A 25-year-old man has pleaded guilty to pointing a gun at a crowd of people during Clear Lake's Fourth of July celebration, and a judge has sentenced him to an indeterminate prison term that cannot exceed five years. Darrius Bolden entered guilty pleas to intimidation with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon, stemming from a fight that broke out at the downtown park event back in July.
According to KAAL-TV, a criminal complaint says video footage and multiple witnesses showed Bolden wielding a gun and pointing it at someone standing in a large crowd of people. The station reported that Bolden will receive credit for time he has already served while his case made its way through the system.
Reports on Bolden's hometown have varied. One account from the outlet described him as a St. Paul man, while a separate report from KIMT identified him as being from Mason City and gave his full name as Darrius Rayshawn Bolden, noting he was arrested just before 10:30 p.m. on the Fourth of July.
A Chaotic Scene at a Holiday Celebration
At the time of his arrest, police said Bolden was found carrying a handgun that matched the weapon described in the fight, the station's report notes. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported during the altercation, even with a large crowd gathered for the holiday festivities.
Bolden initially faced a broader slate of charges tied to the July 4 incident, including terrorism, possession of a weapon while intoxicated, disorderly conduct, interference with official acts and public intoxication, per the same account. Those charges marked the starting point of a case that has now concluded with guilty pleas to two felony counts.
What the Guilty Pleas Mean Under Iowa Law
Intimidation with a dangerous weapon is defined under Iowa Code section 708.6, which makes it a class C felony when a person, intending to injure or provoke fear or anger in another, shoots, throws, launches or discharges a dangerous weapon at, into or in a building, vehicle, airplane, railroad engine or car, or boat, if the location is occupied by another person or the act occurs within an assembly of people, and the statutory requirements concerning reasonable apprehension of serious injury or a qualifying threat are met. The firearm possession charge falls under a separate statute, Iowa Code section 724.26, which the Iowa Legislature describes as addressing possession, receipt, transportation, or dominion and control of firearms, offensive weapons and ammunition by felons and others.
Beyond the prison sentence, Bolden was ordered to pay $1,025 in fines plus a 15% crime services surcharge. The Iowa Judicial Branch explains that Iowa Code section 911.1 requires courts to tack on that 15% surcharge to fines imposed in criminal cases, with an exception for parking violations handled under city or county ordinances.
Monthly Payments Ordered Until Debt Is Cleared
The court also ordered Bolden to make payments of at least $50 on the first day of every month until the fine and surcharge are paid off in full. Combined with the prison term and credit for time already served, the sentence closes out a case that began with a frightening moment for holiday revelers at the celebration back in July.
