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Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., Dec. 29th 2015

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December 29th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa man has been sentenced to two years in prison for having sex with a 14-year-old girl in 2014. Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle says 43-year-old Danny Lee Barnes, of Sioux Center, was sentenced on a charge of assault with intent to commit sex abuse. Authorities say Barnes had sex with a 14-year-old girl at a park during the early morning hours of Aug. 23, 2014. The girl was a friend to Barnes’ family.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Dubuque say a 14-year-old boy was injured after he was pinned under a car following a one-vehicle crash. The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office says Caleb Sweat was ejected from a vehicle that lost control on Highway 61. The car, driven by 45-year-old Jason Sweat, entered a ditch and rolled. Authorities say Caleb was pinned under the car. He was extricated and taken to a local hospital with injuries to his legs. Jason Sweat, Caleb’s father, was cited for failure to maintain control of his vehicle.

Attorneys for an anti-abortion group who successfully challenged part of an Iowa campaign finance law want taxpayers to reimburse them for $300,000 in legal fees. In court filings this month, lawyers for Iowa Right to Life argued their clients should be considered prevailing parties in the case and the state should be on the hook for their costs of bringing the lawsuit. They’ve asked a federal judge to award $271,000 to the Bopp Law Firm of Terre Haute, Indiana and $28,000 to Des Moines-based BrownWinick.

A former tower guard at a maximum-security Iowa prison has been sentenced to 17 months behind bars for being a drug user in possession of a firearm. Ethan Darrow will surrender later to begin serving the sentence issued by U.S. District Judge Linda Reade, who also ordered a $5,000 fine. Federal authorities announced charges against the 29-year-old and three other former guards in October. Darrow pleaded guilty after admitting that he was a regular user of marijuana and cocaine in 2014.