Lang
11/9/24
A transient who led several juveniles in a downtown Iowa City mugging has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Iowa City Police say they were called to the Old Capitol Town Center just after 7:30 on the night of March 18th for multiple subjects beating another subject on the ground. An investigation determined that 27-year-old Samuel Evans and eight juveniles knocked the victim down and punched and kicked his body and head dozens of times. One juvenile stole the man’s Air Jordans from his feet while he was unconscious. Evans allegedly kicked the man in the head three more times while he was comatose.
The victim was taken to a local hospital with multiple fractured bones around his nose and right eye. Police say the eye suffered permanent vision damage.
Most of the incident was captured on security video. Evans was charged with 2nd Degree Robbery, Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury and Participating in a Riot. If convicted on all charges, he could have faced a maximum of 25 years in prison.
As part of a plea deal, Judge Lars Anderson dismissed all but the rioting charge.