Newton Police Department
• William Joe Carter, 36, of Newton was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated after causing a collision with his girlfriend’s car at 5:36 p.m. in the 500 block of West Second Street North. An officer administered field tests, which Carter failed. Carter was then taken to the police department, where he consented to a Datamaster test which indicated that his blood alcohol content level was .000. Officers then administered a urine drug screen, and Carter admitted he was currently taking methadone and took Xanax the day prior. Carter also was cited with failure to have a valid driver’s license and failure to have insurance. He was taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• Mason Gerald Destefano, 17, of Pleasant Hill, a 15-year-old Newton boy and a 14-year-old Newton boy were charged with fifth-degree theft in connection with a June 10 incident at Walmart. Officers were dispatched to Walmart, where three males were in custody for shoplifting. Destefano, along with the 14-year-old and 15-year-old, admitted to officers that they attempted to take three 20-foot universal tubes and conceal them on each of their persons. The total value of the attempted stolen goods was $47.76. The teens were referred to juvenile court services.
• James Allen Knutsen, 33, of Newton was charged with driving with a barred license after he was stopped by an officer at 1:33 a.m. Wednesday at North 19th Avenue East and East 19th Street North. Knutsen told the officer he was transporting his girlfriend to the hospital because she was suffering from a migraine. Knutsen also told the officer that he had a paper delivery route that night as well. Knutsen was also cited with operating a vehicle without insurance. He was taken to the Jasper County Jail.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. It is the policy of the Daily News to release the names of individuals charged with a crime who are 16 and older.