A rural Newell man is behind bars, facing 13 criminal charges stemming from a series of alleged assaults, threats and violations of court orders — including a burglary and handgun-related allegations dating back more than two years.
Thirty-nine-year-old Matthew Michael Sievers is being held in the Buena Vista County Jail without bond, with charges filed against him in four separate criminal cases in Buena Vista County District Court.
The most serious allegations stem from an incident Oct. 26, 2024, at a residence in the 400 block of North Fulton Street in Newell. According to criminal complaints filed Oct. 30 of this year, Sievers allegedly committed burglary at the residence while other people were present.
Court documents accuse Sievers of assaulting one person while participating in the alleged burglary and threatening another by displaying a handgun at his side. A third alleged victim, identified in court documents as Sievers’ wife, is also named in connection with the incident. Investigators allege Sievers committed domestic abuse assault against her while using or displaying a dangerous weapon.
Sievers faces four charges stemming from the incident, including second-degree burglary, a Class C felony, and assault while participating in a felony without causing serious injury, a Class D felony. He is also charged with assault while displaying a dangerous weapon and domestic abuse assault involving a dangerous weapon, both aggravated misdemeanors.
The charges were filed approximately two years after the alleged incident.
Sievers’ legal troubles extend beyond those allegations.
In a separate case stemming from Oct. 18 of this year, Sievers faces two additional aggravated misdemeanor charges — domestic abuse assault with intent to inflict serious injury and first-degree harassment.
According to the criminal complaint, Sievers allegedly assaulted his wife with the intent to cause serious injury. He is also accused of threatening to commit a forcible felony against her. Court records show Sievers was jailed following those allegations but was subsequently released on bond.
He is also charged with domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor, in another case filed Oct. 28. That complaint alleges Sievers physically assaulted his wife, causing injury.
Sievers also faces six separate counts of violating a no-contact or protective order. Those alleged violations occurred on Oct. 22, Oct. 27 and Oct. 28. All six charges are simple misdemeanors.
Court records show Sievers was previously released after posting cash bonds in connection with some of the cases, but he remains jailed on six listed charges, including second-degree burglary, assault while participating in a felony, assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, two domestic abuse assault charges and first-degree harassment.
No-contact orders have been issued in connection with the cases, including an order protecting three alleged victims in the October 2024 incident.
Sievers appeared in court Wednesday, Nov. 4, and entered not guilty pleas in multiple cases. Court records also indicate he waived preliminary hearings. He is represented by attorney Dan Connell.
His next scheduled court appearance is Monday, Nov. 9, at 10:30 a.m. at the Buena Vista County Courthouse in Storm Lake. A pretrial conference involving the six alleged no-contact order violations is scheduled for Dec. 2.
