BOONE, Iowa—A Boone County jury this week found a 42 year old Boone man guilty of Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Bodily Injury. The verdict was returned Tuesday at the Boone County Courthouse. Justin Guy Hansen faces a minimum of 2 days in jail and up to a year in jail at the Boone County jail. A sentencing hearing will be held July 24, 2018. The Boone County Attorney’s office released this additional information about the case:
The jury trial was heard in the Boone County District Associates Court on June 26, 2018. The State, represented by the Boone County Attorney’s Office, called two witnesses. The first witness was a Boone County Sheriff’s Deputy who investigated the case. The Deputy testified that on July 12, 2017 at roughly 5:00 am he responded to a dispatch to go to the hospital about a report of an assault that took place in the County. The Deputy went to the hospital and interviewed the victim. He testified that the victim looked distraught, emotional, crying and complained of pain to her neck and arms. The victim told the Deputy that she and Justin Hansen were at their house in Boone County. While at the home Justin Hansen wanted to look into her phone. She did not want him to because she was making arrangements to buy a house and finally move away from him. She said that Justin Hansen got angry and broke her cell phone in half. They argued around the house and Justin Hansen grabbed her and placed his hands around her neck from behind and choked her. The Deputy saw red marks on the back of the victim’s neck and in the front of her neck. The Deputy saw the victim the next day and took photos of her arms which showed bruising. The Deputy testified that he has been to the residence in the past at least six times sometimes for domestic calls. The second witness for the State was a doctor who treated the victim. He testified that he saw bruising on the back of victim’s neck and the front. He testified this bruising is consistent with strangulation.
The defense at trial called the victim and Justin Hansen. Justin Hansen admitted to breaking the phone in half and an altercation at the house. Justin Hansen testified that he only gave the victim a bear hug to prevent her from hurting his motorcycle. Neither witness could explain how the injuries got to the victim’s neck.
On June 26, 2018, the jury came back with a verdict finding Justin Hansen guilty of Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Bodily. Sentencing on the case will be held on July 24, 2018. Justin Hansen faces a sentence from a minimum of two days in jail to up to one year in jail.
The case was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. The State was represented by Boone County Attorney Daniel Kolacia. Justin Hansen was represented by a local attorney.
Justin Guy Hansen, 42, Boone
(contributed article and photo, Boone County Attorney’s office)
