A Storm Lake man was sentenced this week in Buena Vista County District Court to serve up to five years in prison for assaulting an individual last year.
32-year-old Jermaine Ford was charged with Assault Causing Serious Injury, a class D felony…and Assault in Violation of Individual Rights, an aggravated misdemeanor. Ford pleaded guilty on July 5th to the Assault Causing Serious Injury charge. According to a press release from the Buena Vista County Attorney’s Office, the Iowa Department of Corrections recommended during sentencing that Ford be placed on probation. The prosecuting attorney argued for an incarceration sentence due to Ford’s criminal history, lack of remorse, and other aggravating circumstances. The court adopted the state’s argument.
On September 11th of last year, a male victim was reportedly walking in the parking lot in the area of the 200 block of West Milwaukee Avenue in Storm Lake when a vehicle drove by. The vehicle stopped and Ford exited the vehicle and engaged in an argument with the victim. During the argument, Ford allegedly struck the victim in the neck area with his fist and made a racial comment. The victim admitted himself to the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center later that day to be treated for serious neck injuries. Ford was taken into custody two days later.
The State of Iowa was represented in the case by Buena Vista County Attorney Paul Allen.
