Prairie City Police Department
• Joshua J. Austin, 30, of Prairie City was arrested at 8:20 p.m. March 5 at his residence in Prairie City and charged with providing false information and interference with official acts for allegedly giving officers false information during an investigation of a theft case reported Jan. 24. At that time, Prairie City police received a complaint of a theft of a $100 check belonging to a 41-year-old State Center woman. During the investigation, authorities determined Aaron B. Stout, 33, of Ottumwa took the check and convinced another individual to cash it. Stout has been charged with fifth-degree theft, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. During the investigation, Austin allegedly gave officers false information in an attempt to conceal the identity of Stout. Austin was charged and taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• Marie E. Stack, 46, of Newton was charged with operating while intoxicated, third offense, and cited with open container and driving on the wrong side of the highway after authorities responded to report of a vehicle driving in the wrong lane at 12:01 a.m. March 8 on Highway 163. Stack failed field sobriety tests, and officers found a water bottle in the car partially filled with wine, which Stack admitted to drinking while operating the vehicle. Stack’s blood alcohol level was .27, and she had previous OWI convictions in 2003 and 2004. She was charged and taken 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.