Newton man sentenced to 10 years on vehicular homicide charge

A Newton man was found guilty of vehicular homicide on Monday in Jasper County District Court. Alex M. Spangenburg, 24, is sentenced to 10 years for the charge stemming from the death of 26-year-old Bret Rice of Des Moines.

Spangenburg was arrested in connection with the fatal motorcycle crash on Oct. 22, 2016 in Newton. The incident involved Spangenburg as the driver of a motorcycle which struck a curb and a utility pole at West Fourth Street South and South 15th Avenue West near Maytag Park. Newton police said Spangenburg’s BAC was more than .163 at the time of the crash.

Following the decision, Spangenburg voluntarily waived time before sentencing and requested to be sentenced immediately and further waived the use of a pre-sentence investigation in the criminal matter. He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 10 years and restitution to Rice’s family in the amount of $150,000.

Also on Monday, Spangenburg pleaded guilty to burglary and assault charges stemming from a July incident in Monroe. Spangenburg was arrested after he followed a vehicle and punched the driver twice in the face in an attempt to force his way in. At the time of the incident, Spangenburg was out of Jasper County Jail on bond related to the vehicular homicide.

Spangenburg was sentenced to one year for the assault charges and fined $315. The sentences imposed on all charges will run consecutively.