Floyd County District Court update: Ragsdale, Wells, Ahrenholz, Skowron, Smith

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Ragsdale gets suspended sentence, probation, lifetime supervision for sex act with minor

A Charles City man has received a suspended sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three to five years probation, and Iowa’s special sentence that will place him under the supervision of the state for life, after pleading guilty to lascivious acts with a child, a Class C felony.

Noah Lee Ragsdale, age 28, was sentenced in Floyd County District Court after pleading guilty in an agreement that dismissed a charge of sexual abuse in the second degree, a Class B felony.

Ragsdale had been accused of committing a sex act with a child under the age of 12 between December 2019 and February 2020 in Charles City.

As part of the sentence Ragadale will also have to register in the Iowa Sex Offender registry for life. A $1,375 fine plus 15% surcharge was also suspended.

Wells gets suspended sentence, probation, lifetime supervision for sex crimes with minors

A Mason City man who was charged with four counts of sex crimes with young girls in Floyd County has been sentenced to two terms of up to 10 years in prison each, to be served consecutively, but fully suspended, and placed on five years probation.

Aaron Michael Wells, age 24, pleaded guilty to two counts of lascivious acts with a child, Class C felonies, for acts that took place in 2012 to 2013 when Wells was 16 or 17 years old.

As part of a plea agreement recommendation, two counts of sexual abuse in the second degree, Class B felonies, were dismissed.

Wells was also sentenced to two fines of $1,000 plus 15% surcharge, suspended, sentenced to Iowa’s Special Sentence putting him under the supervision of the Iowa Department of Corrections for life, and ordered to register on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry for life.

Waverly man pleads guilty to sex charges, sentencing set for August

A Waverly man has pleaded guilty to one count of lascivious acts with a child, a Class C felony, for touching an 11-year-old girl sexually sometime in 2019.

Michael Douglas Ahrenholz, age 43, was charged with second-degree sexual abuse, a Class B felony; lascivious acts with a child, a Class C felony; and indecent exposure, a serious misdemeanor; for acts that allegedly occurred in 2019 and 2020.

As part of a plea agreement, the Floyd County Attorney’s Office will recommend that the sexual abuse and indecent exposure counts be dismissed and that Ahrenhold be sentenced to a prison term of up to 10 years, fully suspended; three to five years probation; $1,375 fine plus 15% surcharge, fully suspended; Iowa Special Sentence putting him under the supervision of the Iowa Department of Corrections for life, and lifetime registration on the Iowa Sexual Offenders Registry.

The county will also recommend no contact with his victim for five years.

Judge Rusten Davenport accepted the guilty plea in Floyd County District Court and set sentencing for Aug. 16.

Charles City man charged with second-degree burglary

A Charles City Man has been charged with breaking into a residence and threatening a person inside, according to court records.

Buddy Arthur Skowron Jr., age 31, was charged with burglary in the second degree, a Class C felony, for allegedly breaking into an apartment in the 2100 block of Clark Street on April 20.

“The defendant unscrewed the door’s peep hole, used a multi-tool or pocket knife to unlatch and force the door open with the deadbolt still engaged, and made a general threat toward the victim that was attempting to close the door,” according to a criminal complaint filed by the Charles City Police Department.

“The defendant was found outside the building and had the peep hole in their possession,” the court document says.

Skowron was released under the supervision of the Iowa Department of Correctional Services after an initial hearing, but on June 25 the department filed a report saying that Skowron had failed to make himself available.

A phone number and address that Skowron had given the state were no longer valid and he had not provided current information, the Department of Correctional Services said in a report. Skowron was arrested again June 28 and ordered held on $10,000 cash-only bond, with a hearing scheduled for July 6.

Young Charles City man eligible for deferred sentence on firearms charge

An 19-year-old Charles City man charged with threatening a group of people with a firearm has received a deferred judgment after pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

Jamal Brandon Smith was charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a Class D felony, after allegedly removing a long gun (a rifle or shotgun) from a parked car and threatening a group of people on the sidewalk in the 400 block of Hulin Street on Aug. 27, 2020.

Smith pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of carrying weapons, an aggravated misdemeanor, and was sentenced in Floyd County District Court.

Judge Peter Newell followed the recommendation of the Floyd County Attorney’s Office and sentenced Smith to two years probation with a deferred judgment, and a civil penalty of $855 plus 15% surcharge. The fine and surcharge were fully suspended.

If Smith successfully completes all the conditions of his probation set by the Iowa Department of Corrections, the record of his conviction will be expunged from public files.