Newton Police Department
• Shari L. Bauer, 49, of Newton was charged at 6:50 p.m. Sunday with possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with an incident that occurred at 5:51 p.m. Dec. 13 at her residence. Authorities went to her residence searching for a wanted person, and Bauer consented to a search of the apartment. Bauer allegedly had a methamphetamine pipe with burnt meth residue under her bed. She was charged and released to appear in court.
• Casey W. Edwards, 20, of Newton was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after authorities went to 604 E. Third St. S. in Newton at 6:53 p.m. Sunday to serve a charge. While officers were leaving the residence, they located two males. One was identified as Edwards, who was found to be wanted on a Jasper County warrant for operating while intoxicated, second offense. Edwards also was charged for allegedly having a marijuana pipe in his possession. He was transported to the Jasper County Jail.
• Steven D. Petro, 38, of Newton was charged with public intoxication, third or subsequent offense, after authorities were dispatched at 2:44 a.m. Jan. 1 to the 200 block of North Second Avenue West in reference to a fight in progress. Authorities located two males in the 100 block of West Third Street North, and neither one was wearing a shirt. One of the men, Petro, smelled of alcohol and admitted to drinking alcohol. He was charged and released to appear in court.
• Russell G. Quick Sr., 57, and Russell G. Quick Jr., 31, both of Newton, each were charged with criminal trespass after authorities were dispatched to Walmart at 12:53 p.m. Monday in reference to two subjects trespassing. Loss prevention workers informed police both men previously had been served no-trespassing paperwork for shoplifting. The men had been observed in the store at 12:07 p.m. They were located at 8:28 p.m. at 106 N. 15th Ave. W. and transported to the Jasper County Jail.
• Kurt D. VanDam, 49, of Newton was charged with criminal trespass after authorities responded to a complaint at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 28 at a residence in the 200 block of West 13th Street South in Newton. VanDam was charged for entering the house without permission. He was charged and released to appear in court.
• Laura E. Whitson, 24, of Newton was charged with driving while license barred after authorities stopped her at 3:19 p.m. Monday in the 900 block of North Sixth Avenue East for driving a vehicle without license plates. Authorities determined her license had been barred and transported her to the Jasper County Jail.
Jasper County Sheriff’s Office
• Mark G. Haunsperger, 63, of Kellogg was charged with operating while intoxicated after authorities responded to a complaint at 11:45 p.m. Saturday of a motorist swerving all over the roadway. The suspect was stopped at Railroad Street and Highway 224 and identified as Haunsperger. He smelled of alcohol and failed three field sobriety tests. A Datamaster test indicated a BAC of .125. He was transported 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 Newton Daily News to release the names of individuals charged with a crime who are 16 and older.