Arraignment for a North Iowa woman, accused of using derogatory names and directing abusive epithets towards a female victim in regards to their sexuality and gender, has been delayed.
According to criminal complaints, the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) arrested 34-year-old Ashley Bartels of Riceville on April 4th, charging her with four counts of first degree harassment for alleged remarks towards the victim and a group of friends. The woman also claims Bartels pushed her and made death threats. MCSO also alleges that Bartels resisted arrest and had to be tackled to the ground to get her into handcuffs.
Bartels was scheduled for arraignment Tuesday (05.06) morning in Mitchell County District Court, but the proceeding was continued to May 20th.
Outside the Mitchell County Courthouse Tuesday, North Iowa Fights Back, a self-described grassroots political advocacy group based in Mason City, called for a peaceful protest in support of the victim during Bartels’ arraignment. A handful of people turned out for the rally.
The group says the victim has informed them that a civil rights attorney in the Des Moines Metro area has agreed to take the woman’s case Pro-Bono. They also say the delay in Bartels’ arraignment could be to allow time for prosecutors to file additional charges against her and they plan to have people present at the courthouse again on May 20th.
Court records show Bartels was convicted in December 2019 for assaulting a Howard County Sheriff’s deputy, including spitting on him and threatening to shoot him in the head. In December 2021, Bartels was convicted for threatening a female co-worker at an Osage bar and then preventing her from calling 911.
