Newton Police Department
• Riley A. Hodge, 21, of Newton was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after authorities observed him walking at 12:55 a.m. Tuesday in the 1900 block of North Fourth Avenue East and stopped to investigate. Hodge allegedly had in his pocket a bag of marijuana and an empty beer can that appeared to be used as a smoking device. He was taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• Jackson L. Norton, 21, of Panora was charged with driving while license suspended after authorities stopped him at 11:58 p.m. Tuesday in a parking lot at 1111 N. 11th Ave. E. for having an inoperable brake light. Police determined his license was suspended. He was given a warning for the brake light and released to appear in court.
Jasper County Sheriff’s Office
• David M. Smothers, 57, of Fort Madison was arrested on a Fort Madison warrant after authorities responded to a call to assist a motorist at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the 178 mile marker on Interstate Highway 80. Deputies determined Smothers was wanted on the warrant and took him to the Jasper County Jail.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. It is the policy of the Newton Daily News to release the names of individuals charged with a crime who are 16 and older.