Newton Police Department
• Three individuals were charged with possession of alcohol while under the legal age after authorities responded to a report of a possible underage drinking party at 10:55 p.m. May 17 at a residence in the 700 block of West Second Street South. Those present included 16-year-old Brandon R. Becker, 17-year-old Danielle S. Heikkila and 16-year-old Mason R. Brumer, all of Newton. All three admitted to drinking beer and stated the adults did not give them permission to drink alcohol. Becker’s BAC was .04, Heikkila’s was .006 and Brumer’s was .045. All three were referred to juvenile court services.
• Jonathan S. Arterburn, 25, of Newton was arrested on a Marshalltown warrant for probation violation after authorities located him at 2:40 a.m. May 24 at a residence in the 1700 block of West Fourth Street North. He was turned over to Marshall County authorities.
• Jessica L. Audas, 26, of Newton was charged with fifth-degree theft after authorities responded to a complaint at 10:35 a.m. May 16 at Hy-Vee. She was charged for allegedly taking two boxes of diapers with a total value of $42.31 from Hy-Vee without paying. She was released to appear in court.
• Astrid J. Brown, 31, of Newton was charged with driving while license suspended after authorities stopped her at 1:15 a.m. May 27 in the 1600 block of South 13th Avenue East and determined her license was suspended. She was released to appear in court.
• Jared R. Burton, 18, and Zachary D. Gressley, 18, both of Newton, were cited with possess/purchase/open container of alcohol by persons 18-20 after authorities responded to an incident at 11:20 p.m. May 17. Both were issued court dates and released.
• Houston M. Fry, 45, of Newton was charged with fifth-degree criminal mischief after authorities responded to a criminal mischief report at 5:54 p.m. May 17 at a residence in the 400 block of West Fourth Street South. Fry was charged for allegedly throwing a cup at a window, breaking the window and causing an estimated $100 damage. He was released to appear in court.
• Kevin Jenkins, 53, of Newton was charged with driving while license suspended and cited with failure to obey a traffic light after authorities stopped him at 12:21 a.m. May 25 for failing to stop at a flashing red light at First Avenue East and East Eighth Street. He also was found to be wanted on a warrant out of Des Moines for domestic assault and was transported to the Jasper County Jail.
• Joshua A. Laisure, 21, of Scranton, Kan., was charged with fifth-degree criminal mischief after authorities were dispatched at 2 p.m. May 17 to a residence in the 1600 block of North Second Avenue West. Laisure was charged for allegedly damaging a dresser valued at $20 and other items in the victim’s apartment. He was transported to the Jasper County Jail.
• Kendi K. McCollum, 16, of Newton was charged with driving while license suspended after authorities stopped her at 1:40 a.m. May 23 in the 1000 block of East Eighth Street South for speeding and determined her license was suspended. She was released to appear in court.
• Kari J. Minor, 28, of Newton was arrested on a Jasper County warrant for failure to appear in court on a judgment debtors exam after authorities stopped her at 9:08 p.m. May 23 in the 800 block of South Eighth Avenue East for having an inoperable brake light. She was transported to the Jasper County Jail.
• James L.W. Swanson, 29, of Newton was charged with operating while intoxicated (third offense), eluding and possession of drug paraphernalia and was cited with no insurance, stop sign violation and leaving the scene of an accident following a short vehicle pursuit at 11:48 p.m. May 7. Authorities attempted to stop him in the 700 block of East 17th Street South for having an inoperable license plate light. The vehicle wrecked in the 300 block of East 21st Street South. Swanson fled the scene and was located a few blocks away. He admitted to drinking and failed sobriety tests. He was arrested and transported to the Jasper County Jail.
• Jessica B. Thompkins, 23, of Newton was charged with providing alcohol to a person under the legal age after authorities were called to a residence in the 1800 block of West Fourth Street North. The reporting party stated she observed pictures on Facebook of her 14-year-old son holding beer at approximately 3 a.m. May 7 while with Thompkins and another person. The boy advised Thompkins provided him the beer. Thompkins told police the boy held an empty can of beer for the picture. She was charged and released to appear in court.
• A 14-year-old Newton girl was charged with driving while license suspended after authorities stopped her at 10:59 a.m. May 22 in the 100 block of Highway 14 North. A passenger in the vehicle, 19-year-old Austin Hurt of Newton, was charged with allowing an unauthorized person to drive. Both were released to appear in court.
• A 15-year-old Newton male was charged with public intoxication and possession of alcohol underage after authorities were dispatched at 8:04 p.m. May 7 to West Eighth Street South and South Second Avenue West in reference to an intoxicated juvenile. The boy was located sitting in the grass on the northeast corner of the intersection. He admitted to drinking vodka, and his BAC was .248. He was referred to juvenile court services.
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.