A Grimes man who beat his 2-month-old daughter more than 40 times and strangled her mother until she passed out will spend at least 35 years behind bars before he can even be considered for parole. A judge sentenced 24-year-old Dylan James Brown on Friday to 55 years in prison for child endangerment resulting in death and domestic abuse assault, then tacked on three more years for violating probation tied to an unrelated 2023 case, bringing his total term to 58 years.
The probation violation stemmed from a 2023 road-rage incident in which Brown pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury and assault while using a dangerous weapon, according to court filings cited by The Des Moines Register. Prosecutors pointed to that record of reckless, violent decision-making as they urged the harshest possible sentence for the death of his daughter, Mia.
The case traces back to the early morning hours of August 7, 2025, when Polk County Sheriff's deputies and Johnston-Grimes Fire Department crews were dispatched at 3:40 a.m. to a home on NE Jacob Street in Grimes after a 911 call reported an infant was not breathing, according to WOI-TV. Responding deputies performed CPR on the baby at the residence before she was rushed to the hospital.
Charges Escalated After Infant's Death
Brown was initially booked on charges of felony child endangerment causing serious injury, domestic abuse assault, and two counts of felony willful injury. Those charges were elevated after Mia died on August 19, 2025 — twelve days after the attack, the same station reported. She remained on life support at a local hospital and was declared brain-dead three days after the incident.
Judge McAllister ultimately dismissed an initial first-degree murder charge after Brown pleaded guilty in August to one count of child endangerment resulting in death and one count of domestic abuse assault impeding air or blood flow causing bodily injury, per the Register's reporting. McAllister told the courtroom that Brown beat his 2-month-old child to death in the presence of the child's mother and attacked Keeley O'Keefe, rendering her unconscious when she tried to intervene.
Medical Evidence Shows Fractures Inconsistent With CPR
Mia sustained fractures that were inconsistent with CPR.
Brown admitted striking Mia more than 40 times. During sentencing, Judge McAllister highlighted the extreme physical disparity between Brown, who stood 6-foot-2 and weighed 350 pounds, and his 2-month-old daughter, calling the acts shocking to the conscience and describing the crime as terrible.
Prosecution Rejects Childhood Trauma Defense
The defense sought a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence. The defense cited Brown's mental illness and abusive childhood under state supervision.
Assistant Polk County Attorney Shannon Bogolin pushed back directly against that mitigation argument. “This sentencing is not about his childhood; it is about the childhood he took,” Bogolin said, according to the Register's account of the hearing.
Brown apologized to everyone affected by his choice and said he planned to use his prison time to become a better person.
Restitution and a Longer No-Contact Order
In addition to the prison term, Brown was ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution. Brown was convicted of a Class B felony and must serve at least 35 years before he becomes eligible for parole.
Court filings also note that Brown operated under the alias Guy Green.
