Judge: Masturbating transient may have broken probation by spitting on, assaulting pedestrian

Lang
6/16/23

A judge will determine if a masturbating transient violated his probation when he allegedly spit at and assaulted another man earlier this week.

27-year-old Davee Blahj Ceya is accused of spitting at another subject outside the Harrison Street parking ramp Tuesday afternoon, then punching the man in the face over a dozen times. The man suffered multiple injuries.

Ceya was taken to the Johnson County Jail, where deputies allegedly located a pre-rolled marijuana blunt between his legs in his underwear during the booking process.

Ceya was charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury, Disorderly Conduct, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Contraband in a Correctional Institution. If convicted, he could be sentenced to over seven years in prison.

Earlier on the day of the reported attack, Ceya was given a 270 day suspended sentence and one year of probation after pleading guilty to an Indecent Exposure charge. He must also appear on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry for ten years.

On the morning of May 11th…the Thursday of finals week at the University of Iowa…witnesses reported seeing Ceya masturbating on a bench on the southeast corner of the Pentacrest with several other people sitting around him. Ceya’s pants were pulled down, and his genitalia were on full display. He told police he was conducting “a form of masturbation”.

On Friday, Judge Jason Burns set a probation revocation hearing for August 10th to determine if Ceya violated the terms of his plea deal.