Le Mars man in custody faces child endangerment, animal neglect charges
January 20th, 2026 by Ric Hanson
(Radio Iowa) – A northwest Iowa man is in custody after a search this fall allegedly found children and animals living in unsafe conditions. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office says that 53-year-old Rick Reifenrath of Le Mars was taken into custody last week during a traffic stop, when authorities learned he had several warrants out for his arrest.
Reifenrath is facing over 20 charges of child endangerment and animal neglect in connection to a September search of a rural Plymouth County property that resulted in three children and 111 dogs being removed from the property.
Reifenrath was booked into the Plymouth County Jail on a $10,000 bond, and he remains in custody.



