BOONE, Iowa—Last week, a Boone County jury found a Madrid man guilty of Domestic Abuse Assault and Simple Assault in a case heard in Boone County District Associate Court. Because of prior convictions, 38-year old Lance Tjernagel could face up to five years in prison. The Boone County Attorney’s office released additional information on the case in a press release today.
According to the release: On February 21, 2018, a jury at the Boone County Courthouse found Lance Eugene Tjernagel, 38, Madrid, Iowa, guilty of Domestic Abuse Assault and Simple Assault in violation of Iowa Code section 708.2A and 708.1. Because this is Lance Tjernagel’s fourth conviction he will face up to five years in prison and must serve one year before he is eligible for parole. According to court records Lance Tjernagel has been convicted of Domestic Abuse Assault three other times in the past 18 months.
The jury trial was heard in the Boone County District Associates Court on February 20th and 21st. At trial, several witnesses testified for the State. Two friends who witnessed the assault by Lance Tjernagel testified that on December 8, 2017, Lance Tjernagel came to the Madrid neighborhood to speak to the victim. While speaking to her an argument ensued in the victim’s garage and Lance Tjernagel physically assaulted the victim. One friend tried to stop Lance Tjernagel from assaulting the victim and Lance Tjernagel attacked the neighbor choking the neighbor while pressing him against the garage wall where the assault took place. Three small children were in the residence during the assault. After the assault Lance Tjernagel fled the scene. An officer from the Madrid Police Department arrived at the scene and he was assisted by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. After a short time, Tjernagel returned to the home and was taken into custody by peace officers in the basement of the home. As police were escorting him out of the house, Lance Tjernagel, while handcuffed lunged at the victim and yelled obscenities at her.
A Madrid police officer testified about his observations. He testified that the garage had pieces of furniture damaged and there was broken glass on the floor all indicative of a struggle taken place. He testified speaking to the victim. He noted that victim had a fresh injury to her ear and it was bleeding. He testified that the victim refused to give him a statement but there were other eye witnesses to the assault.
The defense at trial called the victim to the stand. She testified that they only argued and the friends over-exaggerated the assault. She testified that she was not scared of Tjernagel and that he had not hurt her or assaulted her on that night. However, according to court records this is the fourth assault in the last 18 months Lance Tjernagel committed on the victim.
Lance Tjernagel was convicted of Domestic Abuse Assault on October 1, 2016, convicted of domestic abuse assault on November 19, 2016, convicted of domestic abuse assault second offense on July 19, 2017 and still on probation for that offense when this assault occurred. The State argued to the court to introduce the prior assaults to rebut the victim’s testimony, to show the defendant’s intent in the assault, and to provide a possible motivation for the victim’s testimony. The court did not let the jury become informed of Tjernagel’s prior assaults against the same victim. Nonetheless, the jury on February 22, 2018, came back with a verdict finding Lance Tjernagel guilty of Domestic Abuse on the victim and guilty of Simple Assault on the attack on the friend.
Sentencing on the case will be held at a later date. Because Lance Tjernagel has been convicted of at least two prior domestic type assaults prior to this conviction, he will face up to five years in prison in which he must serve at least one year before he is eligible for parole. He also has 4 years of prison in his probation cases, which could be ordered consecutive, for a total of 9 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the Madrid Police Department with assistance from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. The State was represented by First Assistant Boone County Attorney Matthew Speers. Lance Tjernagel was represented by a local attorney.
Lance Tjernagle, 38, Madrid, Iowa
