Lang
10/30/22
A central Iowa man faces a felony child endangerment charge after a reported incident near the dam at the Coralville Reservoir.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says it received a request for a welfare check on the ten-year-old son of 37-year-old William Backer of Adel. The boy was reportedly inside a car with his father, who had been drinking.
Just before 4:45 Saturday afternoon deputies pulled over Backer’s 2014 Ford F150 in front of the Coralville Lake Visitors Center on Prairie du Chien Road for reportedly traveling 50 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour zone. Arrest records indicate Backer’s son got out of the car immediately, and Backer showed signs of intoxication. Investigators say Backer initially refused field sobriety testing, but later consented and scored poorly. His breath alcohol level was measured at .215%.
Backer is charged with felony Child Endangerment and Operating While Intoxicated. If convicted on both charges, he faces a maximum of 11 years in prison.