye’s charge arose after he was arrested on March 19, 2023, for Criminal Mischief and Public Intoxication, where, while incarcerated in the Keokuk County Jail, he set a blanket on fire inside the jail. Frye’s remaining charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.  

Michael Maschmann, 48, of What Cheer, Iowa, was sentenced to sixty days in jail with all but four days suspended contingent upon his successful completion of probation to the court following his plea of guilty to Assault While Displaying a Dangerous Weapon, an Aggravated Misdemeanor. Maschmann’s charges were filed by the Keokuk County Sheriff’s Department following a report that Maschmann exited his vehicle with a knife and threatened another person in What Cheer. Maschmann did not make physical contact with the victim and the victim was not injured.  

Gage Parks, 23, of Ottumwa, Iowa, was sentenced to two years in prison with all time suspended contingent upon his successful completion of supervised probation to the Iowa Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to Operating Without Owner’s Consent, an Aggravated Misdemeanor. Parks’ charge was filed by the Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office in December 2022 following the report of a stolen vehicle in Hedrick. Later that day, Parks was located with the vehicle in Fairfield.

Anthony Warren, 45, of Keota, Iowa, was sentenced to a total of seven years in prison after pleading guilty to Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony, Theft in the Second Degree, a Class D Felony, Driving While Barred, an Aggravated Misdemeanor, and Non-Compliance with Registration Requirements as a Sex Offender – First Offense, an Aggravated Misdemeanor.  Warren’s charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Keokuk County Sheriff’s Department into a report made in November 2022 that a rural unoccupied home and machine shed were broken into and items taken. After finding Warren in possession of at least one stolen item, a search warrant was executed on his property where multiple other stolen items were found. As a result of the investigation, law enforcement also witnessed Warren driving while his driver’s license was barred and to be in violation of the conditions of his sex offender registry requirements. 

In total, thirty convictions were entered including one Arson in the Second Degree offense, one Burglary in the Third Degree offense, one Theft in the Second Degree offense,  two Non-Compliance with Registration Requirements as a Sex Offender offenses, one Driving While Barred offense, Possession of Marijuana first offense, one Possession of Marijuana second offense, two OWI first offenses, one Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Serious Injury offense, one Assault Displaying a Dangerous Weapon offense, one Operating Without Owners Consent offense, three Animal Neglect offenses, two Violations of No Contact Order offenses, two Public Intoxication offenses, one Reckless Driving offense, two Leaving the Scene of an Accident offense, two Driving Under Suspension offenses and six Contempt/Revocation of probation findings.