A Prairie City woman awaiting trial on a child endangerment charge resulting from an incident in which her dog mauled and killed a child in her care nearly a year ago is back in jail after her arrest last week on charges stemming from a domestic abuse incident.
Jena Wright, 25, of Prairie City was charged Saturday, March 15, with obstruction of emergency communications, interference with official acts and domestic abuse assault, all of which are simple misdemeanors. According to the Prairie City Police Department, the charges stemmed from an incomplete 911 call the led to the discovery of a domestic disturbance.
Deputies responded to Wright’s home in the 300 block of South Marshall Street in Prairie City shortly after 8:30 p.m. that evening. According to police reports, Wright is alleged to have assaulted her spouse during an argument and attempting to take away the phone when her spouse called 911.
Wright reportedly refused to obey officers’ orders and resisted arrest, leading to additional charges. She was taken into custody shortly after 10 p.m. the next evening, and later released on her own recognizance.
Thursday, March 20, she was arrested again at her home at approximately 8:40 p.m. She was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, both of which are simple misdemeanors, and was again released to await her next court date.
Trial on those charges was set for Tuesday, May 13, in Jasper County District Court. The next day, she is scheduled to go to trial on a charges of child endangerment resulting in death, a Class B felony; neglect of abandonment, a Class C felony; assault on a peace officer causing bodily injury, an aggravated misdemeanor; and interference with official acts resulting in bodily injury, an aggravated misdemeanor.
The charges stem from an April 22, 2013, incident in which her American Staffordshire dog attacked 4-year-old Jordyn Arndt — who Wright was babysitting at the time — causing extensive injuries to the girl’s head and neck area. Arndt was transported to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, where she died of her injuries the next day.
Then-Prairie City Police Chief Louis Modlin took Wright into custody on the endangerment and neglect charges shortly thereafter. In the process of taking her into custody, it is alleged Wright resisted arrest and assaulted Modlin, which led to the additional interference and assault charges.
Wright was originally released from jail on a $50,000 bond to await trial. That bond was revoked Tuesday by District Court Judge Richard B. Clogg as a result of last week’s charges, and a bench warrant for her arrest was issued.
Prairie City Police found her at her home at approximately 11 p.m. Wednesday and took her into custody. She remains at the Jasper County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond. District Court Judge Steven Holwerda set a bond review hearing for Monday morning.