Competency assessment ordered for man accused of trying to lure girls

The criminal case against a Lehigh man accused of trying to lure two girls into his van last spring has been put on hold until experts can assess his competency to stand trial.

Webster County District Court Judge Angela Doyle recently suspended the proceedings against Alan R. Ekstrom, 81, and ordered an evaluation by the staff of the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville. That evaluation will be conducted remotely via a telehealth procedure.

Ekstrom is charged with two counts of grooming and one count of sex offender area/activity violation, according to court records.

Criminal complaints filed against him state that at 4:45 p.m. April 23 Ekstrom drove his ChryslerTown and Country van into the Lehigh park and to the basketball courts where two girls were. Then he offered the girls a stuffed animal in an attempt to get them into the van, Webster County sheriff’s deputies wrote in the criminal complaints.

By being in the park, he violated the requirements of the Iowa Sex Offender Registry, according to the criminal complaints. Ekstrom was placed on the registry following a 2006 conviction for assault with intent to commit sexual abuse.

Ekstrom was arrested April 28 at his home.

As she prepared his defense, Ekstrom’s attorney, Katherine Flickinger, became concerned about his mental status. In a document requesting the evaluation, she wrote that she has “serious concerns” about his ability to understand the situation and assist in his defense. She wrote that Ekstrom can’t seem to remember things “regardless of how many times they are repeated or explained.”

Shooting suspect gets suspended sentence, probation

A plea deal will enable a Fort Dodge man accused of shooting at another man last year to avoid prison time.

According to court records, Joshua A. Greene Jr., 20, of 617 S. 19th St., pleaded guilty to going armed with intent and assault with a dangerous weapon. Prison time and fines were suspended, but he will have to serve two years of probation.

A charge of intimidation with a dangerous weapon was dropped.

Greene was arrested June 18 in connection with an Aug. 7, 2024, incident. According to criminal complaints filed against him, at 7:41 p.m. that day Greene fired a gun at a man in a vehicle in the 1400 block of South 24th Street.

For the charge of going armed with intent, he was sentenced to five years in prison and a $1,025 fine, both of which were suspended, according to court records.

For the charge of assault with a dangerous weapon, he was sentenced to two years in prison and an $855 fine. That sentence and fine was also suspended.

Under the terms of the plea deal, he must serve two years of probation and is prohibited from having any contact with the man he is accused of shooting at for five years.

Man arrested for using fake prescriptions

A man has been charged with using bogus prescriptions to buy oxycodone from a Fort Dodge pharmacy, according to court records.

Nicholas L. Hackbarth, 23, of Webster City, was arrested by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and charged with two counts of prescription drug violation, obtain by false statement and two counts of intent to manufacture/distribute controlled substance.

According to the criminal complaints filed against him, Hackbarth went to the Hy-Vee Pharmacy at 115 S. 29th St on May 24 and May 31 and used fictitious prescriptions to obtain oxycodone hydrochloride. State narcotics agents wrote in the complaints that he planned to distribute the drug.

Hackbarth was arrested Tuesday at his home. He made his initial appearance in Webster County Magistrate Court Wednesday morning.

Magistrate William H. Habhab scheduled a preliminary hearing for Sept. 5. He set Hackbarth’s bond at $70,000 cash or surety.

Police Logs

FORT DODGE

Monday

A vehicle accident was reported at First Avenue South and Ninth Street.

A shoplifter was reported in the 3000 block of First Avenue South.

A vehicle accident was reported in the 800 block of Kenyon Road.

Criminal mischief was reported in the 800 block of North 22nd Street.

A parking complaint was reported in the 2400 block of Elmhurst Avenue.

A theft was reported in the 1600 block of Third Avenue North.

A theft was reported in the 2000 block of 11th Avenue South.

A parking complaint was reported in the 1200 block of 17th Street Southwest.

An assault was reported in the 800 block of North 22nd Street.

A suspicious person was reported in the 700 block of South 29th Street.

A theft was reported in the 700 block of First Avenue South.

A fight was reported in the 600 block of Central Avenue.

An assault was reported at Ninth Avenue Southwest and 10th Street Southwest.

A traffic hazard was reported at Second Avenue South and Third Street.

A vehicle accident was reported at 1 Triton Circle.

A suspicious person was reported in the 2700 block of Second Avenue North.

A vehicle accident was reported at Second Avenue North and Ninth Street.

A theft was reported in the 200 block of Avenue M West.

Harassment was reported in the 200 block of H Street.

A burglary was reported in the 1400 block of Second Avenue North.

Tuesday

A welfare check was conducted in the 1700 block of Fifth Avenue South.

Criminal mischief was reported in the 1100 block of Fourth Avenue North.

An assault was reported in the 2400 block of Sixth Avenue North.

A burning complaint was reported in the 3100 block of 10th Avenue South.

A disabled vehicle was reported at Second Avenue North and 25th Street.

A suspicious person was reported in the 200 block of South Eighth Street.

Disorderly conduct was reported in the 800 block of Kenyon Road.

Disorderly conduct was reported in the 1200 block of Sixth Avenue North.

A welfare check was conducted in the 1000 block of Central Avenue.

A stove fire was reported in the 500 block of South 18th Street.

A parking complaint was reported in the 600 block of Avenue C.

A civil dispute was reported in the 600 block of Second Street Northwest.

A burning complaint was reported in the 3100 block of 10th Avenue South.

A parking complaint was reported at 10th Avenue North and 29th Street.

A welfare check was conducted in the 400 block of Second Street Northwest.

A vehicle accident was reported in the 800 block of Kenyon Road.

A hit and run accident was reported in the 2900 block of Fifth Avenue South.

A theft was reported in the 1700 block of North 14th Street.

A noise violation was reported in the 1400 block of South 15th Street.

A disabled vehicle was reported in the 1400 block of Fifth Avenue South.

A welfare check was conducted at Eighth Street and 14th Avenue North.

A fight was reported in the 200 block of Avenue M West.

A structure fire was reported in the 1100 block of Central Avenue.

A burglary was reported at 11th Avenue South and 20th Street.

A disabled vehicle was reported at 1 Triton Circle.

Magistrate Court

WEBSTER COUNTY

Tuesday

Failure to appear for arraignment — Terrell D. Adams, 29, 311 First Ave. S., further proceedings to be scheduled. Deandre Marquis Scott Friedl, 32, Bode, further proceedings to be scheduled.

Disorderly conduct — Mark G. Groat, 59, Otho, trial set for Sept. 24, no contact order issued.

Third degree harassment — Kristie L. Durschmidt, 66, 838 N. 22nd St., trial set for Sept. 25, no contact order issued.

Fifth degree criminal mischief — Kristie L. Durschmidt, 66, 838 N. 22nd St., trial set for Sept. 25, no contact order issued.

Assault causing bodily injury or mental illness — Craig E. Hood, 58, 3110 Ninth Ave. S., preliminary hearing set for Sept. 15, no contact order issued. Kristie L. Durschmidt, 66, 838 N. 22nd St., trial set for Sept. 25, no contact order issued. Darronte J. Ivy, 34, 916 13th Ave. S.W., preliminary hearing waived, no contact order issued.

Voluntary absence from custody — Nathaniel C. Griggs, 34, 311 First Ave. S., preliminary hearing set for Sept. 5.

Wednesday

Third degree theft — Jeffery O. Holland, 61, 311 First Ave. S., failed to appear, arrest warrant issued.

Failure to appear for arraignment — Camrae M. Schakel, 24, 826 First Ave. N., further proceedings to be scheduled.

Prescription drug violation, obtain by false statement — Nicholas L. Hackbarth, 23, Webster City, two counts, preliminary hearing set for Sept. 5.

Intent to manufacture/distribute controlled substance — Nicholas L. Hackbarth, 23, Webster City, two counts, preliminary hearing set for Sept. 5.

Assault — Joshua J. Christy, 34, Otho, continued 180 days.

Assault causing bodily injury or mental illness — Joshua J. Christy, 34, Otho, preliminary hearing set for Sept. 5.

Voluntary absence from custody — Ethan J. Seals, 20, 311 First Ave. S., preliminary hearing waived.

Second degree harassment — Joseph D. Andrews, 41, 530 S. 12th St., trial set for Oct. 1, no contact order issued.

Violation of a no contact order — Joshua Jacob Lowell Quail, 33, 2920 22nd Ave. N., trial set for Sept. 24.