BOONE, Iowa—After a year and a half of investigation and prosecution, this week, a Boone County District Court Judge has sentenced 34 year old Dallas Edward Forkner of Boone, Iowa, to 75 years in prison with the Iowa Department of Corrections. The 75 year sentence carries a mandatory minimum that one-third of the sentence must be served, even with good time credits Forkner will not be eligible for parole until at least 12.5 years.
According to information released by the Boone County Attorney’s office, the sentencing is a result of a guilty plea on November 27, 2017 in two felony Delivery of Controlled Substance cases. On that date Dallas Forkner pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine, more than 5 grams, Second or Subsequent Offense in violation of Iowa codes section 124.401(1)(c)(6) and 124.411 in his first case which carried a maximum possible sentence of 75 years in State Prison. In his second case he plead guilty to Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine, less than 5 grams, Second Offense in violation of Iowa Code Section 124.401(1)(b)(7) and 124.413, 124.411.
According to the Complaint and Affidavits filed in these cases the first case occurred on September 29, 2016. On that date the Boone Police Department served a search warrant on a home shared by Dallas Forkner and 36 year old Alicia Jo Fucaloro. In searching Dallas Forkner the Boone Police Department found methamphetamine and a large sum of US Currency on his person. Inside the house the police found various items consistent with the distribution of illegal narcotics including scales, small clear zip lock baggies, and small dishes with white residue used to cut larger amounts of narcotics down into smaller amounts for distribution. Throughout the residence law enforcement found over 100 grams of methamphetamine.
The defendant was released on a bond while the first case was pending despite efforts from the State to keep the defendant in jail. According to the Complaint and Affidavit filed on the second case officers served a search warrant on July 7, 2017. On that date officers with the Boone Police Department executed another search warrant on the residence of Dallas Forkner and Alicia Jo Fucaloro. During the search officers located a large vacuum sealed bag containing 42.5 grams of marijuana. They also found items consistent with the distribution of narcotics including various forms of packaging, a scale, a ledger for tracking sales, and small plastic bowls with a methamphetamine inside. They also located approximately 18 grams of methamphetamine and $45,900 in US currency.
The Boone Police Department filed charges on both of these cases. On November 27, 2017, Dallas Forkner pled guilty in both cases to Distribution charges.
A sentencing hearing was set for the cases on January 8, 2018. At the hearing the court heard arguments from both sides in what the sentencing of Dallas Forkner should be. The court sentenced Dallas Forkner to 75 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of 25 years with the Iowa Department of Corrections. On the second case the court sentenced Dallas Forkner to 35 years with this case to run concurrent to his 75 year case.
Alicia Fucaloro, a co-defendant on the earlier case, pled guilty case on January 9, 2017 to Conspiracy to Deliver Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, 3rd Offense, and Tax Stamp Violation. She was initially sentenced to probation for those offenses on March 6, 2017 but violated her probation with her conviction of Theft in the 1st Degree out of Polk County. She will have a Probation Revocation hearing in February of 2018. If her probation is revoked she faces up to 20 years in prison with the Iowa Department of Corrections.
First Assistant Boone County Attorney, Matt Speers, prosecuted the cases on behalf of the State of Iowa for the prosecution. Dallas Forkner was defended by a local attorney. The Boone Police Department investigated the case.
Dallas Edward Forkner, 34, Boone, Iowa
(contributed article and photo, Boone County Attorney)
