Sobaski pleads guilty to felony assault charge

    Justin Hayes Sobaski, 27, of Washington, has pleaded guilty to committing assault causing serious injury against the late Barry Stout, formerly of Washington.

    Sobaski made his plea Tuesday morning in the Washington County Courthouse. Under current Iowa law, assault causing serious injury carries a five-year mandatory sentence. However, the Iowa legislature passed a law earlier this year which removes that offense from the list of crimes requiring mandatory sentences, and gives the sentencing judge the option of putting the offender on probation instead of sending him to prison. Sobaski can choose to be sentenced under the new law, which takes effect July 1. His sentencing date is July 30.  

    Sobaski?s guilty plea stemmed from an incident that occurred in 2008 outside Hoodwink?s Bar and Grill in Washington and which involved Stout. Edmondson, who represents the state in this case, stated the plaintiff?s allegation against the defendant, Mr. Sobaski:

    ?On June 14, 2008, at approximately midnight, at Hoodwink?s Bar and Grill in Washington, Iowa, Mr. Sobaski unlawfully did an act to Barry Stout, which was intended to cause pain or injury to Mr. Stout or which was intended to result in physical contact, which would be insulting or offensive to Barry Stout, coupled with the apparent ability to do the act, and which resulted in serious injury to Barry Stout.?

For the full story, see the June 22 edition of The Washington Evening Journal