March 28, 2024

Police Blotter

Newton Police Department

• Adrien L. Fowler, 26, of Newton was charged with driving while license suspended after authorities responded to a verbal dispute at 1:08 p.m. April 20 in the 1000 block of North Fifth Avenue East. Fowler admitted to driving. Police determined her license had been suspended and transported her to the Jasper County Jail.

• Desmonne J. Hoffert, 23, of Newton was charged with two counts of third-degree burglary after authorities responded to a possible burglary in progress at 3:15 a.m. April 21 at a residence in the 200 block of East Seventh Street North. Officers found a window broken on the east side of the second floor and, upon entering the residence, found Hoffert and a female hiding in the basement behind a false door. Authorities notified the owner, who stated Hoffert did not have permission to be in the house. Hoffert was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Beverly L. Lamphiear, 40, of Newton was charged with driving while license suspended after authorities stopped her at 1:23 a.m. April 23 in the 200 block of East Third Street South for having an inoperable brake light. She was charged and released to appear in court.

• Robert L. Long Jr., 20, of Newton was charged with domestic abuse assault and criminal trespass after authorities were dispatched at 5:50 p.m. April 18 to a residence in the 900 block of South 13th Avenue East in reference to an assault. When police arrived, they observed Long partially inside the apartment. Police previously had removed Long from the property in March. He was charged for allegedly assaulting the female and trespassing and transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Benjamin M. Nelson, 23, of Newton was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after authorities stopped him at 11:30 p.m. April 20 in the 400 block of East 10th Street South for having inoperable tail lights on the vehicle. Officers smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle, and Nelson admitted to smoking marijuana and gave a marijuana pipe to police. He was charged and released to appear in court.

• Cheryl L. Osborn, 41, of Newton was charged with fifth-degree theft after authorities responded to a theft complaint at 5:14 p.m. April 23 at Walmart. Store employees witnessed her concealing items valued at $30.79. She was charged and released to appear in court.

• Megan M. Oshaughnessy, 34, of Newton was charged with operating while intoxicated and cited with failure to maintain control after authorities responded to a single-vehicle accident at 5:51 p.m. April 20 in the 500 block of East 19th Street South. Oshaughnessy had struck a pole on the west side of the road. She failed sobriety tests, and a breath indicated a BAC of .218. She was charged and released to appear in court. Her vehicle sustained an estimated $5,000 damage and the pole an estimated $2,500 damage.

• Vincent F. Vanmeer, 46, of Linden was charged with operating while intoxicated after authorities stopped him at 12:22 a.m. April 19 in the 1700 block of South 12th Avenue West for having an inoperable brake light. Vanmeer failed sobriety tests, and a breath test indicated a BAC of .110. He was charged and released to appear in court.

• Andrew J. Winningham, 27, of Newton was charged with simple assault after authorities responded to a complaint of an assault at 8:55 p.m. April 16 at 308 W. Eighth St. S. Winningham was charged for allegedly pushing an Alliant Energy worker three or four times because the worker had turned off the power to Winningham’s residence. He was charged and released to appear in court.

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.