ALGONA — The chairman of the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors faces up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $855 after being convicted of simple assault by a six-person jury last month.

Roger H. Tjarks, 76, of Titonka, was charged with the simple misdemeanor of assault for allegedly pushing and poking another Kossuth County supervisor, Kyle Stecker, 26, of Swea City, in the chest while making “verbal threats of wanting to physically harm Stecker,” according to a criminal complaint filed by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the criminal complaint, the incident happened at about 9:28 a.m. on July 11 at the Kossuth County Courthouse. Meeting minutes and agendas show that there was a Board of Supervisors meeting at that time.

Based on a perusal of minutes from the July 11 Kossuth County Board of Supervisors meeting, along with the board’s recorded videos of the meeting that are available on YouTube, it appears the altercation happened while the board was in closed session to discuss County Engineer Doug Miller’s annual evaluation.

The assault charge was filed in Kossuth County District Court on Aug. 10 and Winnebago County Attorney Kelsey Beenken was appointed special prosecutor due to the conflict of interest.

Tjarks pleaded not guilty and demanded a jury trial, which was held Oct. 31 at the Kossuth County Courthouse.

The six-person jury heard testimony from Stecker, Kossuth County Auditor Tammy Eden, Kossuth County Supervisor Joshua Waechter, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Brett Wilson, Kossuth County Supervisor Jack Plathe and former Kossuth County Supervisor Galen Casey.

The jury also watched video of the alleged assault.

It took the jury roughly 10 minutes to return with a guilty verdict on Oct. 31, according to court records. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 13.

According to Iowa Code Chapter 903.1, a person guilty of a misdemeanor can be sentenced to a maximum of 30 days in jail, as well as a fine between $105 and $855.

Both Tjarks and Stecker still serve on the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors.