Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Another person has been sentenced in connection with the distribution of a powerful synthetic opioid that led to the death of a Council Bluffs man. Federal prosecutors say 24-year-old Amalia Pandis, of Carter Lake, was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl that caused death. Prosecutors say Pandis was part of a drug trafficking ring responsible for obtained fentanyl from a source in China and selling it western Iowa and eastern Nebraska.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man who operated a western Iowa dog kennel where three dog carcasses and dozens of malnourished dogs and puppies were found has been charged with 40 counts of animal neglect. Thirty-five-year-old Dustin Young, who billed himself as a dog breeder and trainer, appeared in Pottawattamie County’s District Court on Thursday to face the 36 simple misdemeanor counts and four serious misdemeanor counts.

SPENCER, Iowa (AP) — Days of heavy rain is causing wastewater runoff from some cities and livestock facilities in northwest and north-central Iowa and threatens to shut down some municipal water wells. Ken Hessenius is supervisor of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Spencer field office. He says, so far, cities have able to meet the demand for safe drinking water. But flooding is causing many cities to prepare to shut down some of their wells if needed.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for traveling to Mexico to sexually abuse a girl, whom he used to produce child pornography. Federal prosecutors in Iowa say 36-year-old Juan Rangel was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty in December to one count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place and one count of distribution of child pornography.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office report 44-year old Joseph Edward Harris, of rural Essex, was arrested Thursday at the Page County Jail, after he turned himself-in on Page County warrants for Burglary 3^rd Degree and Theft 2^nd Degree.  Harris was unable to post the $10,000 bond, and is currently being held in the Page County Jail pending further court proceedings.

Joseph Harris

Also arrested Thursday, was 32-year old Laura Christine Hartman, of Coin. She was taken into custody at the Page County Courthouse, on a Page County Warrant for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Hartman transported to the Page County Jail.  Bond was posted on the Simple Misdemeanor at the Page County Courthouse for her, and Hartman was released pending further court proceedings in the case.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports 35-year old Deandre Eugene Cooper, and 30-year old Charles Jesse Beuterbaugh, were sentenced in United States District Court Wednesday, for Possession of Contraband by a Federal Prisoner. The sentencing was handed down in Council Bluffs.

Cooper was sentenced to 100 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. Beuterbaugh was sentenced to serve eight months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Their sentences were each ordered to be served consecutively with sentences they previously received in other matters prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa and the District of Nebraska.

Cooper and Beuterbaugh, along with other co-defendants, while incarcerated at the Pottawattamie County Jail, distributed K-2, a synthetic cannabinoid. On May 17, 2017, corrections staff seized the substance from co-defendant Ivan Cervantes’ cell with the use of a drug detecting dog. Lab reports confirmed the substance found hidden in Cervantes’ cell was a synthetic cannabinoid. Further investigation revealed Cooper and Beuterbaugh had distributed K-2 to other inmates.

The case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Another person has been sentenced in connection with the distribution of a powerful synthetic opioid that led to the death of a Council Bluffs man. Federal prosecutors say 24-year-old Amalia Pandis, of Carter Lake, was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl that caused death. Pandis was also ordered to serve five years’ supervised release once she’s out of prison.

Prosecutors say Pandis was part of a drug trafficking ring responsible for obtained fentanyl from a source in China and selling it western Iowa and eastern Nebraska.
The investigation into the group began in June 2015, when police were called to a Carter Lake home and found the body of 20-year-old Diego Lemus. Police learned a second man had been hospitalized for a fentanyl overdose.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for traveling to Mexico to sexually abuse a girl, whom he used to produce child pornography.

Federal prosecutors in Iowa say 36-year-old Juan Rangel was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty in December to one count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place and one count of distribution of child pornography. Rangel must also register as a sex offender.

Court records show Rangel admitted that between 2014 and 2016, he traveled from the U.S. to Mexico and engaged in sex acts with a girl when she was 14 and 15. He also produced child porn involving the girl and posted the images online in 2015 and 2016.

A Pottawattamie County man faces 40 counts of Animal Neglect stemming from an investigation into deceased and malnourished dogs. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department report 40 criminal complaints were against 35-year old Dustin Young, of Hancock.

Dustin Young

The charges included:  36 counts of Animal Neglect – simple misdemeanor, and 4 counts of Animal Neglect – serious misdemeanor. Young appeared in District Court today (Thursday) with his attorney. He posted bond and was released.

Background:

At around 9:30-a.m. Sunday, May 6, 2018, Pottawattamie County deputies were dispatched to 44625 Lombardy Road in reference to an animal neglect complaint.  Upon arrival deputies found three deceased and several malnourished dogs. Deputies contacted Pottawattamie County Animal Control and the Midlands Humane Society to assist with the investigation.

During the initial investigation, it was determined that Young was operating Young Gunz Kennel at this residence, adog breeding and training business. As a result of the initial investigation, approximately 40 dogs were removed from the site.  At the time, approximately 10 dogs were still missing, while about 20 dogs were returned to their owners.  Others were in the process of making arrangements to pick up their dogs.

The Sheriff’s Office worked closely with Pottawattamie County Animal Control and the Midlands Humane Society to ensure that the dogs received the necessary treatment.