Iowa

Inmates not publicly charged with assaulting Iowa correctional employees

Published

2 years ago

January 5, 2023

Inmates not publicly charged with assaulting Iowa correctional employees

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Teri Brayton, based on court docket paperwork, used a weapon original from an workplace chair whereas attempting to kill a correctional officer on the Iowa Medical and Classification Middle additionally known as Oakdale in Coralville in January 2022.

In keeping with court docket paperwork, Brayton was charged with tried homicide, pled responsible and sentenced to at the least 90 months in jail. The tried homicide occurred virtually a 12 months after two different inmates killed two completely different staff, Robert McFarland and Lorena Shulte, inside the Division of Corrections.

Sara McFarland, who’s Robert’s widow, stated the homicide try described in court docket paperwork sounds much like the way in which her husband died within the Anamosa State Penitentiary. Then, inmates acquired hammers from a piece program contained in the jail and killed Nurse Lorena Shulte and Correctional Officer Robert McFarland throughout an escape try.

“It breaks my coronary heart,” McFarland stated. “It breaks my coronary heart as a result of I do know one other household needed to undergo that panic and simply that feeling, that pit in your abdomen. And each time Robert would get damage or one thing would occur, you hope that was the final time, however that’s in all probability not going to occur.”

In keeping with court docket paperwork, Brayton didn’t obtain a sentencing enhancement for a criminal offense in opposition to a peace workplace as a result of Iowa legislation doesn’t acknowledge correctional officers as peace officers. Regardless, Brayton’s sentence can’t start till he completes his present jail sentence as a result of he was in a correctional facility.

The Division of Corrections categorized this incident as an assault on a employees member that resulted in critical damage. In keeping with knowledge, that our KCRG-TV9 i9 Investigative Group acquired from a public information request, exhibits round 35 inmates over round 5 years have been additionally concerned in assaults on corrections staff ensuing a critical damage.

Regardless that each County Legal professional’s Workplace with a corrections facility of their county stated they took each case from the division of corrections, a TV9 evaluation of court docket information exhibits 30% of these inmates weren’t charged.

Calhoun County Legal professional Tina Meth-Farington (R), who has the North Central Correctional Facility in her county, stated it’s attainable these inmates might have gotten a disciplinary listening to contained in the jail if public fees have been by no means filed. She stated these disciplinary hearings act much like court docket procedures with punishments and administrative legislation judges however aren’t accessible to the general public.

“They’ll lose a few of their good time credit and would possibly lose their capacity to work exterior the jail,” Meth-Farington stated.

Martin Castellanos, based on disciplinary listening to paperwork our i9 Group acquired by a public information request, misplaced 951 days of earned time and earned 90 days of disciplinary detention after he threatened employees with a steel shank. In keeping with the doc, officers discovered three weapons in his cell when Castellanos stabbed a correctional officer and despatched him to the hospital after being hit with chemical brokers. TV9 did discover at the least one case the place public fees weren’t filed and the Division of Corrections didn’t have paperwork associated to a disciplinary listening to.

In keeping with knowledge our TV9 i9 Investigative Group acquired from a information request, round 200 inmates assaulted a correctional officer with no critical damage and round 129 inmates threw substances on offenders. TV9 didn’t undergo court docket information to see what number of of these inmates have been charged with crimes.

“They [inmates] are at all times trying to discover a solution to damage anyone,” stated Cathie McFarland, McFarland’s mom.

Earlier than Robert McFarland was killed, Sara McFarland stated her husband went to the hospital at the least thrice as a result of being injured whereas working for the Division of Corrections.

“I had discovered one time he went to the hospital and never advised me as a result of he didn’t wish to fear me,” McFarland stated. “So, I don’t even know, I’m not even positive what occurred at that half.”

Our KCRG-TV9 i9 Investigative Group requested the Division of Corrections a number of occasions for an on-camera interview however was requested to supply questions in writing a number of occasions. Nick Crawford, who’s a spokesperson for the Division of Corrections, stated in an electronic mail that working with an inmate inhabitants comes with dangers. He stated these dangers are the rationale for the division to place employees security on the forefront of all the things it does.

“This division strives day by day to maintain employees secure,” Crawford wrote. We’ll proceed to supply the coaching, assets, and instruments essential to place our group members in the most effective place to soundly do the vital work that retains our communities secure.”

He listed achievements like shifting to a centralized new worker coaching mannequin, the addition of physique scanners and including a basic mail scanning system to curb the introduction of illicit medicine into our services.

After Robert McFarland and Lorena Shulte have been killed, the Division of Corrections acquired a rise in funding price $20 Million. A former spokesperson for the Division of Corrections advised TV9 in June 2021 it might give attention to hires for open positions, make enhancements to jail safety and develop hiring and retention incentives.

The Division of Corrections additionally spent $500,000 on a safety evaluate and launched a four-page abstract in 2021. The report recognized operational enhancements together with suggestions for the division associated to coaching, safety controls, coverage/compliance, coaching, employees supervision and system crowding. The report from CGL Firms additionally highlighted recruitment and retention because the “most critical concern that correctional techniques throughout the nation face” together with a excessive variety of nurse vacancies creating the potential to negatively have an effect on requirements of well being.

In keeping with the State Worker Wage Guide, fewer individuals acquired a paycheck for being a correctional officer within the Anamosa State Penitentiary within the 2022 fiscal 12 months in comparison with the 2020 fiscal 12 months. Nonetheless, some prisons just like the Oakdale and the Rockwell Metropolis facility noticed extra individuals obtain a paycheck for being a correctional officer.

Though the division has supplied the variety of vacancies for previous tales, it not offers these numbers as a result of safety issues. In keeping with a report back to the state legislature in February, the Division of Corrections had 288 general jail vacancies. The report stated 203 of these positions have been for correctional officers or senior correctional officers and projected to spend round $8 Million on time beyond regulation. A spokesperson advised TV9 in April 2021 the division spent $2.6 Million throughout the 2020 fiscal 12 months.

Danny Homan, who’s the previous president of AFSCME Council 61 and union chief for the correctional officers, stated the time beyond regulation is created as a result of the division doesn’t have sufficient employees in April 2021.

“They’re calling for 10 to fifteen individuals to work over[time]. That’s both you are available in in your time off otherwise you get mandated to work one other shift,” he stated. “I’ve talked to at least one officer who labored seven days in a row on double shifts. So he labored 16 hours a day for seven days.”

Homan stated the variety of time beyond regulation hours causes employees to make errors whereas they’re on the job.

Lorena Shulte’s household, based on court docket paperwork, is suing the Iowa Division of Corrections for failing to supply a secure working atmosphere, failing to supply enough staffing, and failing to supply enough employees coaching as among the faults that led to the deadly scenario.

Sara McFarland stated she’s persevering with to advocate for brand spanking new laws, which might add correctional employees to the listing of public security staff for collective bargaining rights amongst different modifications. She stated she’s persevering with to combat for these modifications as a result of she needs to make her husband proud and is worried one other worker will die.

“It’s going to occur once more, and it’s identical to Roberts’ dying, not that it was for nothing,” McFarland stated. “However, it simply didn’t make as huge of an impression because it ought to of.”

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Iowa

How to watch Iowa State women’s basketball vs West Virginia today: Time, TV for Cyclones

Published

5 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Press Room

How to watch Iowa State women’s basketball vs West Virginia today: Time, TV for Cyclones

The Iowa State women’s basketball team is back in the Big 12 Conference race after a three-game winning streak.

The Cyclones will try to stay hot when they take on No. 20 West Virginia at noon Sunday in Morgantown, West Virginia.

It’s a huge game for the Cyclones (13-6 overall, 4-2 Big 12), who after a slow start to the Big 12 season suddenly find themselves back in the hunt for the conference crown.

Iowa State has rattled off consecutive victories over Arizona State, Arizona and Texas Tech. The Cyclones will face a tough West Virginia (14-3, 4-2) team that has won four of its last five games.

Watch Iowa State vs. West Virginia on Fubo (free trial)

What channel is West Virginia vs Iowa State women’s basketball on today?

TV channel: FOX

Livestream: Fubo (free trial)

When does West Virginia vs Iowa State start?

Date: Sunday, Jan. 19

Start time: Noon CT, at WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, West Virginia.

West Virginia 2024-25 schedule

Record: 14-3, 4-2 Big 12
Nov. 5: Towson, W, 85-41
Nov. 9: Niagara, W, 110-41
Nov. 12: Pitt, W, 82-54
Nov. 15: Texas A&M, W, 83-62
Nov. 19: Bowling Green, W, 78-47
Nov. 22: Lafayette, W, 98-28
Nov. 29: High Point, W, 89-54
Nov. 30: Boise State, W, 82-47
Dec. 1: Texas, L, 78-73
Dec. 6: East Tennessee State, W, 85-40
Dec. 15: Temple, W, 68-46
Dec. 21: Colorado, L, 65-60
Jan. 1: UCF, W, 80-58
Jan. 4: BYU, W, 66-53
Jan. 8: Texas Tech, W, 89-53
Jan. 11: Oklahoma State, L, 64-57
Jan. 15: Colorado, W, 73-46

Iowa State 2024-25 schedule

Record 13-6, 4-2 Big 12
Nov. 4: Chicago State, W, 95-65
Nov. 7: Indiana State, W, 64-42
Nov. 10: Southern, W, 84-56
Nov. 14: St. Thomas, W, 80-47
Nov. 20: Northern Iowa, L, 87-75
Nov. 24: Drake, W, 80-78
Nov. 28: South Carolina, L, 76-36
Nov. 30: Middle Tennessee, W, 75-59
Dec. 3: USC Upstate, W, 92-35
Dec. 8: Central Michigan, W, 82-56
Dec. 11: Iowa, L, 75-69
Dec. 15: Eastern Illinois, W, 87-55
Dec. 17: UConn, L, 101-68
Dec. 21: Oklahoma State, L, 81-75
Jan. 1: Kansas, W, 78-64
Jan. 5: Utah, L, 75-67
Jan. 8: Arizona State, W, 90-83
Jan 11: Arizona, W, 79-58
Jan. 14: Texas Tech, W, 71-58

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468

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Iowa

Avery Neff suffers devastating injury in Utah’s win over Iowa State

Published

12 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Avery Neff suffers devastating injury in Utah’s win over Iowa State

The night was a mixture of triumph and tragedy for the Utah Red Rocks gymnastics team, as their victory over Iowa State was overshadowed by the devastating injury to freshman Avery Neff. While the team delivered a season-high score of 197.300 and showcased remarkable growth, the loss of Neff, the No. 1 recruit, left an emotional void.

The atmosphere in the Huntsman Center shifted dramatically when Neff’s final tumbling pass on floor ended in disaster. A routine that had already demonstrated her exceptional talent turned into heartbreak when her ankle gave out, and she fell face-first onto the mat. Her left leg bent awkwardly, and she immediately clutched her ankle in pain. Medical personnel and coaches rushed to her aid, and the usually electric crowd fell silent. Teammates cried openly on the sidelines, their emotions mirroring the collective concern of the Red Rocks family.

Neff had been a standout performer throughout the night, earning high scores on vault (9.900), bars (9.850), and beam (9.925). Her contributions exemplified why she had been ranked so highly coming into the season, and her injury was a significant blow to the team’s momentum. Head coach Carly Dockendorf expressed the team’s mixed emotions, emphasizing the difficulty of balancing a strong performance with the sadness of losing a key member.

“What an amazing three quarters of our meet there, and was just feeling so good about everything we had done,” Dockendorf said. “This is the tough part about sports anywhere on any team, and it’s just — it’s hard to watch. It definitely kind of changed the emotional feeling of the meet at the end, but this is why we’re a team.”

Utah Athletics to take over NIL management from collective ahead of house settlement

Despite the emotional impact, the team showed incredible resilience, finishing the meet with poise. Veteran Jaylene Gilstrap, tasked with following Neff on floor, delivered a beautiful routine that earned a 9.90, helping the team maintain focus. Grace McCallum followed suit, closing out the floor rotation with another 9.90. Dockendorf praised her gymnasts for their ability to stay composed, acknowledging their determination to finish strong.

The meet itself was a testament to the Red Rocks’ improvement. They opened with a season-best 49.300 on vault, led by Neff’s 9.900 and Camie Winger’s 9.875. McCallum’s return to competition with a Yurchenko 1.5 vault marked a significant milestone, even though her landing was slightly off. On bars, McCallum dazzled with a 9.975, earning that score for the second consecutive meet. The beam rotation was equally impressive, with Neff contributing a near-perfect 9.925 and Winger adding a 9.900.

Where Utah ranks among Big 12 schools on Top 75 College Athletics Valuations list

While Utah dominated Iowa State, whose best apparatus score was a 49.000 on floor, the victory felt hollow. The Cyclones struggled throughout the meet, particularly on bars, where they were forced to count multiple low scores. Utah’s win showcased their depth and talent, but the team’s joy was tempered by Neff’s uncertain status.

As the night ended, the team gathered around their injured teammate, embodying the unity and support that define the Red Rocks program. Neff’s injury served as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of sports and the strength required to overcome adversity. For the Red Rocks, the final score may have been a victory on paper, but the real story was the resilience of a team rallying around one of their own in a moment of profound loss. At the end of the night, Neff took time to post on her Instagram story. Her caption was simple with “God’s Plan >>>”. Neff’s only words to keep Utah fans guessing about the status of the star freshman.

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Iowa basketball has plenty of time to get back on track, or for season to get much worse

Published

20 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Iowa basketball has plenty of time to get back on track, or for season to get much worse

How much can the narrative surrounding a team change in less than one week?

Just last Saturday, Iowa basketball was riding high after a 25-point win over Indiana. This marked back-to-back home victories and inspired some optimism about what the Hawkeyes are capable of this season.

Two games later, those feelings have shifted dramatically.

Saying Iowa’s West Coast trip was a disappointment is an understatement. The Hawkeyes suffered a pair of double-digit losses, the latest of which was a 94-70 blowout to UCLA on Friday. Iowa never led for a single second throughout those two games.

Understandably, there is mounting frustration from the fan base.

But as ugly as these two games were, Iowa’s season does not end here. The Hawkeyes still have 13 regular season games remaining, plus at least one more in the Big Ten Tournament, assuming Iowa makes the 15-team field.

For better or worse, the season’s fate is still in the balance. With so many games remaining, there is plenty of time for the Hawkeyes to get back on track. But there is also plenty of time for it to get much worse.

“I think we have a really good group with guys with character,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said Friday. “We’ve got some veteran guys. We will try to move on from what has not been a good trip and learn from some of the mistakes we made. Will remain positive. I want them to remain positive with each other.”

Iowa (12-6, 3-4) got jumped on early in Friday’s contest and never recovered.

Remarkably, UCLA made its first nine shots from the field. To make matters worse, Payton Sandfort got banged up in the first half and sat out the majority of the game. The Bruins led by 33 points at halftime, making the rest of the game a mere formality.

In what has been a theme this season — and even more broadly, in McCaffery’s Hawkeye tenure — the Iowa defense folded. UCLA shot 62% from the field and 35% from deep. During the West Coast trip, Iowa allowed its opponents to shoot a combined 63% from the field.

“They were really aggressive and shot it well not only inside but from the perimeter,” McCaffery said of UCLA. “I thought we worked really hard in practice the last couple of days. I thought we would be better. Got to give them credit for it. We got better as the game went on. But we’ve got to be better at the start.”

Iowa is now 0-4 in true road games, with losses to Michigan, Wisconsin, USC and UCLA. Only one of those four came by single digits. The Hawkeyes have allowed an average of 98.5 points during that span.

Allowing 116 points in a road loss to Wisconsin should’ve been enough of a wake-up call. And to its credit, Iowa responded with consecutive wins following that loss. But then, a similar failure happened again. And again.

The Hawkeyes’ season is now on the verge of spiraling.

At the same time, a season is not supposed to be defined by adversity. But rather how one responds to it. If every team that dealt with challenges quit, no one would be left standing.

Take UCLA for example. The Bruins entered Friday having lost five of their last six games, including four straight. The sky was falling until Friday when suddenly it wasn’t anymore.

Rutgers was in a similar situation. The Scarlet Knights started 1-4 in Big Ten play but have now won their last two, including a road victory over Nebraska. Things are looking up for them.

There is nothing that says Iowa can’t do the same. The Hawkeyes will have plenty of opportunities.

At Carver-Hawkeye Arena alone, Iowa is still set to face Michigan State, Purdue, Oregon and Wisconsin, among others, all of which should present resume-building opportunities. The Hawkeyes have lost just one game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena this season, against No. 2 Iowa State.

McCaffery’s team will have plenty of chances away from home too, though it will need to overcome its road woes to remain competitive.

“I didn’t see a lack of effort,” McCaffery said Friday. “I saw a lack of execution to some of the things that we prepared for and that’s disappointing because that leads to falling behind. Of all the teams that I’ve coached, it’s one that I’m really proud of, any team that I’ve ever had, even before I came here, our guys stay locked into the game plan and they compete. And they compete in terms of how they think.”

Clearly, Iowa needs to get better to make the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes’ performances in California were inexcusably poor.

But there is still so much season left to play. Which means the best could still be yet to come. And so could the worst.

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com

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