BOONE, Iowa—A Boone County jury last week found a Boone man guilty on multiple domestic charges and also a gun possession charge.  The Boone County Attorney’s office today released this information from the jury trial:

On February 27, 2019, a Boone County jury found, Justin Lee Alexander, 31 years old, of Boone, Iowa, guilty on 5 separate counts, including: Domestic Abuse Assault Strangulation, Domestic Abuse Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, False Imprisonment, Criminal Mischief, and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.  As a result of the jury verdict a sentencing hearing will be held on April 17, 2019.

According to the testimony at trial, Boone Police Department were first called to reports of a reckless driver on November 30, 2019. Officers responded to find the defendant with a self-inflicted wound on his arm. After investigation, officers discovered the defendant had held a victim captive over the preceding 3-4 days while committing multiple acts of assault against her and threatening her with a firearm.

The victim also testified at trial. The victim testified that in the days leading up to November 30th, the defendant restricted her movements by barricading her in the apartment and not allowing her to leave without him. The victim testified that on several occasions the defendant held a gun to her head and threatened to kill her, or kill both her and himself. The victim testified the defendant committed two physical assaults upon her. During one of the assaults, the victim was awoken by the defendant strangling her for approximately 10-15 seconds. The victim was eventually able to get away, which is when Alexander damaged her car in an attempt to prevent her from fleeing.

The jury heard from people that lived in the same apartment complex as the victim and Alexander. These two neighbors called 911 reporting the reckless driving and/or fighting between the victim and Alexander in the preceding days. The defendant had previously been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, so he was prohibited from possessing firearms.

Alexander testified in his own defense and also argued his closing statement to the jury. The defendant denied any wrong doing, asserted the victim fabricated the crimes, and that the strangulation only occurred during sexual intercourse.

The jury trial began on February 26, and ended on February 27, with the jury returning guilty verdicts on all counts charged in the Trial Information, including: Domestic Abuse Assault, Strangulation, an Aggravated Misdemeanor; Domestic Abuse Assault with a Firearm, an Aggravated Misdemeanor; False Imprisonment, a Serious Misdemeanor; Criminal Mischief, a Simple Misdemeanor; and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm, a Class D Felony. Alexander faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years and 30 days in prison.

First Assistant Boone County Attorney Matt Speers tried the case on behalf of the State of Iowa for the prosecution.  The City of Boone Police Department handled the investigation with assistance from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers.

Justin Lee Alexander, 31, Boone

(contributed article and photo, Boone County Attorney)