Meisheid sentenced for assault on officers

KALONA — Kalona resident Matthew Meisheid was sentenced on Friday for pointing a gun in the air while police responded to a fireworks call at his house in July of 2022. He was convicted in June.

Eighth District Judge Joshua Schier ordered that Meisheid serve two concurrent five-year sentences, one for each count of assaulting a peace officer by displaying a dangerous weapon.

The court also ordered Meisheid to pay $1,025 in fines for each count of the Class D felony, and said he was ineligible for bond on appeal or parole after less than five years.

Meisheid’s attorney made requests to hold a new trial on Aug. 9, according to court documents. Schier denied that motion, saying it was too late for consideration given state rules that such requests be made no later than five days before a sentencing date.

“Both of these motions were filed two days prior to sentencing,” he wrote. “Therefore both motions are untimely, and shall be denied.”

The court received a total of seven letters asking for leniency in the sentencing process. A pastor in Riverside said Meisheid’s attendance at Mass was “outstanding.” A friend who grew up with him said he’d “never hurt anybody,” in another handwritten note. His father wrote a letter of his own saying Meisheid had medical problems that could worsen during jail time, while another writer said they worried recent complications of a workplace accident had contributed to Meisheid’s frustration the night of the fireworks call.

One person, named Allen Krob, said the Kalona man’s actions last July did not represent his personality, referencing Meisheid’s time as the city council member and mayor of Walker, Iowa as well as a member of a volunteer fire department.

“Unfortunately, Matt made a bad decision the night he was arrested, but I ask that you consider his character prior to this mistake,” Krob wrote. “I honestly believe he’s remorseful of his actions, and I know he will be a benefit to his community upon completion of any sentence he receives.”

Affidavits from deputies in the case painted a very different picture of Meisheid the night they responded to a fireworks call at his house. They said he was “agitated, aggressive, swearing, and upset with us, and law enforcement in general,” when they arrived. Other court documents show a follow-up search of the house found 116 guns, cases and bags of ammunition around the residence.

In a statement made shortly after Meisheid’s conviction in June, Assistant Washington County Attorney Shane McChurch, who prosecuted the case, said the verdict was a win for the people of Kalona.

“Firearm violence has no place in our community and will continue to be aggressively prosecuted,” he said. “I commend the deputies who responded to the call for service, and for their outstanding professionalism in handling the Defendant’s volatile and dangerous actions.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com